Theodorathe oratorio of the composer Georg Friedrich Händel, is the story of a Christian martyr condemned, in the 4th century in Antioch, to prostitution for having refused to participate in the sacrifices in honor of Jupiter, as required by the edict of the Roman governor. However, the staged version of Theodora which will be presented at the Teatro Real in Madrid from November 11 to 23, takes place in our time and the protagonist transforms into an indomitable guerrilla.
This rereading of the libretto by Thomas Morell, based on the play Love and religion demonstrated in the martyrdom of Theodora and Didymus by Robert Boyle, comes from the hand of director Katie Mitchell, who for years has given a feminist, irreverent and iconoclastic reading to the plays she directs. In his dramaturgical proposal, Mitchell presents the story through the prism of contemporary religious terrorism and places the action in a modern embassy, in which Christian employees – a radical religious minority led by Theodora – work alongside their oppressors until to their defeat. actively rebel against their tyrannical bosses who subjugate women and religious minorities.
Active and warrior women
Mitchell therefore shuns the vision of Christian women as passive, submissive martyrs who resign themselves to enduring adversity in a stoic manner. On the contrary, it transforms the women – Theodora and Irene – into rebellious guerrillas who fight against the system, against the archaic patriarchy and for the oppressed classes.
As the work program itself highlights, Theodora experiences two strong moments in which its feminist approach stands out: the first is what happens with the edict in which it is decreed that anyone who does not worship the Roman gods will be condemned to death when it is discovered that anyone who violates the standard is a woman and the second, the change of role when Theodora’s lover, Didyme, comes to her aid. Thus, the play becomes a true thriller, where betrayals and struggles for power are the protagonists and in which the patriarchal structures that often dominate theatrical narratives are also questioned.
This is not the only novelty in this co-production from the Royal Theater and the Royal Opera House in London. Already premiered in London in 2022, Theodora It attracted attention for the help of the intimacy coordinator, Ita O’Brien, in the production of scenes of violence and sexual content, a figure also present in the Madrid production. It is not in vain, as the Royal Opera like the Teatro Real, warn in the show sheet that “this production shows violent scenes and contains themes of terrorism, harassment and sexual exploitation”.
Under the musical direction of Ivor Bolton, who will conduct his fourth handel title at the head of the main orchestra and choir of the Teatro Real after the success of Rodelinda (2017), Partenope (2021) and Orlando (2023), Theodora is played by soprano Julia Bullock, who starred in The Indian Queen in 2013 under the stage direction of Peter Sellars, who also actively participated in the dramaturgy of the production. At his side will be the mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato who will play Irene, the countertenor Iestyn Davies who will be Didymus, whose role he also played at Real 15 years ago, the tenor Ed Lyon will be Septimus, Valens will run hand in hand the hand. hand with bass Callum Thorpe and tenor Thando Mjandana will be responsible for bringing the Messenger to life.
Cultural activities around ‘Théodora’
The premiere of this stage version of Handel’s oratorio, the score of which he wrote in just over a month, at the age of 65, and which was created almost unsuccessfully at Covent Garden in London, arrives in Madrid accompanied by a series of cultural activities in which some of those responsible for this production will participate. At the Cerralbo Museum, a unique guided tour will take place on November 8, 15, 22 and 29, at 12:30 p.m., focused on the biblical scenes that contain some of the most representative pieces of its collection. For its part, the Real Teatro de Retiro is offering a family musical workshop on November 17, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., that explores the sound world of opera. Theodora. And finally, the National Archaeological Museum has designed a program of guided tours in which on November 21, at 5:00 p.m., participants will be able to discover what the last centuries of the Roman Empire looked like through pieces and works from the collection.
