Nino Haratischwili comes to Belgium for the first time as a theatre-maker with Phaedra in Flames. Her version of this Greek myth mixes the personal with the political and the historical with the current. Phaedra’s quest for happiness becomes a deadly weapon in the hands of religious and state leaders possessed by power. Phaedra in Flames premiered during the autumn of 2022 at the Royal District Theatre in Tbilisi and has since also been staged in Germany by the Berliner Ensemble, directed by Nanouk Leopold. KVS and europalia present the original version as written and directed by Haratischwili, featuring Georgian actors. Phaedra in Flames is the first part of a trilogy about strong women in mythology.

Nino Haratischwili (1983, Tbilisi) is an author, playwright, and director. She is at home in two languages and has been writing in both German and Georgian since she was twelve. Her grand family epic The Eighth Life (for Brilka) has been published in 25 languages and was overloaded with important literary prizes. Her novel The Cat and the General made the shortlist of the Deutscher Buchpreis. She studied film direction in Tbilisi and theatre direction in Hamburg, and has written about 20 plays to date.

In Georgian with Dutch and English surtitles

CREDITS

Written & directed by Nino Haratischwili / Royal District Theatre (Tbilisi, Georgia)
Set design by Julia B. Nowikowa
Costume design by Gunna Meyer
Video design by Zaza Rusadze
Make-up by Anuka Murvanidze
Cast Nata Murvanidze, Nino Burduli, Anano Makharadze, Natuka Kakhidze, Zaal Chikobava, Gaga Shishinashvili