LEMONIA | Factory Fusebox, Sydney

Celebrate the rich tapestry of the Greek diaspora with "Lemonia" (Lemon Tree), a powerful theatrical monologue honoring the centenary of the Consulate General of Greece in Sydney. 🎭✨

About the Play

Inspired by real audio cassettes recorded by the mother of renowned actress Alexandra Ousta, this moving production offers a deep exploration into memory and identity. Set in the 1970s, we follow the journey of a young woman who relocates to Saudi Arabia for her husband's job. Instead of traditional letters, she shares her experiences through tapes sent back to her family in Greece, filled with images of happiness and a supposedly perfect marriage.

However, there's more beneath the surface:

• A Struggle for Truth: Witness the protagonist as she grapples with convincing her family, and herself, that all is well while secretly enduring her suffering.
• The Weight of Isolation: Experience her loneliness, compounded by societal norms and the constraints of her surroundings.
• The "Lemon Tree" Metaphor: Just like a lemon tree that wilts without care, the spirit of our protagonist fades as she clings to her facade.

Now, 14 years after her mother’s passing, the performer revisits these tapes, unveiling buried messages and the stark truths from her years in exile.

Production Credits

• Written by: Giannis Kentrotas
• Directed by: Alexandra Ousta
• Format: Monologue
• Duration: 80 minutes (no intermission)

"My mother lived through the '70s in Saudi Arabia... Today, I listen to those cassettes again, trying to discover if there is some message buried in time about what actually happened there."

Join us for this evocative performance as we honor the unspoken histories of Greek women abroad, as part of the 100 Years of the Consulate General of Greece in NSW celebrations. 🌹

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