At the Horos Theatre from 26 March, the National Theatre of Greece’s Experimental Stage for Emerging Artists presents a new version of the ancient myth of Pandora, conceived and directed by Wichi. It is a performance/ritual that explores both the dark and comic aspects of the tale through the technique of the theatrical clown and a highly original visual vocabulary, speaking without words about the ills that still plague humanity, as well as the last gift bequeathed to it by Pandora: Hope.

In ancient Greek mythology, Pandora is the first woman, created by Hephaestus from earth and water and endowed by the gods with a host of talents. But Zeus, fearing that humans would become too powerful with the fire given to them by Prometheus, decides to use Pandora to take his revenge. He orders Hermes to take her to Prometheus’ brother, Epimetheus, who falls in love with her, and the two of them get married. Zeus gives Pandora the wedding present of a jar, with strict instructions never to open it. She cannot contain her natural curiosity, however, and unwittingly unleashes Disease, Old Age, War, Despair, Envy, Cruelty, and Death upon the world, ensuring that life will never be the same again.

This is the story of the calamities that rain down on humankind. Or is it?