Elena Mazzon's play The Popess: Instructions for Freedom is based on a piece of obscure medieval Italian religious history, uncovered through the use of tarot cards.
The Popess of the title, Maifreda Pirovano, inspired the High Priestess card (read my interview with Elena for more on the discovery) and was appointed by Guglielma of Bohemia, who preached a feminised version of Christianity.
We discover this story in the play through an Everywoman living in 13th-century Italy, who has become disillusioned with the patriarchal Catholic church.
She joins a friend who is exploring different religious groups. The friend is more interested in finding good-looking boys, but for Everywoman, it is a spiritual search for truth and freedom.
It is a fun and eye-opening endeavour laced with danger as the Inquisition is also on the hunt for these 'heretical' groups.
Part religious service (there is audience participation), part history lesson, part feminist story, it is a lively and fun play with serious undertones.
It explores the hypocrisy of the male-dominated Catholic church, the role of women in society and the possibilities if there were equality and freedom.
Elena Mazzon is an engaging storyteller and performer, cycling through the different characters the girls encounter in their search for boys/religious truth.
While the audience participation wasn't my particular comfort zone, her 'crowd work', as comedians refer to it, feels natural, encouraging and gentle.
The Popess: Instructions for Freedom is an interesting and fun play which will have you thinking, particularly if you are put on the spot by one of Mazzon's characters.
Read my interview with Elena Mazzon about discovering the story of Guglielma and The Popess and turning it into a play.
The Popess, The Glitch, SE1
Written and performed by Elena Mazzon
Directed by Colin Watkeys
Running time 60 minutes
Booking until 8 September.
Recently reviewed:
Video review: Born With Teeth, Wyndham's Theatre booking until 1 November ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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