Review: THIS IS NOT MEDEA, Old Rep Theatre - Hysteria Festival 2023

You know about Medea, right? She’s the one who killed her children. Well, what happens when a walking Greek tragedy arrives in Brexit Britain?

This Is Not Medea is written and performed by Christina Appana, an immigrant from the EU with a few dramatic stories of her own to share about life in Britain: passports, pints, artists, lockdown, a lack of toilet paper and a tiny amount of murder!

Appana is a great protagonist in her own story. Engaging with the audience immediately as she tells us her story; how she arrived in England after meeting her British boyfriend in Greece, and upon finding out that they were both actors, they decide to collaborate and start a life together. Then Covid happened. The arts were hit hard and so was their relationship.

It’s a comical portrayal of heartbreak, revenge and the good old fashioned British understanding of everything political and European. Captured beautifully as only someone from the outside looking in can capture it and show the British reserve for what it is. Total nonsense!

Entertaining, charming and delightfully told.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Rachel Louise Martin

Hysteria is a women-led theatre and arts festival taking place at The Old Rep Theatre in Birmingham until 30 July. Celebrating the power and diversity of female-identifying playwrights, directors, actors, comedians, creatives and designers.