Lysistrata

by Aristophanes

On 3 March 2003 (03/03/03), barely two weeks before the invasion of Iraq, there was a global theatre movement — less to avert what by that point had become inevitable, than to express its idiocy. That night over 1,000 theatre companies around the world mounted a production of Aristophanes’ Lysistrata. Kilometer Zero provided the Paris representation of the global Lysistrata Project.

Lysistrata is a mordant political comedy. Enraged by the ceaseless wars of men, the charismatic Lysistrata brings together women from across Greece to launch a sex strike against their tirelessly pugnacious husbands. The men bleat and plead but the women are adament. No sex without peace. After scenes of excruciating pining the men back down, sign treaties with each other, and race off to make love to their triumphant wives. The urge to fuck, according to Aristophanes, is just that little bit stronger than the urge to kill.

The production was a riot. We ran the show twice back to back to sell out houses, and raised over €1,500 for a development fund for women in Afghanistan. But did Barbara Bush hear us? Not so sure.

Lysistrata

by Aristophanes

3 March 2003
Espace Créateur, Chateaudun, Paris
directed by Clara McBride & Adrian Hornsby