Persephone (Where the Light Forgets Me)
- Director: Anastasia Chanturaia
- Theatre:თეატრალური კომპანია ჰარაკი
- Hosting Theatre :Theatre company “Haraki”
- Date:
- 1 September - 20:00 hr,
Author: Anastasia Chanturaia
Director: Anastasia Chanturaia
Set Design: Tamar Nadiradze
Costume Design: Nestan Kvinikadze
Composer/Music Arrangement: Amalia Gabiskiria
Duration: 90 minutes (without intermission)
Genre: Drama
Cast:
Anastasia Chanturia
Giviko Baratashvili
Luka Japharidze
Premiered on: 13/12/2025
Theatre Company Haraki
Artistic Director: Sandro Kalandadze
Theatre Director: Mariam Megvinyte
About Performance
Anastasia Chanturaia's debut production, Persephone (Where the Light Forgets Me), is the result of an intense, research-driven creative process. By positioning a woman at its center, the performance delivers a raw, gender-sensitive critique of modern society through the lens of ancient mythology.
Rethinking the story of Persephone for the modern era, the play weaves together a narrative of a stolen childhood, girlhood, sexual violence, and metaphysical transformation. Here, Persephone’s descent to become the queen of the underworld is no longer just a myth; it is a vivid, symbolic reflection of the agonizing path to womanhood—a journey marked by a fierce battle for survival and the triumphant return to one's own identity.
Press
This debut work is a raw exploration of girlhood, leaning into an internal, almost private narrative that speaks profoundly to a collective female experience. Anastasia Chanturaia—a compelling young Georgian actress—recently debuted her original production, Persephone (Where the Light Forgets Me), at the Haraki Theatre, serving as both the playwright and director.
While the production’s official description frames it as a research-based, gender-sensitive observation of the contemporary world, the actual theatrical experience feels far more like an internal, deeply personal excavation. This intense interiority inherently creates an intimate space for viewership, as such raw, private narratives are rarely tailored for a general, wide crowd. Instead, the work finds its power within specific relational patterns and vulnerabilities shared by women. Chanturaia’s primary, daring link to antiquity is her willingness to wonder if the mythological Persephone herself might have endured these exact same jagged experiences of girlhood; beyond that psychological parallel, the staging intentionally shears itself away from the traditional mechanics of the Greek myth.
Haraki is an independent theater company founded in 2019 and led by director Sandro Kalandadze and playwright Mariam Megvinite. Rejecting the rigid, traditional hierarchies that exist within state-run institutions, the company’s core working principles are rooted in deep research, continuous professional development, radical collaboration, and avant-garde experimentation.The daily work of the theater entails specialized exercises to awaken the physical body, expand awareness, and develop resonant vocal power—all foundational components of Sandro Kalandadze’s ongoing artistic research. Free from any ideological restrictions, Haraki is dedicated to uncovering new texts, fostering authentic dialogue, and introducing entirely new forms of theatrical expression.
The Haraki ensemble consists of seven permanent members, and all productions are born entirely from a decentralized, collective effort. The company’s primary goal is to dive deep into the creative process itself, utilizing it to craft works that spark inner self-discovery and forge vital, raw points of connection with modern society. Sustained by its own resources and unyielding enthusiasm, the company manages the theater collectively.
the company established its own physical space on the historic premises of Wine Factory No. 1 (Petriashvili Street #1) in May 2021. Since opening its doors, the space has transcended the definition of a traditional theater, evolving into a crucial underground refuge for independent culture. Haraki frequently collaborates with artists both within Georgia and internationally, serving as a vital sanctuary for independent projects that might otherwise struggle to find a home: Experimental performances and new writing, Poetry readings and book presentations, Independent music events, Screenings of censored films, Communal gatherings and open dialogues
In an increasingly authoritarian and polarized political environment, Haraki has genuinely become a rare, safe space for the free exchange of radical ideas, creative resistance, and artistic community.
Theatre Director: Mariam Megvinite
Artistic Director: Sandro Kalandadze
Contact Person: Anastasia Chanturaia (Director)
Contact Information: +995 599 234 929 / anastasiachanturaia@gmail.com
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