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24 October 2024

'What is the true story of my early childhood?' — New play debuts at Greenwood Theatre

A new play 'For Three Refrigerators and a Washing Machine' by the Centre for Hellenic Studies and Culture In Action explores themes of identity, family, and the hidden stories behind international adoption, opens 24 Oct.

For Three Refrigerators and a Washing Machine stage
For Three Refrigerators and a Washing Machine set at Greenwood Theatre

From 24 to 26 October, For Three Refrigerators and a Washing Machine, will debut at the Greenwood Theatre at King’s, tackling the complex, often hidden, history of international adoption. The play aims to give a voice to personal stories that span generations and across different regions, shedding light on the questions adoptees are left with. The play is a collaboration between the Centre for Hellenic Studies (CHS) at the Department of Classics and Culture In Action, a theatrical production company that focuses on bringing culture to life, founded and directed by Kyriaki Mitsou.

The play’s foundation rests on research by Professor Gonda Van Steen, Koraes Chair of Modern Greek and Byzantine History, Language and Literature. Director, Centre for Hellenic Studies.

The play delves into the realities of international adoptions from 1950s Greece, a time when many children were sent abroad with minimal documentation, leaving them to navigate a future shadowed by incomplete histories and hard-hitting questions: “How do I fit into my family?” and “What is the true story of my early childhood?"

Professor Gonda Van Steen, Department of Classics

Inspired by a search for identity, first embodied by the figure of Oedipus, the play highlights adoptees’ search for belonging and the truth of their origins. Directed by Kyriaki Mitsou, and brought to life in collaboration with dramaturgists Renata Sofrona and Romina Spyraki, For Three Refrigerators and a Washing Machine uses testimony theatre and filmic elements. Performed in three languages with English surtitles, it offers an international perspective. The involvement of adoptees in the production further amplifies the personal and emotional impact, making their lived experiences central to the narrative.

Tickets for the play are available here

In this story

Gonda Van Steen

Professor Gonda Van Steen

Koraes Chair of Modern Greek and Byzantine History, Language and Literature. Director, Centre for Hellenic Studies

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