Agleyum Cliyopatrayum (Egle and Cleopatra) Explores Feminine Myths in Solo Theatre

Agleyum Cliyopatrayum (Egle and Cleopatra)

Agleyum Cliyopatrayum is an evocative theatre work merging the ancient Lithuanian myth of Egle, the woman who married a serpent, with Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra to explore the feminine experience of love, power, loyalty, and transformation across cultures and time. Through six vivid scenes, the actor embodies both Cleopatra and Egle across vastly different worlds.

Cleopatra is portrayed as the magnetic queen of Egypt who navigates love as a political force, facing betrayal, longing, and choosing a powerful death over submission. Egle is depicted as an innocent village girl drawn into a mystical undersea world when she marries the serpent prince Zilvinas, culminating in a mythical transformation into a tree.

Director and Production

The play is directed by Chandradasan, founder and artistic director of Lokadharmi Centre for Theatre, Kochi. Chandradasan has designed and directed over 50 plays and holds a Ph.D. in Theatre/Cultural Studies, with recognition including the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award (2004) and the META Award for Best Play (2008).

According to the director's note, the performance uses physical theatre, live painting, and a score by Salim Nair. The stage centers on a Sarpakalam, Kerala’s ritual snake floor art, to ground the mythic atmosphere.

About Lokadharmi

Established in Kochi, Kerala, in 1991, Lokadharmi is a Centre for theatre training, research, and innovative performance with 41 productions to its credit. The group's production of Karnabharam secured three Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META) in 2008, including Best Play. Lokadharmi’s repertoire includes adaptations of classics such as Medea, Lankalakshmi, Kaali Nadakam, and Poranadi.