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The Popess: Instructions for Freedom
September 3 | 7:00 pm – September 8 | 8:00 pm
The Popess: Instructions for Freedom is a bold, fast-paced solo show that resurrects a forgotten chapter of feminist resistance—with bite, wit, and a hint of heresy. At its core lies a true, largely untold story: in 13th-century Milan, a radical religious movement led by women dared to rewrite Christian history. Their messiah? Guglielma—a woman believed to be the incarnation of the Holy Spirit. Their most audacious act? Crowning a “Popess,” Sister Maifreda da Pirovano, who celebrated mass on Easter Sunday in the year 1300. The Inquisition struck back with brutal force: executions, exhumations, and public burnings. The movement was silenced—but not forgotten.
The story unfolds through the eyes of Everywoman—a naive yet questioning soul caught between fear, guilt, and a hunger for truth. Her journey winds through spiritual longing and misguided cults before she discovers Sister Maifreda and her radical vision of female-led salvation. Enchanted by a world where women hold spiritual authority, Everywoman is drawn into a movement that promises freedom—until that very promise provokes the Church’s full wrath.
With sharp humour and piercing insight, The Popess explores the tensions between faith, power, and personal belief—inviting audiences to ask what freedom truly means, especially when belief itself becomes an act of defiance.
