Mythology holds a central position in the cultural consciousness of India, shaping not just religious and moral codes but also social and gendered hierarchies. The Ramayana has historically reinforced patriarchal norms by valorising idealized models of femininity, obedience, and sacrifice. The revision of mythology uncovers new critical dimensions, making room for several interpretations and multi-layered stories to branch out.
Modern Indian Feminist Theatre has increasingly turned to revisionist mythology as a space of resistance, reclaiming silenced histories and re-interpreting canonical tales through feminist lens. Through close readings of What She Said by Gauri Ramnarayan, Sita’s Daughters, and Mandodari by Varsha Adjala, the paper explores how feminist dramaturgy reclaims mythological women from narrative silence and marginalization.
Adrienne Rich observes that revision is not merely a chapter in cultural history, it is “an act of survival". Feminist Theatre reimagines female characters from mythology not as moral archetypes but as political subjects who interrogate ideals of chastity, loyalty and sacrifice. Performance emerges here as a mode of resistance, one that exposes the ideological labor of mythology in sustaining gendered power relations. By reclaiming these narratives, these plays subvert traditional mythological hierarchies creating counter-narratives that are both artistic and activist. Drawing on Richard Schechner’s performance theory, the paper views mythological performance as a repeatable yet transformable cultural practice. This research aims to critically analyze how feminist theatre uses revision and performance to subvert hegemonic narratives, thus contributing to the larger discourse on gender, mythology, and performance in theatre and literature.

Authors:
Aayushi Tripathi, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, India

About the Presenter(s)
Aayushi Tripathi is a PhD Scholar, specializing in English Literature at GGS Indraprastha University, Delhi. She has completed MA (English) from Ambedkar University Delhi and BA(H) from the University of Delhi.

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