HERITAGE

The performance examines the myth of female helplessness and the mechanisms of patriarchy that are embedded in social and personal narratives.

The performance, through the example of the marginalization of women in the chain of inheritance, the renunciation of inheritance under the influence of tradition and family, speaks of the generational silence that is imposed, but also of the struggle of women against patriarchal social roles.

“Heritage” deconstructs the internal conflict of a woman, embodied in two actresses on stage, torn between acceptance and resistance.

This psychological and generational journey reflects the collective experience of women who have struggled with the same dilemmas: What do we inherit from our ancestors – to what extent does it empower us and to what extent does it hinder us, personally and collectively? Can a woman
really inherit what is rightfully hers without condemnation? Is tradition stronger than the law, and to what extent does it shape female identity and choices? And perhaps the most important question: what legacy do we leave to future generations?

“Legacy” raises the question of responsibility so that we do not leave silence, fear, guilt, limitations, shame and the belief that “it must be so” to future generations, that a woman is worth less, that she should be silent, that she should suffer, that she should adapt. “Legacy” invites us to consciously choose what we want to pass on – and to be a link in the chain of change, because it depends on us

The play was created as part of Ivana Milenović Popović’s artistic doctoral work at the Institute for Art Play in Belgrade. It was realized with the support of the IMPACT organization within the Hope Hive project, the Institute for Art Play and Reconstruction Women’s Fund.