Writer: Elena Mazzon

Director: Colin Watkeys

A quirky, imaginative solo show lasting just 60 minutes, Popess takes us to 13^th-century Milan to explore a bit of not-very-well-known church history. And it does it, wearing the learning lightly, with witty 21^st-century linguistic anachronisms, and some quite searching audience involvement.

Guglielma of Bohemia came to be an object of worship for people from all walks of life who believed her to be the incarnation of the Holy Spirit. She appointed Maifreda as “Popess” to continue her work after her death, distributing the eucharist and saying mass. It was, in effect, a feminist revolt against the patriarchy of the church until, inevitably, the Inquisition suppressed it.

Elena Mazzon’s main narrative role is as Maifreda, who arrives at the beginning singing a blessing and making the sign of the cross at audience members. She’s good at voice work and also gives us a convincing account of her teenage friend, and nuns and priests who put her down in childhood.

Audience members are required to reveal what causes they’d die for, among other serious questions. Later, they have to learn an anthem and sing it at a service, as well as becoming victims of the Inquisition.

Mazzon is a pleasing actor with eyes that she uses eloquently, and her beatific smile feels very appropriate. Her performance is understated but strong. Clad in a robe she grabs from the wall tied over a belly which a member of the audience is asked to help her with, she becomes a deceptively avuncular inquisitor who finally decides to burn a couple of people as an example. How dare people question the authority of the church or imagine that women can ever be the equals of men?

On the other hand, there are some nice jokes. It doesn’t take much imagination to see the brick-lined, damp-smelling basement performance space of The Glitch as a torture chamber. The inquisitor informs his heretics that all the toilets are gender-neutral – just a bucket at the back.  And Maifreda’s friend describes a boy she fancies as “fit”.

Runs until 8 September 2025