Special performance of “Pygmalion” with English subtitles in Belgrade

“Pygmalion” is a modern spin on the ancient myth of Pygmalion and Galatea. In the myth, Pygmalion, a man repulsed by real women, chooses celibacy and carves his ideal woman out of ivory. Desperate for his statue to come to life, he makes a sacrifice to the goddess of love, who grants his wish.

In George Bernard Shaw’s take, Professor Higgins molds his student Eliza, transforming her from a rough-around-the-edges “squashed cabbage leaf” into a refined “duchess” by teaching her to speak like one. Through Eliza’s metamorphosis, Shaw takes aim at the shallow class prejudices of the time he lives in. In “Pygmalion,” traditional notions of gender roles, teacher-student roles, and class divides are flipped upside down, showcasing Shaw’s deep humanity, feminism, and egalitarianism in full brilliance.

This is the first time this iconic play will be performed with English subtitles in Belgrade, making it fully accessible to English-speaking audiences.