Mermaid Madonna: Tales of a Crisis

Mermaid Madonna, written and directed by playwright Stephanie Golino, is a dynamic and poetic portrayal of the effects of a global event: the arrival of tremendous numbers of refugees, most fleeing the war in Syria, to a small fishing village on the island of Lesvos, Greece in 2015. The extraordinary response of the people of the village inspired the nomination of a grandmother and a few fishermen for the Nobel Peace Prize.

The play is set in the village, Skala Sikamineas, in the aftermath of the crisis. The villagers are celebrating their traditional Festival of the Mermaid Madonna for the first time in two years, a step toward a return to normal life. In one eventful evening shared stories take vivid shape, ignite memories and breathe a life of their own.

The show incorporates movement, characters, storytelling and music. An ensemble of 10 actors perform in both traditional and physical theater styles. Musicians, Mark Bradlyn,Sarah Michael, Khader Keileh, and Georges Lammam, under the direction of Elias Lammam interweave the play with Arabic and Greek music.

The characters and text of the play are drawn from media articles and personal interviews with both Greeks and Syrians who were caught in the crisis.


Our second weekend, which coincides with International Refugee Day, Journalist John Ehab reads from his book, Backpack Full of Fear: Young Refugees Tell Their Survival Stories
Friday June 14 8pm
Saturday June 15 8pm
Sunday June 16 2:00

Thursday June 20 8pm
World Refugee Day
Guest speaker after show

Friday June 21………… 8pm
Guest speaker after show

Saturday June 22 8pm
Guest speaker after show

Sunday June 23 2:00

Tickets prices: student/child $15
General Audience sliding scale $20-$35
General Seating
of ticket sales will be donated to relief organization Sawa for Development and Aid

Sponsored by Gourd Music, Arts Council of Santa Cruz County and the Resource Center for Nonviolence