Mere Mortals was part of the Edinburgh International Festival, which took place between August 7 and 30, 2026. The San Francisco Ballet performed for the first time in two decades, with choreographer Aszure Barton receiving high praise.
The Show Reimagines the Myth of Pandora
The show reworks the ancient myth of Pandora’s jar, and covers what happens when humanity pushes into unexplored territory, without being aware of the consequences. The production was commissioned for Tamara Rojo’s first season with the company, but was turned into a full, sensory experience.
It combined choreography with a live performance from Sam Shepherd. The visual design was handled by Hamill Industries. At the Edinburgh Playhouse, a huge screen filled the stage, and imagery shifted from glowing cells to matter and generated landscapes throughout the show.
The captivating visuals, combined with the dancers and the technological aspects, helped to capture the point of the production. The dancers were also choreographed in a way that made them feel like a machine, which was exactly as intended. Jennifer Stahl took to the stage as Pandora, and Wei Wang brought a strong level of energy, playing the role of Hope.
As mythology is the framework for the show, characters like Prometheus and Epimetheus appear, all of which pays homage to the gods that are synonymous with ancient Greece.
Retelling Ancient Stories in New Formats
Pandora’s box is a famous tale from Greek mythology, with the original story using a pithos, or a sealed jar, rather than a box. Entertainment has long drawn on the myth in various ways. 2022’s Tales from Pandora’s Box 2 loosely ties together occult stories under Pandora’s evil spirits.
Other tales from Greek mythology are also prominent in the movie world right now. Films like The Odyssey tell the tale of Homer, who follows the Greek king Odysseus on his 10-year journey home after the events of the Trojan War. In online bingo there are also games with a mythical theme. Age of the Gods is an example. The title features Zeus, who is the king of the Olympian gods and who controls the sky, weather, and thunder. In the game, he’s wielding a thunderbolt, showing how modern media continues to be inspired by these ancient stories.
The San Francisco Ballet’s production of Mere Mortals was a huge hit at the Edinburgh International Festival and drew a number of five-star reviews. The shows at Edinburgh Playhouse marked the European debut of the AI-themed production. This isn’t the first time that Greek mythology has come to Edinburgh either. Delphi: The Musical was staged at the Bedlam Theatre and is a musical comedy. It reimagined the Oracle of Delphi facing financial ruin. Supposing, which has previously been shown at the Traverse Theatre, follows the story of a modern woman who finds herself transformed into a Hellenic heroine. Taverna Miresia, which was held as part of the International Festival, blended tragedy with Balkan rituals, putting a spotlight on Ancient Greece once again.
