A new musical audio drama by the Byzantine Choral Project tells the unlikely story of a child bride who rises to the heart of Byzantine power. Harboring a treasonous secret that marks her as the enemy of her husband and son, Irene must finally choose her side in the iconoclastic wars. With a haunting score inspired by Byzantine chant and featuring the voices of ten women and non-binary performers, ICONS/IDOLS: IRENE is a sweeping story of ambition, sacrifice, and the struggle to make something new out of a shattered world.

Featured in the critically acclaimed sound installation at New Ohio Theatre in NYC, this podcast was adapted from a stage play in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and recorded remotely by a cast of ten from their homes across the US. Premieres September 22 with new episodes on Wednesdays.

Written by Helen Banner. Composed by Grace Oberhofer. Featuring Hilary Asare, Iris Beaumier, Isabella Dawis, Hannah Eakin, Julia Izumi, Grace Oberhofer, Lukas Papenfusscline, Shanta Parasuraman, Yael Shavitt and Kay Weber. Music Direction by Robert Frost. Audio Engineering by Nathan Leigh. Sound Design by Grace Oberhofer and Nathan Leigh. Featured Foley Artist Nicole Orabona. Produced by Emily Caffery. Learn more about the Byzantine Choral Project at www.byzantinechoralproject.com.