Arachne

Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom, is hosting a party for her friend Arachne—but before the guest of honor arrives, a mysterious force demands that Athena confront the truth about their relationship. If she doesn't, she’ll be coughing up webs for all eternity. Through laughter, music, and storytelling, Arachne dives into issues like justice, accountability, and the complexities of female friendships. Award-winning comedian Britt Anderson brings the story to life, playing multiple characters and engaging the audience in a funny, heartfelt, and sometimes raunchy adventure. Following Borderlight Fringe, Arachne will have its international premier at the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe at Greenside Venues - Willow Theater.

Athena, our beloved Goddess of Wisdom and Handicrafts, is throwing a party to celebrate her dear spidery friend Arachne...and maybe to get Arachne to explain why Athena keeps coughing up webs. Suddenly, a mysterious force that demands Athena tell the truth about their relationship, launching her into their history. Athena was a Southern belle that was in charge of Mt. Olympus’ high court, but her courts’ decisions were under the influence of Zeus, a known predator and misogynist. Arachne, a small-town country girl and Athena’s friend, calls Athena out on her decisions and wants her to be a greater advocate for women. Meanwhile, Arachne was creating a name for herself by creating an arts center and funding her community’s needs through her weavings - she was living the values that Athena was supposed to be representing. The story comes to a head when Athena, fueled by her father and her own insecurity, challenged Arachne to a great weaving competition and Arachne's transformation. Will Athena be fair in the retelling, or will she cough up webs for the rest of her immortal life?

Arachne explores justice and accountability in female friendships and sets in in a place where tension is high but behaviors are often veiled. Audiences of Arachne can expect to laugh, sing along, reflect, and confront some disturbing truths.

Arachne has been in development since 2020, with collaboration from Anthony Hudson, Noah Elman, Richie Schiraldi, Michele Stine, and Jaime Gutfeldt, among others. This project is the recipient of several Part-Time Faculty Development Grants from Columbia College Chicago, where Britt is an Adjunct Professor of Instruction.

Britt Anderson is a Chicago-based, non-binary performer, playwright, educator, and fiber artist originally from South Carolina. Using collaboration, physical rigor, and a DIY aesthetic, Britt creates theatre that uplifts femme and non-binary voices and confronts truths and myths they face every day. Britt is the recipient of the Mary Scruggs Women in Sketch Comedy Award, the Weisman Award, and has worked with internationally-renowned entities like Physical Theater Festival in Chicago and Joseph Jefferson Award-winning company The Artistic Home. They have taught Physical and Vocal Training for Comedy at the Second City Comedy Studies semester for the past 5 years. This is their fifth original show with Whisper Theatre Collective.