Panopticon

Between control and freedom, visibility and disappearance

The idea of the Panopticon was first imagined in the eighteenth century by philosopher Jeremy Bentham as a prison built for constant surveillance. Later, Michel Foucault described it as a powerful metaphor for modern society — a world in which we internalise external control and begin to watch ourselves.

In PANOPTICON, this idea takes shape through the body. Red hands appear as a persistent presence, symbols of control that monitor, guide and restrain movement. The body becomes a site of tension: a human spirit navigating a mechanised reality shaped by norms, systems and expectations.

The performance unfolds as an inner dialogue between ego, superego and subconscious impulses. It explores the fragile space between order and chaos, and the longing to create meaning and stability in an unpredictable world. The character moves between a desire to be seen and a feeling of invisibility — performing for others while questioning who they are beneath the gaze.

PANOPTICON invites us to reflect on our relationship to rules, judgement and visibility. It asks what it means to live in a world where control is often subtle, where freedom is negotiated, and where the body becomes both a tool and a battleground. The piece portrays a soul caught in a body that increasingly resembles a machine — moving through a society that is ever more organised, measurable and foreseeable.

Vasiliki Papapostolou, also known as Tarantism Photo: Giorgos Tsgliotis

Press Quotes:

“A brilliantly grotesque solo by Vasiliki Papapostolou”– The Spectator (UK)(The Place, London)

“The audience exhales, thunderous applause, standing ovations.”(Original text is in German language)– NDR.de (Germany)(KunstFestSpiele, Hanover)

“The Greek dancer's performance was met with three rounds of applause, with several audience members left frozen in their seats by the end.”(Original text is in Hungarian language)– Prae.hu (Hungary)(National Theatre of Miskolc)

ABOUT

Vasiliki Papapostolou, also known as Tarantism, is an experimental dance artist from Greece whose work blends physical theatre, urban street dance and ballroom Latin. Through intricate physicality and layered storytelling, she explores how visible and invisible forms of control shape human experience, identity and relationships.

Read more about Vasilikis artistic work here: https://www.tarantism.work/about

Panopticon will be presented as part of a double bill on Wednesday, 4 March at 19:00 during the In2IT Festival. Watch the trailer here:

Watch the performance trailer here:

Panopticon will be presented at the In2IT International Dance Festival on March 4, 2026

Credits:

Choreography/ Performance/ Text: Vasiliki Papapostolou aka Tarantism

Music & Sound Design: Christopher Nas

Lighting designer: Emma Gasson

Videographer: Klaus Shehaj