She – Not Machine is a theatrical production that invites the audience to reflect on how societal images of women are created and persist. The performance follows the story of an eccentric inventor who decides to "recreate a woman" after the women in his life mysteriously disappear. On stage lie figures draped in fabric, motionless and silent, until the process of their transformation into artificial beings begins – obedient machines programmed to serve male needs and expectations.
These figures come to life and fulfill commands: they cook, entertain, care, clean, and provide emotional support. However, it gradually becomes clear that the perfection of the system is merely an illusion. One of the characters faces sexual harassment, while another is condemned for "giving birth to a girl." Everything collapses at the moment when one of the girls reveals that she is not a machine — but a human being, expected to silently endure rejection, violence, and social stigma simply because she was born a woman.
The production opens a range of themes and questions: from the objectification and commercialization of women to stereotypical notions of their roles in private and public spaces, as well as a critique of unequal treatment and cultural prejudices that favor boys over girls. It offers a portrayal of society as a "factory" producing women with predetermined functions and invites reflection on the fundamental question: who determines a woman's value and what degree of agency do current norms truly grant to women?
The performance is part of the program Safe Spaces , which creates a space for dialogue on sensitive topics and sharing personal experiences. The main program partner of the performance is the non-governmental organization Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights .
The organizers
Embassy of the Czech Republic in Cairo
Czech Center Cairo
Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights
Mortagal
Austrian Cultural Forum Cairo
