“I love and respect Epidaurus very much” – 2024-07-14 14:07:47

What will we see in “Chickens”? What is your perspective on this project?

In this show, no one set out to change the story and find some way to not be the story but to symbolize the story. No. This is the story, grafted with enough poetry and much emotion, that it is a very nice lure. It’s not exactly a comedy, it’s a nice combination of poetry, which goes a bit in waves, i.e. it starts out funny, becomes scary, then becomes moving, becomes funny once more, scary and moving, and finally comes the catharsis and peace. We paid a lot of attention to the story being heard, because some struggle, especially in the summer, not to make the plays easy to read. Here this particular performance denied this and we saw what the poet really wants to say and for this reason we avoided updates and jokes of the time we are going through. It has none of that and that’s a nice challenge because it makes you want to find the interest without everything else which is always a nice trick.

How topical is this comedy?

This project is always relevant. It’s regarding two people who are fed up with the world. I think many will gather. And it’s a point that they’ve done really well with the choreographer, where the birds are teaching these two how to fly and it’s like they’re walking all over once more. They are like two children who are now learning to walk, when in fact they are already walking. It is very moving.

Is there room for utopia today, when we are all running in panic for survival? At a time when society is becoming increasingly conservative?

The work also talks regarding utopia in the end. Perhaps, however, it is the strongest word left. As I see it, the show is not regarding utopia so much as regarding a new place. These two are coming of age finding childhood. And this is because the world is very serious and serious. Theater either follows situations or precedes them. From my little experience I have understood that a show either listens to what will happen or reflects on what has already happened and presents it as a mirror. I think a lot of people will be moved, because they will identify with “hey, I want to leave too”. From where and for what reason is a subjective matter for everyone. However, no one will do it in the end, because this is all in the imagination of all of us. We all say “I wish I had a house on the mountain and left”, but it’s never like that. Could you survive six months on the mountain alone? Or another says “if I had a house by the sea”, but every three months that house would need painting from the humidity. It’s the obligations, it’s the habit, but it’s also the choice “I’m not getting up to leave, but I’m complaining because it’s my right”. Because in order for people to connect, they have to find common problems, like the heat that is bothering us now or the punctuality or the decline of Athens. It’s like those who say “I can’t do Instagram anymore”, but no one is cutting it. So what are you really getting away from?

Is Epidaurus stressing you out?

I love her very much and respect her and Epidaurus understood this, because this is the 12th time I will be there and I have taken it in small steps each time and gradually. I have a very good relationship with her. I took it slowly and respectfully, but without the fear of deification, of what has been done here in the past. Respect is not directed to the monument but to the people who will travel there and spend enough money to spend an followingnoon with us.

You reminisce regarding another season of hers gyour heart?

No, that’s not the case. No return. Every last year and worse… I am very well and will be much better as we go forward. There is nothing in my past that is more charming than now.

What do you think?gare you yourself 30 years from now?

With money, doll, trained a lot, clean and full.

“With the cinema we haven’t… met”

Why don’t we see you on the big screen often?

I don’t have much with cinema, we haven’t… met. I think I’m missing, but the filmmakers don’t see it that way and I, for my part, haven’t made any serious moves. The truth is, and I say this without fear or passion, that the cinema has no serious economic benefit. And I, who have no destiny in the sun, have nothing to my name, I cannot participate in a film that will be seen by 100 people. But I would like to see this part of my work moving. But from what I understand, they are acting themselves, I won’t say who, and the directors don’t see theater very often, so we haven’t connected.

“”The Rise of Arturo Ui” it’s… amazing”

How have you got along with Ari Biniaris?

We are very much connected by our passion for work. The relationship he has with the rhythm of things and we always find a way to avoid repetition. We have “built” a cooperative love, which is something in between. A code of communication, where there is me, him and our cooperative relationship. It has gone very well and we are in the third year of the show “The rise of Arturo Ui” and Aris is taking care of things. We will not reach success, following all, now is when we have to work on it some more.

What are the reasons why the show “The Rise of Arturo Ui” is such a success?

The work is very rare. At first this seemed like a drag, but along the way it worked out in favor. It was the meeting of the specific partners at the specific moment in a very original space. Never before has a theater been performed in such a space, where the stage is between the spectators, who sit to the right and to the left. The theater is “off Broadway”, it’s a new space, but it’s also… spectacular, let’s not hide that.