Fotini Filosofou brings to life on stage the multifaceted personality of Maria Polydouri, a woman who balanced on a “tightrope” between love and revolution. Through the words of the heroine, Filosofou unfolds the contradictions of the poet, who experienced childhood innocence next to the radical power of creation, fighting for the social ideals of her time.
The performance, an extraordinary coexistence of poetry and theater, presents Maria not simply as a female poet, but as a symbol of self-determination and devotion to her values, which remains timeless. Today, Fotini Filosofou, on the occasion of the performance “Maria Polydouri”, which will be hosted on the stage of the theater “Grammes Technis” for two performances, on November 2 and 3, speaks to pelop.gr.
– The work highlights the dual nature of Maria Polydouri, who loves and suffers at the same time. How do you balance these conflicting aspects in your interpretation?
I feel like I’m constantly on a taut rope so fragile that it might break at any moment!
– What challenges did you face in portraying a heroine who combines innocence with radicalism, and how does this reflect your own artistic philosophy?
Maria Polydouri was a complex personality, with endless talent and sensitivities. The strength of her character, her love for life and her childhood innocence!
– Polydouri was a symbol of an era, but also of a personal revolution. How do you think her own rebelliousness can inspire modern women?
She can inspire, I believe, women and men, with the strength of her character, her love for life itself, but also with the enormous interest she had in the social problems of her time, which are not very different from today’s.
– The love affair with Kostas Karyotakis is central to the play. How does this relationship offer a new dimension to the understanding of Polydouri’s artistic creation?
The love of poetry, the social struggles, their fateful meeting in that particular place and time, life itself I would say, bound these two people together!
– Polydouri’s language and poetry are full of passion and truth. How do you convey this deep emotional charge on stage?
I like the hard stuff!
– Which elements of Polydouri’s personality do you think remain unknown to the public and how do you bring them to light through your interpretation?
Her strength of character. Believe me, Maria was not the lovelorn little girl who was running after an unexpected crush!
She was a liberated woman with many lovers, but who did not love, and her daily life was between the passion for life and the social struggles for women’s rights.
– How do you highlight the tension between social acceptance and individual freedom that your heroine experiences, and what is the message you want to convey to the audience?
Individual freedom is not always compatible with social acceptance.
Loyalty to your beliefs is what matters, at any cost.
– Directing allows you to experiment with the theater form. How does this affect your interpretation and the public’s perception of Polydouri?
The direction of Yiannis Nicolaidis helped me to loosen up and penetrate deeply into Maria’s psyche. That’s what we wanted. We were not interested in a superficial approach to the heroine
– In a world that is often indifferent to art and poetry, what message do you hope the audience will take away from this performance?
I hope so… just like you said. “I loved and hated my madness” said Maria Polydouri, a woman-poet who spoke of life vainly and of death with hope, that through it (death) flowers could emerge, as from the mud emerges the life.
Poetry, passion for whatever life everyone has, Hope, daily struggle for everything.
– If you had the opportunity to talk to Polydouri today, what question would you like to ask her and why?
“From where do you draw this strength, when nothing in your life, nothing, went as you wished and dreamed..”
Because today most people are drowning in despair, in the superficial attitude of life. in cynicism and indifference.
Info
“Maria Polydouri”
Art Lines
Maria Polydouri or Fotini Filosofou
Narrator is Yannis Nikolaidis
Text: Vivi Kopsida-Vretto.
Direction-Lighting: Yiannis Nikolaidis.
Music editing: Stefanos Nikolaidis.
Sets-Costumes: Olga Schina.
Photos: Athena Lekkakou-G. Falconis
Recording: Studio Artracks
Production: Lines of Art/ Cdriva ProdActions
Performance times: Saturday 2/11/2024 9:30pm – Sunday 3/11/2024 8:00pm
Tickets: €15 (general admission), €12 (Student, student, disabled, over 65, unemployed/KEA). Group €12.
Presale: https://www.more.com/theater/maria-polydouri/
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