Versatile and attractive, this year’s program of the Athens and Epidaurus Festival includes options for everyone.
Katerina Evagelatos, artistic director of the biggest cultural event of the Attic summer for five years, described it as “polyphonic, militant, comforting, political but full of true beauty” in her note announced at the beginning of the week. In fact, a total of ninety-three productions -seventeen more than last year-, with a strong political stigma that resonates with the era, claim the public’s interest.
“Antidote”
“The Festival always wanted and still wants to be an antidote, an underline, a ray of light. Art is here for each person individually” he says to “ET”. on Sunday K. Evagelatos during our short conversation immediately following the online announcement of the festival menu which revolves around the questions “How to live our lives?” How can we endure our lives?’
Options for everyone, therefore, from Piraeus 260 and Herodeion to the ancient theaters of Epidaurus and new venues such as Ichthyoskala Keratsiniou, Pallas Theatre, Foundation of Greater Hellenism, Sotiria Hospital and Athens Conservatory. This year’s budget for the artistic program, Ms. Evagelatos told us, is 4.5 million euros!
E.T.” of Sunday collected and presents to you in detail the program of Epidaurus, which, this year, introduces us to the 70th anniversary with an art exhibition dedicated to the informal opening of Epidaurus in 1954 with the protagonists of the iconic heroes of Hippolytus and Phaedra, as we knew them in the Ancient Theater of Epidaurus in its 69 years of operation. A journey through costumes, masks, models, scores and audio-visual material in the modern exhibition space of Epidaurus, inaugurated in 2023 thanks to the valuable support of the Ministry of Culture. The pre-sale has already started…
» “Iphigenia in Aulidis” by Euripides (5, 6/7): Internationally acclaimed director Timofey Kouliabin returns to the Athens Epidaurus Festival. The Russian director will open this year’s Epidauria in an international production of the Festival, a world premiere! Great Greek actors make up the troupe, giving flesh and bones to this top artistic project. The translation is signed by Pantelis Boukalas. In the role of Clytemnestra is Maria Naufliotou and the protagonists are among others Thanos Tokakis, Anthi Efstratiadou, Nikolas Papagiannis and Nikos Psarras.
» “Oresteia” by Aeschylus (12, 13/7): A possible answer to why the Oresteia continues to exert a terrifying appeal might be: because in man there is a need for a deeper relationship with myth. Theodoros Terzopoulos goes down to the ancient theater with the National Theater and introduces us to the search for the unpredictable, the unusual, the paradox. The persons offer their bodies at the altar of openness, they pose constant questions and dilemmas. Starring among others: Elli Ingliz, Aglaia Pappa, Savvas Stroumbos, Sofia Hill.
» “Wealth” by Aristophanes (19, 20/7): Almost 2,500 years later, the Aristophanic discourse remains relevant. Yiannis Kakleas, who in addition to the direction also signed the translation for the new KTHBE show, introduces us to “Plutos”. In the role of Chremylos, Manos Vakousis, who was recently honored with the “Karolos Koun” Great Theater Award. Hatzifrageta and Nalyssa Green take part in the musical part of the show. Maria Efthymiou, professor of History at the University of Athens, appears in the project Violation.
“Not Hecuba” by Comedie Française (26, 27/7): After the triumphant reception of Electra / Orestes directed by Yvo van Hove in 2019, the leading troupe of Comédie Française returns to Epidaurus, this time teaming up with the much talked regarding Portuguese director Thiago Rodríguez, new director of the Avignon Festival. In his first collaboration with the Comédie Française troupe, Thiago Rodríguez tackles the story of Hecuba through his play “Not Hecuba”. The show will be presented in Epidaurus immediately following its premiere in July at the Avignon Festival.
“Bacchies” by Euripides (2, 3/8): The second descent of the National Theater will take place with Euripides’ Bacchus. The ruler is the grandson of Cadmus, Pentheas, son of Agave. All the women of Thebes have already been taken by the fury of Dionysus. They have abandoned their families and taken by the ecstasy of the god, the bacchia, they perform orgiastic mysteries on the peaks of Kithairon. Thanos Papakonstantinou takes us on a trip to Thebes… translated by Giorgos Heimonas, while Konstantinos Avarikiotis, Marianna Dimitriou, Alexia Kaltsikis, Themis Panou, Argyris Pantazaras perform among others.
» “Chickens” by Aristophanes (9, 10/8): In Ornithes, Aristophanes recounts the decision of two Athenians, Peistheteros and Euelpides, to leave the world of men in search of a city without pettiness and corruption, where one can live in peace and justice. The pathogens of today are set on the ancient Argolic theater through the most famous state of the birds… in the ethers and erect a wall between men and gods. Starring among others: Kostas Koronaios, Odysseas Papaspiliopoulos, Giorgos Chrysostomou.
» “Iketides” by Aeschylus (23, 24/8): Sixty years following the first presentation of the play in Epidaurus, the Karolos Koun Art Theater and the Neos Kosmos Theater present Aeschylus’ Iketides, directed by Marianna Kalbaris. The Danaides Iketides speak of the Woman’s struggle once morest the Man who forcibly seeks to impose himself on her. Lydia Koniordou in the role of Pelasgou, Loukia Michalopoulou as Amymoni and Lena Papaligoura plays Hypermnestra. In the troupe are Aris Sakellariou (Danaos) and Yiannis Tsortekis (Egyptios Kirikas), while on stage is the soloist Marina Satti.
LITTLE THEATER OF ANCIENT EPIDAURS: The Hadjidakis, Tsitsanis they meet Zouganelis
After ten years, Eleonora Zouganelis returns to the Festival.
» Masters’ Voice: Manos Hadjidakis, Vassilis Tsitsanis (20/7): One of the most creative and renowned jazz players in Greece, with important collaborations in the Greek and international jazz scene, Dimitris Kalantzis in Mikri Epidaurus, in addition to his excellent work on Hadjidakis, will introduce us to his own jazz “translation” of his songs Vasilis Tsitsanis. A charming personal reading in a harmonious musical dialogue.
» On other paths (26, 27/7): Eleonora Zouganelis, one of the most important performers of the new generation, returns to the Festival, following ten years. Starting with “Monopati” by Giorgos Mouzakis, an evening full of emotion and memories will begin, bridging the past with the present.
FOR 70 YEARS: Anniversary exhibition
» “Hippolytus – Phaedra” (5/7 to 24/8): Open to the public throughout the performances in the Argolic theater, the exhibition on the occasion of the completion of 70 years since the informal opening of the Epidaurion in 1954 with Euripides’ Hippolytus directed by Dimitris Rodiris from the National Theater with Alekos Alexandrakis, presents the iconic heroes Phaedra and Hippolytus, as we met them in the Ancient Theater of Epidaurus during its 69 years of operation. Devoted to the worship of the goddess Artemis, Hippolytus refuses Phaedra’s love, with disastrous consequences. Valuable documents from the archive of the Athens Epidaurus Festival and many other cultural organizations and troupes invite the visitor on a journey through archival material in a modern exhibition environment. A fascinating look back at the performances and interpretations that captured the urge of unrequited love in all its forms at the national landmark of Ancient Drama from the 1950s to the present day.
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