INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF ANCIENT GREEK DRAMA 2021

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ECCLESIAZUSAE by Aristophanes – The Operetta

Greek Art Theatre Karolos Koun & Greek National Opera

 

▪ Friday July 2, Ancient Curium Theatre

▪ Saturday July 3, Ancient Curium Theatre

 

The Greek Art Theatre Karolos Koun and the Greek National Opera, present the extremely edgy and highly topical comedy of Aristophanes, Ecclesiazusae, in an original version of a contemporary, folk operetta in translation, libretto and music by Stamatis Kraounakis, directed by Marianna Calbari.

 

At a time of utter political and social decline, where corruption and inequality have exceeded all limits, women, at the initiative of Praxagora, decide to take radical action. Disguised as men, they manage to seize power and impose their political reforms, proposing a new regime where both property and sex are communal.  However, Praxagora’s revolutionary plan, although ideal in theory, shall prove to be utopian in practice and will be undermined by successive tragicomic situations.

 

Music, highlights both the political and the deeply poetic aspect of this Aristophanic comedy: a dreamy, transcendental element that Aristophanes so intricately entangles with the madness of his comic universe.

 

▪ With English surtitles

 

 

Translation-Libretto-Music: Stamatis Kraounakis

Direction: Marianna Calbari

Set/Costume design: Christina Calbari

Choreography: Thodoris Panas

Lighting design: Stella Kaltsou

Director’s assistant: Marilena Moschou

Set designer’s assistant: Sophia Arvaniti-Florou

Production assistant: Dionisis Christopoulos

Photography: Stavros Habakis

 

Cast (in order of appearance):

Sophia Filippidou (Praxagora), Christos Gerontidis (Chremes), Sakis Karathanasis (Young man),

Kostas Mpougiotis (Herald), Giorgos Stivanakis (Man/Third old lady), Katerina Lipiridou (Young girl/Woman herald), Ioanna Mavrea (Sostrati/First old lady), Christophoros Stampoglis (Vlepyros/Second old lady)

 

Chorus: Christos Gerontidis, Tereza Kazitori, Sakis Karathanasis, Pina Kouloglou, Katerina Lipiridou, Ioanna Mavrea, Kostas Mpougiotis, Giorgos Stivanakis, Matilda Toumpourou

 

Musicians on stage:

Vaios Prapas (Guitar, bouzouki), Giorgos Tamiolakis (Cello, euphonium), Dimitris Andreadis (Keyboards)

 

Orchestration: The composer, Stamatis Kraounakis, in collaboration with the band of musicians

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ANTIGONE by Sophocles

The Jerusalem Khan Theatre, Israel

 

▪ Monday July 5, “Skali” Amphitheatre

 

Sophocles’ Antigone, one of the most complete texts of ancient Greek drama, is presented by the Jerusalem Khan Theatre under the direction of Udi Ben Moshe, one of the most significant directors of Israel.

 

The conflict between Oedipus' two sons, Polynices and Eteocles over the throne of Thebes, has ended. The two brothers are lying dead on the battlefield. Creon decrees Polynices body to remain unburied and unmourned because he betrayed his homeland by bringing a foreign army against it. Antigone decides to honour her brother with the proper burial, defying the disastrous consequences, in a conflict between natural and human law.

 

Timeless criticism on the arrogance of power and autocracy and the conflict between unwritten moral laws and institutional state laws, emerge through a contemporary stage “reading” emphasizing resistance against the modern political context as well as the current conflicts between religion and state.

 

▪ With Greek and English surtitles

 

Hebrew Translation: Shimon Buzaglo

Direction: Udi Ben Moshe

Set design: Svetlana Breger

Costume design: Oren Dar

Lighting design: Roni Cohen

Musical editing: Josef Bardanashvili

Photography: Yael Ilan

Program and poster design/illustration: Elad Elharar

 

Cast:

Erez Shafrir (Creon), Or Lumbrozo (Antigone), Suzanna Papian (Ismene), Carmit Mesilati-Kaplan (Eurydice), Shachar Netz (Haemon), Itai Szor (Messenger), Yehoyachin Friedlander (Tiresias), Yossi Eini (Military consultant of Creon), Nir Ron (Political consultant of Creon)

Chorus: Meni Gross, Ofer Greenberg, Israel Pniel

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THE KNIGHTS by Aristophanes

NATIONAL THEATRE OF GREECE

 

▪ Friday July 16, Curium Ancient Theatre

▪ Saturday July 17, Curium Ancient Theatre

 

The National Theatre of Greece returns to the Festival eleven years later with Aristophanes’ comedy The Knights, directed by the distinguished choreographer and director Konstantinos Rigos and featuring an outstanding cast.

 

The main character, Paphlagonian, is inspired by Cleon, the politician who ruled Athens in the wake of Pericles’ death and the Athenians’ triumphant victory over the Spartans in Pylos (425 BC). Through his portrayal of Cleon, Aristophanes launches a scathing attack on corrupt politicians and demagogues who use power for their own ends. The hilarious plot leads to a bitter conclusion: if wickedness, gumption and vulgarity are the qualities of a politician then the most skilful in these shall always prevail on the political arena…

 

The Knights, one of the poet's most "political" comedies, allegorical and full of symbolisms, contemporary as ever, scolds the mismanagement and misconduct of power that led to decline, misery and decay and warns the citizens of every era about the dangers lurking in the foundations of the Republic.

 

▪ With English surtitles

 

 

Translation: Sotiris Kakisis

Direction-Choreography: Konstantinos Rigos

Music: Ted Regklis

Set design: Konstantinos Rigos, Mary Tsangari

Costume design: Natassa Dimitriou

Lighting design: Christos Tziogkas

Associate choreographer: Markella Manoliadi

Director’s assistant: Angelos Panagopoulos

Music coach: Melina Peonidou

Second Director’s assistant: Christina Stefanidi

Set designer’s assistant: Alegia Papageorgiou

Costume designer’s assistants: Alisa Boulat, Katerina Kostaki

Dramaturg: Eva Saraga

 

Cast (in alphabetical order):

Konstantinos Avarikiotis (Sausage seller), Stelios Iakovidis (Demos), Kostas Koklas (Cleon), Panos Mouzourakis (Demosthenes)

Coryphaeus: Konstantinos Bibis, Stefania Goulioti, Giannis Harisis, Laertis Malkotsis

 

Chorus (in alphabetical order): Paris Alexandropoulos, Vassilis Boutsikos, Thanos Grivas, Constantinos Kaikis, Giannis Karababas, Alkiviadis Maggonas, Giorgos Paterakis, Konstantinos Plemmenos, Periklis Siountas, Giorgos Skarlatos, Antonis Stamopoulos, Alexandros Vardaxoglou, Panos Zygouros

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MEDEA by Euripides

ROADS AND ORANGES FILM PRODUCTIONS, Cyprus

 

▪ Wednesday July 21, “Skali” Amphitheatre

▪ Thursday July 22, “Skali” Amphitheatre

▪ Saturday July 24, Curium Ancient Theatre

 

Euripides’s masterpiece, Medea, which deals with the last act of the passionate relationship between Jason and Medea, is this year’s Cypriot production in the Festival, directed by Aliki Danezi Knutsen. Seven actresses, in a unique stage setting guided by speech and sound, retrieve and reconstruct the dark and fierce forms of Euripides’ tragedy.

 

The barbarian, the foreigner, the witch, the woman; a multidimensional character with uncontrollable emotions, complex and fascinating, Medea struggles with love, motherhood, betrayal, irrationality and vengeful fury.

 

Medea is a tragedy of passion and conflict between logic and existential irrationality, where Euripides elaborately dissects the human soul and decodes his heroes’ reactions when they reach their limits.

 

▪ With English surtitles

 

Direction: Alki Danezi Knutsen

Director’s assistant: Stratos Dalamagkos

Set design: Natasa Chrysafini

Costume design: Antreas Antoniou

Lighting design: Alki Danezi Knutsen

Music: Stefanos Skoulikaris, Nikos Paterakis

Movement: Panaγiotis Tofi

Production management: Stephanie Polykarpou

 

Cast:

Stela Fyrogeni (Medea), Elena Kallinikou / Antria Zeniou (Jason), Annie Khoury (Nurse), Ivie Nicolaidou (Tutor), Antria Zeniou (Creon), Polyxenie Savva (Aegeus), Antonia Charalambous (Messenger)

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PROMETHEUS BOUND by Aeschylus

ASSOCIAZIONE CULTURALE DIDE DI MICHELE DIO & FAHRENHEIT 451 TEATRO, Italy

 

▪ Wednesday July 28, “Skali” Amphitheatre

▪ Friday July 30, Curium Ancient Theatre

 

Prometheus Bound, Aeschylus' shocking tragedy, is staged by the Associazione Culturale Dide Di Michele Dio and the Fahrenheit 451 Teatro of Italy, under the direction of the award-winning director, Daniele Salvo.

 

Prometheus, he who stole the fire, an enemy of the Gods and a friend of mortals, both a victim and a perpetrator, found somewhere between the past and the future, is a timeless symbol of resistance against authority. Aeschylus deals with the refusal of Prometheus, who while chained on the rocks of Caucasus still refuses to submit to the will of "ruthless" Zeus.

 

A deeply archetypal text, Prometheus Bound is a structured poetic-philosophical treatise on human conscience, a source of concepts and meanings that transcend the boundaries of ancient Greek mythology, permeating Western thought and culture. The fire that Prometheus stole is a light that continues to burn.

 

▪ With Greek and English surtitles

 

Direction: Daniele Salvo

Set design: Fabiana Di Marco

Costume design: Daniele Gelsi

Lighting design: Giuseppe Filipponio

Sound design: Francesco Arizzi

Director’s assistant: Alessandro Guerra

Production Manager: Michele Di Dio

 

Cast

Alessandro Albertin (Prometheus), Melania Giglio (Io/Bia), Massimiliano Giovanetti (Oceanus/Cratus), Simone Ciampi (Hephaestus/Hermes), Salvo Lupo (Ananke)

Chorus of Oceanids: Marcella Favilla, Giulia Galiani, Francesca Maria, Marta Nuti, Giulia Diomede, Giuditta Pasquinelli, Ester Pantano

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▪ Info: 7000 2414 │ www.greekdramafest.com

 

▪ Performances start at 21:00 │ Please arrive at the theatre before 20:15

It’s strongly recommended to arrive at least 45 – 60 minutes prior to the beginning of the performance to avoid delay and crowding. Entry after the start of the performance will not be allowed.

 

▪ Ticket prices:

▫ €12 regular

▫ €8 reduced (students, senior citizens, national guard, unemployed)

▫ €45 Festival pass (per person for attending all five performances)

▫ €10 group sales (over 10 persons per performance) at [email protected]

 

▫ Free admission, upon reservation of free pass (at least five days prior to each performance) at tel. 7000 2414, to:

▪ people with disabilities. Please show proof at ticket gate

▪ members of CCOITI. Please show the updated International ITI Member Card for 2021 at ticket gate.

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To facilitate the public in Nicosia, shuttle transport from Nicosia to Curium Ancient Theatre will be provided, for the following performances:

• Ecclesiazusae by Aristophanes – The Operetta (produced by Greek Art Theatre Karolos Koun and the Greek National Opera) on July 2 & 3
• The Knights by Aristophanes (produced by National Theatre of Greece) on July 16 & 17

 

▪ Bus ticket cost: €3

Ιt is necessary to purchase your bus ticket along with the performance ticket, 10 days prior, due to a fixed number of buses.

 

▪ Departure: 18:30

(from the parking opposite the Handicraft Centre in Athalassa Avenue)

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►IMPORTANT NOTES FOR THE AUDIENCE

 

REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION TO THE PERFORMANCES:

● A prerequisite for entering the theatre on the night of each performance, is to pre-purchased your ticket, as tickets will not be sold at the box office.

● Spectators must display their ticket (in electronic or digital form) upon admission.

● Spectators with concessions are required to display their ID card upon admission.

● Use of medical face mask.

● Spectators must comply with the instructions of the Festival’s security staff and ushers.

 

 

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT PERMITTED:

▪ Entry into the theatre after the performance commences.

▪ Smoking and the consumption of food and/or drinks (with the exception of water).

▪ The use of mobile phones during the performance.

▪ Taking photographs, with or without flash, and/or filming part and/or whole of the performance.

▪ Spectators are expressly prohibited from occupying seats other than those specifically stated on their tickets.

 

● Spectators are urged to bring an individual cushion.

● Crowding in all public areas must be avoided.

 

 

□ Notes for attending performances at the Curium Ancient Theatre:

Spectators are advised to arrive at least 60 minutes before the performance. Once the available parking spaces at the archaeological site are filled, the entrance of other private cars is prohibited. The rest of the private cars shall be parked in Agios Ermogenis and spectators will be transported to the theatre by buses. The last bus route from Agios Ermogenis’ parking place to the theatre, departs at 20:40. After the last bus route, spectators will have to walk from Agios Ermogenis towards the theatre, in order to attend the performance.