Photo: Snapshot from the “Trojan Women” of “Attis” theatre, under the direction of Theodoros Terzopoulos. Photograph: Johanna Weber.
The tyrant of Pherae, Alexander, known for his cruelty and crimes against his fellow citizens, could not bear to see the whole Euripides' tragedy "Trojan Women" at the theater of his city (Magnesia) in the middle of the 4th c. B.C. As the ancient Greek historian Plutarch informs us, the tyrant abandoned the theater by telling to the actor to continue the performance because he did not leave out of contempt for him or the play. He left so that his fellow citizens didn’t see him cry, seeing the misfortunes of Hecuba and Andromache, as he committed, heartlessly, related crimes.
This great tragedy narrating the disasters of Trojan women, after the fall of the city, is presented on Saturday 7/7/2018 in the Ancient Theatre of Delphi, directed by Theodoros Terzopoulos. The performance is fruit of the collaboration that the Onassis Foundation starts with Theodoros Terzopoulos by supporting "The Return of Dionysus", which is organized in the director’s honor by the European Cultural Centre of Delphi (July 5-8, Delphi).
"Directing the Euripides’ “Trojan Women”, the tragedy of the defeated, the directors’ Theodoros Terzopoulos intention is to present a performance which highlights the phenomenon of divided cities, divided peoples and the need for reconciliation
Actors from divided cities ((Nicosia, Mostar, Jerusalem) and from Syria and Greece play in “Trojan Women” which will presented by “Attis” theatre in the Ancient Theatre of Delphi, under the direction of Theodoros Terzopoulos. Photograph: Johanna Weber.
From divided cities The “Trojan Women” that we will see under the tribute, for the first time in the Ancient Theatre of Delphi (free entrance), is a theatrical performance – act for the need for reconciliation. The new version of Euripides' multicultural Trojan Women, includes actors from divided cities (Nicosia, Mostar, Jerusalem) and from Syria and Greece, with Despina Bebedeli playing Hecuba. The tickets have already been sold out, however the Onassis Cultural Center Athens gives the opportunity to the audience to watch the performance on Saturday 7 July in live streaming on 19:00 (here: http://www.sgt.gr/gre/SPG2160).
In the symbolic place of Delphi, in a particular conjuncture of generalized geopolitical unrest, the “Trojan Women” stands as a protest against irrationality, violence and the horrors of war and as a demand for peace, solidarity and humanism. The director intends the production to serve as a bridge by highlighting the phenomenon of divided cities, divided peoples and the need for reconciliation. The “Trojan Women” will begin in daylight and theatrical lighting will only be used for its final scenes, allowing the production to incorporate the Delphic landscape as it is thrown into relief first by twilight then by darkness.
The performance at the Ancient Theater of Delphi takes place in collaboration with the Fokida Ephorate of Antiquities, as part of the European Year of Cultural Heritage.
The Attis theatre which premiered the performance on July 2017 at the Paphos Ancient Odeon in the context of "Paphos 2017-European Capital of Culture". The performance is dedicated to the memory of Jannis Kounellis, who was due to create its visual installation.
"The Onassis Cultural Center Athens gives the opportunity to the audience to watch the performance on Saturday 7 July in live streaming on 19:00 http://www.sgt.gr/gre/SPG2160)
Tribute to Theodoros Terzopoulos The Tribute to Theodoros Terzopoulos organized by the European Cultural Center of Delphi includes the performance of Euripides' “Trojan Women”, an International Symposium, the presentation of the director's acting Method, audio-visual installations, and a wide-ranging parallel programme. It focuses on the director's work and method as these have evolved over the 33 years since the founding of the Attis Theatre at Delphi in 1985 and the world première of Euripides' emblematic Bacchae, directed by him, at the Ancient Theatre of Delphi (1986).
The International Symposium will feature world-class theatre educators, directors and theatre intellectuals including Anatoly Vasiliev (director, Russia) and Eugenio Barba (director, Denmark), while academics and artists, theatre and cultural institution directors, visual artists, psychoanalysts, neurolinguists and theatre studies experts—from Korea, Taiwan, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Britain, Poland, Belgium, Germany, Italy, the US, Canada, Turkey, Cyprus and Greece—will be present in Delphi to honor Theodoros Terzopoulos.
Information: the “Trojan Women”, Ancient Theatre of Delphi, July 7 2018, 19:00, Further information:: http://www.sgt.gr/gre/
Τeam Translation: Kostis Kolotas Direction / Stage installation: Theodoros Terzopoulos Assistant director: Savvas Stroumpos Music: Panayiotis Velianitis Costumes: Loukia Lightning – Sound: Constantinos Bethanis Production Manager: Maria Vogiatzi Production: Paphos Cultural Capital of Europe 2017, Attis Theatre
Cast Hecuba: Despina Mpempedeli Helen: Sophia Hill Andromache: Niovi Charalambous Talthybius: Prokopis Agathokleous Poseidon – Menelaus: Andreas Fylaktou Athena: Evelina Arapides Cassandra: Ajla Hamzic (Bosnia), Hadar Barabash (Israel), Sara Ipsa (Croatia), Evelyn Asouant (Syria) Chorus leader: Erdogan Kavaz Chorus: all actors
