“OEDIPUS AT COLONUS” by Sophocles

with Dimitris Kataleifos

The iconic tragedy, Sophocles’ masterpiece “Oedipus at Colonus”, will be presented at the Ancient Theatre of Philippi on Sunday 27th August at 9pm as part of the 66th Philippi Festival. Dimitris Kataleifos, one of the leading Greek actors, in the most mature moment of his great career, and a select group of protagonists – Christos Hadjipanagiotis, Angeliki Papathemeli, Alexandra Aidini, Maximos Moumouris, Christos Sapountzis, Giorgos Nousis – in an ensemble of fourteen actors, under the direction of Giorgos Skevas, are presented by the Cultural Organization “Lykofos” in co-production with the Athens and Epidaurus Festival.

The play

The tragedy “Oedipus at Colonus” is Sophocles’ last play. First performed five years after his death, it tells the story of the end of Oedipus, once the powerful king of Thebes.

Oedipus, now old, blind and exiled, arrives after much wandering at the Athenian demos of Hippius Colonus, led by one of his daughters, Antigone. He sits on a rock in the sacred grove of the Eumenides, but a resident of Colonus discovers him and asks him to leave because the place where he sits is sacred and inviolable. Oedipus refuses because the oracle has foretold that this will be his final resting place. The resident of Colonus asks the elders of the city to decide. They sympathise with the old man’s plea, but when they learn his name, they are horrified and order him to leave their land immediately. Oedipus invokes Athenian hospitality and asks to see Theseus, the king of Athens, because he has a great gift to offer him for his city. Meanwhile, Ismene, Oedipus’ daughter, arrives unexpectedly with news from Thebes: Oedipus’ sons, Polynices and Eteocles, are on the brink of civil war, each claiming the throne and power. Furthermore, a new oracle declares that whoever has Oedipus on their side, dead or alive, will win. Theseus arrives and Oedipus begs him to protect him as long as he lives and to bury him in the soil of Athens when his life comes to an end. Theseus, honouring Oedipus, promises both and assures him that he will be safe. Creon bursts onto the scene and announces that he has come on behalf of all Thebans to persuade Oedipus to return to his homeland, Thebes. Seeing that his words do not convince Oedipus, but rather enrage him, Creon resorts to violence to achieve his goal…