Ancient Theatre of Philippi
Saturday, 27th July – Sunday, 28th July, at 9:30 PM
Sixty years after its first presentation at Epidaurus, the Theatre of Neos Kosmos, in collaboration with the Karolos Koun Art Theatre, stages Aeschylus’ The Suppliants, directed by Marianna Kalbari. A poetic and deeply political work, centred on contemporary concerns about the concept of asylum in a democratic society– especially when the persecuted are women.
The Suppliants will be performed on Saturday, 27th July, and Sunday, 28th July, at 9:30 PM at the Ancient Theatre of Philippi, as part of the 67th Philippi Festival.
In the play (the first and only surviving work of Aeschylus’ “Danaid Tetralogy”), a collective female character takes the lead: the Chorus of the fifty Danaides who, along with their father Danaus, flee Libya and Egypt, seeking asylum in the city of Argos. Like their ancestor Io, whom Hera relentlessly pursued, sending her a bothersome gadfly, the “oestrus,” to torment her, the Danaides now struggle to escape the fifty sons of Egypt, who demand to marry them by force. The myth raises the issue of the identity and position of women in society, while also narrating the chronicle of the establishment and dominance of the Greek race in the land of the Pelasgians, the so-called “Pre-Greeks.”The Danaides Supplicants speak of the needs that drive people to uproot themselves from their homeland, the harsh fate of the refugee, the value of justice, and the principles of democracy. Above all, however, they speak of the struggle of Woman against Man, who seeks to impose himself by force.
The performance unites the voices of ancient heroines with those of contemporary women through an impressive chorus of fifteen young women. Leading the cast are Lena Papaligoura and Loukia Michalopoulou, (in the roles of Hypermnestra and Amymone, respectively).
The chorus features members of the women’s choir Chóres, young actress-students from the Drama School of the Art Theatre, and dancer-acrobats from the group “And Yet It Moves” (led by Christina Sougioultzi).
Lydia Koniordou takes on the male role of Pelasgos, the king of the pre-Hellenic Pelasgian tribe—believed to have been matrilineal. The two figures of patriarchal authority are portrayed by Akis Sakellariou and Giannis Tsortekis.
CREDITS:
Translation: Ioannis Gryparis
Text and Dramaturgical Editing – Direction: Marianna Kalbari
Stage – Costumes Design: Christina Kalbari
Music Composition: Charalambos Gogios
Choreography: Christina Sougioultzi
Lighting Design: Stella Kaltsou
Assistant Director: Marilena Moschou
Stage – Costume Design Assistants: Kyriaki Forti, Katerina Kyrtatou
Music Coaching: Eirini Patsea, Simela Emmanouilidou
CHÓRES Production Coordination: Veroniki Krikoni
Production Management: Marina Gavriilidou
CAST (alphabetically):
Pelasgus: Lydia Koniordou
Amymone: Loukia Michalopoulou
Hypermnestra: Lena Papaligoura
Danaus: Akis Sakellariou
Herald of Aegyptus: Giannis Tsortekis
Chorus Leader: Christina Sougioultzi
Chorus Leaders CHÓRES (alphabetically):
Eleni Vasilaki, Konstantina Giannopoulou, Giota Dimitrakopoulou, Fani Lykou, Iony Moschovakou, Dafni Pagoulatou, Eleni Pouliou, Elina Stamopoulou, Danai Stergiou, Nikolaia Triantafyllou
Drama School of Art Theatre Chorus Leaders (alphabetically):
Nefeli Dodopoulou, Myrto Kapoli, Renia Kritikou, Anna Morogianni
Co-production by the Neos Kosmos Theatre and the Karolos Koun Art Theatre
“The Suppliants” by Aeschylus
Ancient Theatre of Philippi
Saturday, 27th July – Sunday, 28th July, at 9:30 PM
Ticket prices: 22€ Regular // 18€ Unemployed, Students, Large Families, Disabled, Senior 65+
Online pre-sale: https://www.more.com/theater/iketides-tou-aisxylou-periodeia-1/
Pre-sale
Kavala: Visitor Information Center of the Municipality of Kavala (formerly EOT), Central Square, tel: 2510-620566, open daily from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 18:00 to 21:00. On the day of the performance, tickets will be available for pre-sale at the ticket office of the Ancient Theater of Philippi from 19:30 in the evening.
Krinides: Café “Proskinio,” Ancient Theater of Philippi, tel. 2510516090
Drama: “Americanino 30” G. Papandreou 30, Tel. 2521058206
* Entry to the theater is prohibited after the performance begins.
** Once again this year, there will be a transportation option for spectators by a KTEL Kavala bus to and from the ancient theater of Philippi upon presentation of the respective theater performance ticket and a special fare of 4.00€. Departure from the KTEL of Kavala at 19:15 and return after the end of the performance. For more information and seat reservations, you can call the offices of the Municipal and Regional Theater of Kavala at 2510-220876 during office hours.
