1955-2015:
The Athens and Epidaurus Festival is
celebrating the anniversary of 60 creative years,
and as a living organism in close interaction with
society, remains active, being, at the same time,
in a state of constant change.
For four decades, the Athens Festival had been
identified with the Odeon of Herod Atticus. A new
chapter for the art of theatre began nine years
ago, when the Festival spread out to new venues,
since this magnificent Roman structure below the
Acropolis imposed
de facto
restrictions on mod-
ern-day endeavours.
Moreover, the Festival remains open to unpre-
dictability, with increased emphasis on original
works, and commissioning projects to Greek the-
atrical companies, under both Greek and foreign
directors.
Despite the adverse financial conditions, the
Festival is striving to represent as many trends as
possible. Diverse approaches to ancient Greek
tragedy —not only in the ancient theatre of
Epidaurus, but also in indoor venues in Athens—,
new interpretations of European classics, new
Greek plays, post-dramatic performances of
devised theatre, and street theatre.
Giving the stage to young artists is essential: five
directors are newcomers to the Festival, while
others are once more testing their skills in Athens,
at the Epidaurus Festival and at little Epidaurus.
Women hold a prominent place in this year’s
events: directors, playwrights, and actresses.
Moreover, intertwining the Festival with major
social issues made it imperative to include per-
formances on subjects such as the homeless, the
refugees and the immigrants, while the Caravan
will provide an urban meeting point with specta-
tors.
Diverse themes and different stage interpreta-
tions blend together to produce a kaleidoscope of
perceptions, emotions and aspects of the world.
In the Epidaurus Festival, major artists will try
their skills in ancient Greek drama, while the
Greco-Japanese co-production of the Homeric
Nekiya
by a Japanese Noh theatre company will
provide a bridge between the two civilizations.
Schaubühne Berlin - Thomas Ostermeier
Little Foxes
by Lillian Hellman
A leading figure of contemporary theatre and a
friend of both Greece and the Athens Festival,
Thomas Ostermeier is directing Lillian Hellman’s
Little Foxes
(1941) performed by the internation-
ally acclaimed Berlin-based Schaubühne compa-
ny, at the cultural space of 260 Piraeus Str.
The well-known play by the American writer and
social activist —who went down in history for
standing her ground before the House Un-
American Activities Committee and refusing to
turn in her communist friends— uses the machi-
nations of a ruthless opportunist, the sly “little fox”
Regina Giddens (who, in the eyes of the public,
has been identified with Betty Davis who played
her in the film version), to focus on the greed of a
decadent society that identifies happiness with
money.
[JUNE 19, 20 & 21 / PEIRAIOS 260]
Romeo Castellucci - Societas Raffaello Sanzio
Go down, Moses
It is the third time the Athens Festival welcomes
Romeo Castellucci, one of the most important fig-
ures in the history of contemporary theatre.
Following the
Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso
trilogy
and the play
Sul concetto di volto nel figlio di Dio
(
On the concept of the face of the son of God
),
the Societas Raffaello Sanzio company makes a
comeback with
Go down, Moses
, under the direc-
tion of the famous Italian director and visual artist,
who is also responsible for the scenography, cos-
tumes and lighting.
The title of the play refers to God’s command to
Trade with Greece
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ts theatrical productions feature world-class directors and companies, such as Romeo Castellucci
and the Societas Raffaello Sanzio, Thomas Ostermeier and the Schaubühne, as well as the Berlin-
based She She Pop theatrical troupe.
In the Epidaurus Festival, major artists will try their skills in ancient Greek drama, while the Greco-
Japanese co-production of the Homeric
Nekiya
by a a Japanese Noh theatre company will bridge two
civilizations.
In regard to music, the Odeon of Herod Atticus will adhere to its tradition of hosting performances by
the Greek National Opera (
Tosca
by Giacomo Puccini conducted by Loukas Karytinos, and
Carmen
, by
Georges Bizet, conducted by Myron Michailidis), as well as concerts by the Athens State Orchestra.
The presence of Adam Cohen, son of the legendary Leonard Cohen, will introduce a more contempo-
rary note into the Odeon.
Theatre in the 2015 Athens and Epidaurus Festival
