Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus
Cezaris Graužinis - National Theatre
of Northern Greece
Seven Against Thebes, by Aeschylus
King Oedipus abdicates in favour of his two sons
in the aftermath of horrific familial revelations and
the brothers initially agree to take turns ruling
Thebes. When the time comes, though, Eteocles
does not keep his end of the bargain. A furious
Polynices joins forces with Adrastus, king of
Argos, and raises an army against Thebes.
Seven captains of the two opposing armies meet
at the seven gates of the city, with Eteocles and
Polynices confronting each other at the seventh
gate. With Thebes under siege, Eteocles, the
main tragic character, attempts to strike back in
what turns out to be a doomed battle with no
clear-cut winner.
One of the most successful performances of last
year’s Festival, “Seven Against Thebes” is repeat-
ed this year, opening the Epidaurus Festival
2017. A theatrical experience that explores our
commonly shared survival instincts and how
these are compatible with our need to remain
T
his is how Vangelis Theodoropoulos,
Artistic Director of the Athens Festival
2017, opened his presentation of this
year’s events.
“The year 2017 will go down in history as one of
‘new beginnings’ ... We are launching a series of
new sections, collaborations, and openings,
which will hopefully revitalise the Greek perform-
ing scene and over time bear fruit and become
established parts of the Festival.
“First of all, we are launching the Epidaurus
Lyceum, an international summer school of
ancient Greek drama intended for drama school
students and young actors from all over the world.
“[A]nother important new section of the Festival
[is the] ‘Opening to the City,’ encompassing per-
formances and events at non-theatrical spaces,
site-specific, poetic and musical performances,
and activist interventions in dodgy or run-down
areas of the city, ... to counteract the increasingly
withdrawn and introspective stance of society. [A
response] to the fear of diversity, and taking a
stand against parochial, insular, and racist atti-
tudes at large.”
Selected events from the festival are presented
below. For the full programme please visit
Trade with Greece
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“During these times of crisis and radical changes, without
ignoring any of the major political and social challenges
currently at work in both our country and the rest of the
world, we here at the Athens & Epidaurus Festival retain a
pecial privilege: to serve a key area of culture, a field that is
of paramount importance for the future of education and
cultivation, and for the forging of a modern identity.”
By Nicoleta Makri
ATHENS FESTIVAL 2017
