Ajax is not there. But Tecmessa is. And she will defend her own version of the story. Amidst the whirlwind of societal developments and twists, humans may lose their centre. How can someone redefine their centre? Are memories real? While the fight against patriarchy and all of its ensuing problems continues, a story about “male” honour and ethics will be told from the perspective of a woman who loved her man, stood by him, and saw her life changing due to literal or metaphorical wars.
Parts of the text come to life through performance and complete Tecmessa’s narration, in an atemporal setting where moments and images are constructed and deconstructed. The soundscape adds to Tecmessa’s mental fluctuations. Can someone describe something that is at once wild and tender? Did Ajax’ life deserve a better fate? What about one person’s feelings for another person? How is love connected to honour?
How long is the journey from adoring football to succumbing to blind hooliganism, stubbing, and causing the loss of human lives? A murder fueled by hooliganism plays out in front of the eyes of a journalist, unveiling ideologies, behaviors, interests, and mechanisms that are not restricted to the rush of some hot-blooded fans, but go much deeper than that.
Through the tools of documentary theatre (interviews with the true protagonists of real-life events, fans, parents of victims, and perpetrators, referees, policemen, and sport group executives), the performance Which Team Are You On? is an ode to the global social phenomenon known as football, and a poetic recording of the sports fan culture and its negative manifestations. A performance that is raw yet comic, mundane yet surrealistic, aiming to raise the audience’s awareness and make them want to go play football with their friends.
The magic of the famous Greek author Alexandros Papadiamantis’ enduring body of work is highlighted by featuring three of his memorable short stories: “The Wife of the Church Commissioner”, “The Cholera-afflicted Woman”, and “The Voice of the Dragon”.These stories revolve around the role of women in society, the dominant patriarchal or societal views, and the many conflicts arising either from challenges in communicating a common language code or from women’s internal struggles. The themes range from the sacrifices a woman can make for her dowry to her social exclusion.
Telling the story both through vocal performance and sign language, dancing, and theatre, the director focuses on a polyphonic narrative that is conveyed through facial expressions, voices, and hand movements, shaping a unique universe. A place, which is dominated by the senses and emphasizes Papadiamantis’ language, rich in poetic descriptions and imagery. The performance features both deaf and hearing actors.
This summer, the IONIA Orchestra and Choir of Nea Ionia, Volos will present a dynamic and diverse music theatre performance titled Aristos and Fanis. The 13-member orchestra of traditional instruments, the 160-member mixed choir, singer Thodoris Kotonias, and two actors will take audiences on a colourful journey, where tradition intersects with the present day.
In a simple and immediate manner, the two heroes, Aristos and Fanis, find courage in the power of Aristophanes’ comedy, which has taught us how to address the most challenging matters through the redemptive, sarcastic, and critical power of laughter. Especially in our time and in societies where that which is “different”, whether related to countries, religions, genders, or any other groups, constantly leads to dangerous and escalating tensions. The performance conveys the message that humans need to coexist and that life acquires true value only through collaboration, acceptance of the “other”, and harmony.
In the special event for children The Journey of a Note, a contemporary composer clashes with visual artists who take a surrealistic approach in the land of colours. Starting from the compositions of Stavros Lantsias, every child will go on a journey through the notes, in any direction their experiences and emotions will lead them to, without any obstacles or filters. Aiming to emphasize freedom of expression, this two-hour experiential workshop invites children to decode music and create paintings inspired by their feelings. In a reverse approach, they will translate famous paintings by Joan Miró, Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, and Edvard Munch into soundscapes. Every attempt to translate a work of art into an emotion is a multifaceted internal conflict. And perhaps this is what holds the most magic in art.
Programme of events (13 & 14 July 2024)
- Educational programme for children aged 7 and above. Maximum number of participants: 10 persons. The programme will run from 10.00 to 12.00.
- Educational programme for children aged 7 and above. Maximum number of participants: 10 persons. The programme will run from 15.00 to 17.00.
- Visual art exhibition showcasing works crafted by the participants of the workshop. Operating hours for the exhibition: 19.30-22.00
- Concert with Stavros Lantsias. Starts at: 21.00.
The educational programmes are suitable for persons aged 7 and over.
For seat reservations in the educational programs, please contact the Konaki Prodromou Karditsa.
Contact phone: 24410 62078 (Monday – Friday 09.00-13.00).
Three actors and two musicians collaborate on a freestyle performance inspired by the “Medea” phenomenon and Euripides’ play. The performance includes singing, speech, and movement, with a particular focus on sound. The actors Katerina Antoniadou, Gina Thliveri, and Othon Metaxas take turns playing different roles in the play, accompanied by the sounds of Giorgos Triantafyllou’s musical sculptures and Chrysanthi Gika’s Constantinopolitan lyre, the rhythms of Maro Panagi, and the visual creations and soundscapes of Stefanos Kosmidis. Right at the center of this sound cyclone that is being formed, the bustle of the battle, stands Medea.
Through the dynamic vibration of the sound, we hear Euripides’ speech, the representation of conflict, in a modern Greek translation, which also includes excerpts from the ancient text. The variety of rhythms in the performance, and especially in the Chorus, aims at responding to the diverse rhythms present in the text. The Company’s research on the spiral movement of the body and sound invites audiences to reconnect with the Myth on a collective consciousness level.