CULTURE

‘Loxandra’ coming to Athens

News that the State Theater of Northern Greece?s production of ?Loxandra? is traveling to Athens is only part of the story. The real news is that the play marks the beginning of a collaboration between the Thessaloniki-based theater company and the Foundation of the Hellenic World (FHW).

The opening act of the aforementioned collaboration will see the State Theater of Northern Greece staging its most successful production to date — so far ?Loxandra? has sold some 70,000 tickets at the box-office. In Athens, performances will run at the theater of FHW?s Hellenic Cosmos cultural center from May 4 to 15.

According to Dimitris Efraimoglou, the foundation?s managing director, the play reflects the cultural center?s aim to safeguard the history of Asia Minor Greeks.

Penned by Maria Iordanidou in 1963, ?Loxandra? tells the story of the author?s grandmother, a Greek living in Istanbul before the First World War. Initially published as a biographical novel, it was subsequently adapted for the theater and for television.

?After the performance, members of the audience will have the opportunity to learn how to discover their roots by participating in the foundation?s Genealogy and Oral History Program,? Efraimoglou said at a recent press conference.

?Loxandra is a woman with strong feelings about the motherland; this includes the notion of the ?other,? but without ever discarding the idea of nationality,? said the play?s director, Sotiris Hatzakis, who also commented on the general absence of Greek works at local theaters.

Taking on the lead role of Loxandra is Fotini Baxevani. At the press event, the actress noted some moving reactions to the play in Thessaloniki, before quoting her character: ?I don?t have a self. I am my people.?

The book was adapted for the stage by Akis Dimou, while Ersi Drini was in charge of sets and costume design.

Hellenic Cosmos, 254 Pireos, Tavros, tel 212.254.0000

Subscribe to our Newsletters

Enter your information below to receive our weekly newsletters with the latest insights, opinion pieces and current events straight to your inbox.

By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.