Irene Pappas’s pioneer vision comes to life
Irene Pappas’s vision for three pioneer theatrical schools in three Mediterranean cities is being realized this year in Rome, at the Tor Vergata University. That is where Euripides’ «Hecuba,» Pappas’s latest production, will be presented on September 10. Last year, Pappas presented Euripides’ «Trojan Women» at Sagunto, near Valencia in Spain. A press conference held place recently in Rome, and Evgenios Giannakopoulos, president of the Cultural Olympiad, was also present, since both of Euripides’ tragedies are joint productions with the Cultural Olympiad. So is Aeschylus’ «Agamemnon,» which will close the trilogy next summer at the Athens school, currently being planned out by architect Michalis Perrakis at the location of the former Sanitas factory on Pireos Street. Next summer the public will be able to watch all three productions, which the governments of all three countries have funded. The European Union has also made a remarkable financial contribution with the sum of 100 million euros for the cost of the productions and construction of the stages. History repeated Pappas, who both directs and stars in «Hecuba,» pointed out that Euripides gave voice to the women of Troy who had just fallen into slavery and who are historically equivalent to contemporary refugees and war hostages. Pappas’s latest production has attracted major personalities, such as Vangelis Papathanassiou in the music department and architect Santiago Calatrava, who will design the sets. September’s opening will also signify the opening of the School of Rome.
