‘Trojan Women’ at Epidaurus
The 51st Epidaurus Festival of ancient drama opens tomorrow, featuring the Diadromi Theater production of Euripides’ tragedy «The Trojan Women,» directed by Diagoras Chronopoulos. The recent press conference slightly differed from the usual Epidaurus Festival press conferences in that there were plenty of references to the history of the institution by Costas Georgoussopoulos (who translated the tragedy) and to the fact that the play is scheduled to travel to Troy in Turkey, where it is also set. «This is an honest play that praises the Trojans’ morals,» said Georgoussopoulos, adding that in Euripides’ work Homeric heroes are trivialized. «Being able to criticize is the achievement of democracy,» he said and reminded the audience that the play was staged in Athens shortly after the Athenians’ destruction of the island of Melos. «I am deeply touched that the play will be staged in Turkey,» said director Diagoras Chronopoulos, who made special mention of Dimitris Lignadis and 19-year-old Nefeli Lygerou for their contribution and help. «It is important to open up to Turkey with this play, which states that winners of all eras are arrogant,» said Georgoussopoulos. The tragedy will be performed in Troy on June 26. The producers had appealed to the previous board of directors of the Cultural Olympiad but had only met with indifference. «The Ministry of Tourism with current Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos and Hellenic Festival Director Yiannis Karahisaridis were the ones who helped the show travel to Turkey,» said Costas Balas on behalf of the producers. The play’s sets and costumes are by Yiannis Metzikoff, with music by Stavros Xarhakos, choreography by Natassa Zouka and lighting by Nikos Kavoukidis, while Natassa Thrassyvoulidou is the music coach. Anna Vagena will play Hecuba, Yiannis Vouros will be Talthybius, Peggy Trikalioti will play Cassandra, Tania Trypi will play Andromache, Dimitris Lignadis is to be Menelaus, Katerina Lechou will play Helen, Yiannis Thomas will play Poseidon, Madga Pensou will play Athena and 14 actors form the Chorus. «The Trojan Women» starts its summer tour with two shows at the Ancient Theater of Epidaurus tomorrow and Saturday and will finish it at the Korydallos Theater in Athens on September 8. The Epidaurus Festival Museum, celebrating its four-year anniversary this year, continues to host the exhibition «Memories of Ancient Drama,» which this year is dedicated to «Great Leading Characters.» The exhibition, on display throughout the festival, includes costumes, masks, photographs and audiovisual material which focus on the most important Greek actors of the National Theater of Greece and on their performances in shows staged during the Epidaurus Festival. Tickets are available at the Hellenic Festival Box Office, situated at 39 Panepistimiou,
