Inauguration and debut of ‘Nowhere’
Dimitris Papaioannou’s performance «Nowhere» will inaugurate the revamped main stage of the National Theater tonight. Equipped with all the latest technology, the venue, a place of fond memories for many, has been closed to the public for eight years. The elegant premises, a neoclassical building designed by Ernst Ziller and constructed in the early 20th century which has undergone extensive renovation, will open its doors to the public with a site-specific performance. Papaioannou has created a completely unique production, on which he has collaborated with composer Coti K, set designer Zafos Xagoraris, lighting designer Alekos Yiannaros and costume designer Thanos Papastergiou. In «Nowhere,» 26 performers come up against the dimensions and the limitations of the stage, in this specially designed work that cannot be staged anywhere else. According to Papaioannou and his collaborators, this is a work designed for the theater stage, particularly focusing on the space/machine which constantly changes and is defined by the human presence. Performers include Prokopis Agathokleous, Panos Athanasopoulos, Thanassis Akokkalidis, Antonis Vais, Nikos Dragonas, Manolis Theodorakis, Constantinos Karvouniaris, Giorgos Kafetzopoulos, Evripidis Laskaridis, Constantinos Maravelias, Giorgos Matskaris, Yiannis Michos, Maria Bregianni, Calliopi Simou and others. Papaioannou, a choreographer, visual artist, set and makeup designer as well as comic strip author, was catapulted to international standing as the successful concept creator of the Athens 2004 opening and closing ceremonies. When still a teenager, he studied alongside artist Yiannis Tsarouchis for three years before enrolling at the Athens School of Fine Arts. He then turned his attention to dance and, after training as a performer and choreographer, co-founded the celebrated Edafos Dance Theater in 1986 along with Angeliki Stellatou. His post-Olympics work includes two box-office theater hits, «2» and «Medea 2.» «Nowhere» lasts just half an hour. National Theater Main Stage, 22-24 Aghiou Constantinou, tel 210.528.8170. Performances will run Thursdays to Saturdays at 9 and 9.45 p.m. as well as Sundays at 7 and 7.45 p.m., through December 6.
