July 7, Wednesday, 9.30 pm
Asklepion Theatre, Pergamon
‘THE FIRE STEALER’
AESCHYLUS: PROMETHEUS BOND
FRIENDS OF THE MUNICIPAL THEATRE OF PIRAEUS
Previous Director: Aggelos Sikelianos
Music: Konstantino Psahos and Mikis Theodorakis
Elias Malandris Director
Konstantinos Karamanos Music Director
Vangi Burbidge Set designer
Vasia Angelidou Choreographer
Giannis Konstantakopoulos Light engineer
Dimitrios Bourboulis Sound engineer
Antigone Valakou Gaia
Mario Frangoulis Prometheus
Jenny Drivala Oceania
Vassilis Bisbikis Ocean / Hefaistus
Marie Mikaela Via
Anna Koutsaftiki Io
Athan Aris Hermes
Apostolis Totsikas Prophet
George Perris Leader of the Titans
Christianna Mantzourani Leader of the Chorus
Lyceum Club of Greek Women Chorus of the Ocean nymphs
Dionysia Malefaki, Christina Spanou, Margarita Zorogiannidi, Ioanna
Volpanou,
Konstantina Kotrotsou, Maria Sidira, Anastasia Kotsou, Fani Parli,
Aliki-Nefeli Mavraki, Melina Koukouli
Musicians:
Theodoros Lazarou Bass
Adam Dogas Clarinet
Themis Simvoulopoulos Timpani
Miketa Panagiotopoulou Flute and vocal
Tatianna Papageorgiou Piano
Producer:
Friends of the Municipal Theatre of Piraeus
Under the aegis of the
GREEK MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND TOURISM
He served at Marathon against Darius, 490 and during Xerxes * invasion, 480-479. Between 478 and 467 he visited Sicily, there composing by request Women of Aetna. He went again, 458-7, and died there at Gela. At Athens he competed in production of plays more than twenty times, and was rewarded on at least thirteen occasions, becoming dominant between 500 and 458 through the splendour of his language and his dramatic conceptions and technique.
Of his total of 80-90 plays seven survive complete. The Persian (472), the only surviving Greek historical drama, presents the failure of Xerxes to conquer Greece; Seven against Thebes (467) was the second play of its trilogy of related plays on the Evil fate of the Theban House. Pofyneices tries to regain Thebes from his brother Eteocles; both are killed. In Suppliant Maidens, the first in a trilogy, the daughters of Danaus arrive with him at Argos* whose King and people save them from the wooing of the sons of their uncle Aegyptus. In Prometheus Bound, first or second play of its trilogy about Prometheus, he is nailed to a crag, by order of Zeus, for stealing fire from heaven for men. Defiant after visitors ' sympathy and despite advice, he descends in lightning and thunder to Hell. The Oresteia (458), on the House of Atreus, is the only Greek trilogy surviving complete. In Agamemnon, the King returns from Troy, and is murdered by his wife Clytaemnestra. In Libation-Bearers, Orestes with his sister avenges their father Agamemnon's death by counter-murder in Eumenides, Orestes, harassed by avenging Furies, is arraigned by them at Athens for matricide.
Tried by a court set up by Athena, he is absolved, but the Furies are pacified.
Director's note
Angelos Sikelianos has been a profound visualizer.
Antiquity gave him the motive to embrace and develop within his soul the highest values and ideas of a great vision.
He who attempts to analyze or bring forward the word of Sikelianos, by transforming it into an image of melodious synthesis, as it is the theatre, must adopt the same visions, if he doesn't carry them already in the depths of his soul. An apparent and shortsighted analysis would just refuse to Sikelianos the appelation of the visualizer of high ideas. Angelos Sikelianos was more than that. He was an Inviter.
His power springs from Freedom and Unity which, used by the poet as ideological axes, flush his poetic world. Besides the theoretical quest, there is an invitation of regenerative elite to an extraordinary mysticism, as mentioned by Takis Dimopoulos. His language is not easily comprehensible. He was convinced that Aeschylus and Pindarus revived throygh his voice. He stood face to face with the two poets as on a bridge.
Thus, it is not coincidental that his first dramatic play, entitled The Orphic Dithyramb, the only one that the poet directed in 1933, had an Aeschylic theme. The play was characterized undoubtfully as an adaption of Vassarides one of the lost plays of Aeschylous, part of tetralogy Lykourgeia.
An Orphic speech ruled his entire life, as the poet confessed to Robert Levesque. I am the son of the earth and the starry sky. That'smy race is immortal.
Elias Malandris
The Wings Of Angelos (1997)
The poetry of Sikelianos is by itself an autonomous and complete universe. Sikelianos has always been a seeker of Harnony and Rythm, which, according to his words, would help him achieve esoteric fulfillment. His workfocuses on the struggle of man to liberate himself and approach the Divine, overpassing the agonies and pain of life. This is accomplished through various procedures and challenges, which, though expressed in different ways in each myth, however, they ultimately meet.
Elias Malandris - Director
Elias Malandris was born in Athens and hails from Kassos island. He studied acting at the Athens Conservatory and journalism, history of art, stage, and video and film direction at the New York University. Since 1987, he has been working at the radio and television. He has directed over1000 television broadcastings, six theater plays for the radio and eight theater plays for television. He presents the programme ESTIN OUN which refers to the Ancient Greek Drama. For his series :test, Fourth dimension” which is a dramatization of the poets of Yiannis Ritsos, he was honoured with the high recognition of the University of Madrid and the series is now included as a main subject at the studies programmer of the Department of Modern Greek Studies at the university of Madrid. Also, he was praised by the New York University for the adaptation of Ovidius' play “Orpheus in the underworld”. His main television works are the 40 episodes on the history of the National Theater, the 15 episodes on the history of the Art Theater Karolos Koun, as well as the portraits of almost all the actors, directors, translators and philologists involved with the Ancient Greek Drama. He has directed three short films “The Water”, “Chants of Agony”, “Gypsy's Twelve-tell”, and a documentary film on ancient Greek customs from the region of Thrace titled “Tsaousli”, as well as the musical TV series “The Sea Tells me a Lot...” In collaboration with Euro Info Media and the European Cultural Centre Delphi he directed two plays by Aggelos Sikelianos “the last Orphic Dithyramb” and “Deadal in Crete” in global premiere at the ancient Stadium of Delphi. Since 1998 he has travelled around the world for the musical show “the Liturgy of Orpheus” compossed by Yiannis Markopoulos. He has directed plays for most of the Ancient Greek and Roman theaters. Two plays “Re-naissance” and “the song of Achilles” were performed in 2000 in Athens. In the summer of 2001 he presented the “24 Pyrrichean Dances” at the Herod Atticus Theater whereas he completed his first long film “The Yusuri”, a cinematic transcription of “Words of Prow” by Andreas Karkavitsas. In 2002 “the Liturgy of Orpheus” and “Dreams of paper” were performed at the Athens Music Hall, and “The Areaway” with Anna Synodinos to Brettania Theater. In 2003 “Turbidly Waters” by Nikos Kavadias and “The Liturgy” were presented at the Athens Concert Hall produced by “Friends of the Municipallity Theater of Pireus” and the archaeological site of Marathon respectively. In 2004 his work “Achilleis” was published. It is a research and reconstruction of the fragmented trilogy by Aeschylus and was presented by the Greek Festival and the Theatrical Organization of Cyprus in Epidaurus, with Despina Bebedelis, Tzeni Gaitanopoulos, Stelios Kafkaridis and Marios Frangoulis. The play raides turmoil of criticism by a part of the Greek literary society, gaining at the same time the acknowledgement of foreign press and dividing the critics. Another of his books titled “Mikis Theodorakis” was published in 2004. In 2005 he directs the performance “Old Neighbourhood” featuring Tania Tsanaklidou and Mario Frangoulis at Veakeion Theater in Pireus. His fourth book titled “here goes children of Hellas” was published in 2005, while his TV series “Traces” were broadcasted through the TV show Hotel Triton.
The performance is characterized with great political importance since it shows the cultural entrance of Cyprus to Turkey in the frame of friendship of our countries and is being greeted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs who attends the performance.
In 2007 he presents “The Free Besieged” by D. Solomos at the Badminton theatre, with music from Yannis Markopoulos, and with the cooperation of Mario Frangoulis, Alkinoos Ioannides, Lakis Halkias, narrator Anna Synodinou, costumes G. Metzikof, choreography Haris Madafounis, directed by E.M.
Also in 2007 he presents “when I talk of the sun” homage to Odysseus Elytis., at the ancient theatre of Herodion, with unprecedented attendance and always with the cooperation of Friends of the Municipality Theater of Pireus with M. Frangoulis, M. Lidakis, F. Dara, A. Smirnakis and narrators D. Bebedeli and Grigoris Valtinos.
In 2008 Mario Frangoulis becomes ambassador of peace for the WCCCI and UNESCO and Elias Malandris is responsible for the production of a series of performances which have as a target the projection of the Greek culture all over the world. Once more with the cooperation of important institutions like the Friends of the Municipality Theater of Pireus with Aggela Daifa and Eleni Meleti as a president, Thesavros of Hellenic Language and Academy of Athens.
This performance “THE GREEK LIGHT” has travelled during 2010 through the USA, to NY, Boston and Chicago.
Konstantinos Karamanos, Music Director, Chorus Director
Born in 1969, he undertook the Superior Theorist course with speciality Director of
Chorus and graduated from the Music Academy of Sofia – Bulgaria. Since
Octobe1995 He is the Chorus Director of the three-voice feminine chorus of the
“Lyceum of Greeks”, whilst in the meantime, since October 1997, is Professor of
Theorists of the children's Chorus as well as of their mixed chorus at St. Dimitrios
Municipal Conservatoire. Since September 1994 until now days he has tutored
children's and adult’s theatrical teams at numerous Municipalities around Greece
for serious plays and in most times with music at his own adaptation usually at the
country’s biggest venues and ancient theatres.
Vasia Angelidou, Choreographer
Vasia Angelidou was born in Port Saint in Egypt. Moved to Greece while in High School and followed History of Arts at Derree College. She got diplomas in Ballet and Modern Dance and attended dancing lessons at Pineapple in London. After completing hew studies in Dance Therapy, she participated in a number seminars with different dancing techniques (Limon, Alexander, Butoh, etc). Since 1980 until today she has been teaching in various Dance Schools in Greece and has been participating with main dancing and theatrical teams at venues such as the Athens Concert Hall with operas, the Arts Theatre with Aristophanes’ “The Birds”, etc.
Giannis Konstantakopoulos – Lighting
Born in Xanthi. He studied theatre at the department of Theatre Studies at the University of Patras and music at the National Conservatory of Athens. He has attended theater seminars with K. Filippoglou M. Marmarinos, R. Pateraki, N. Diamantis, M. Panoutsou etc.
Since 2002 he has directed Devised Theatre plays in Athens, Patras and Serres. He is a founding member of the theater company "Motus Terrae" with an activity on roadshows, site specific performances and Devised Theatre plays. Since 2007 working as Stage Manager - Actor at the National Theater of Greece and has worked with V. Mavrogeorgiou, S. Kakkala, E. Theodorou, D. Lignadis M. Frintzila, T. Moschopoulos, G. Grauzinis, L. Chetouanne etc. He has also worked as stage manager at the Festival of Alternative Theatre Scene which organizes theater company "Entropia", as theater workshops animator, as a teacher in intercultural education schools, as a jury member of the Panhellenic school games of modern theater organized by the Ministry of Education. He works as a light desinger on artistic productions, since 2000, in musical and theatrical performances in Greece and abroad. He had maintained lighting at all the performances he has directed and collaborated with G. Hatzakis, Spyros Andreopoulos, K. Papadopoulou G. Sarakatsanis, E. Malandris, M. Plessas, G. Markopoulos, M. Frangoulis and many other music and theater groups.
Antigone Valakou – Gaia
Antigone Valakou is one of Greece’s most important stars of the dramatic scene, in theatre as well as in cinema. Born at Kavala in 1930, she moved to Athens in 1946. During her last two years in highschool she studied at Vassilis Rota “Theatrical College”. At the same time she appears on stage in 1946 with Aimilios Veakis “Realistic Theatre” company as Rose in the play “Bride’s Song”. In the following years she worked with the National Theatre and the Theatre of the National Garden where she impersonated leading roles such as Perdita in Shakespear’s “ The Winter’sTale”, Bernard Shaw’s “The Devil’s Discipline”, as Mary Warren in Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible”, as Ismene in Sophocles’s “Antigone”, and many more. In fall of 1956 she had the leading roles in Kostas Mousouris repertory and rose to prominence as Anna Frank in the homonym play. However, apart from participating in many theatrical plays, she took part in a lot of cinematographic films such as “The Skies Belong to Us”, The Road with the Acacias”, Golfo”, etc. In 1958 she was honoured with the “Marika Kotopouli” theatrical award.
Mario Frangoulis: Prometheus
Mario Frangoulis is a tenor of the 21st Century, with the ability to sing everything from a hard-rock anthem to an operatic aria. “My greatest love is opera and classical music,” Mario says, “I always sang from an early age, with a record
player—with Greek singers of course, but also recordings of movie musicals, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand. I knew I had a good voice but I didn’t know I had an operatic voice.
In the beginning, I was against anyone saying I had that kind of operatic sound. I had always felt I didn’t belong in that category. I wanted to communicate the music, and I didn’t think opera singers sounded young enough, modern enough.” Then Frangoulis saw a performance of Carmen with José Carreras and Agnes Baltsa, which drew him into the world of opera. Mario studied the violin for 10 years, and even composed a bit when he was a boy. At the age of 17, he attended London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama to study acting and singing. While at Guildhall he was discovered by Sir Cameron Mackintosh, who is referred to by the New York Times as “the most successful, influential and powerful producer of our time.” He immediately hired Frangoulis upon his graduation to play the character of Marius in Les Misérables in London’s West End.
Soon thereafter, he was invited by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber to play the role of Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera to great critical acclaim. It was during this time, while completing his studies at Guildhall, that Mario discovered the operatic side of his voice. He won the Maria Callas Prize, which he auditioned for simply because a friend who was studying opera (and realized he had a tenor voice) encouraged him. Juggling this newfound opportunity in opera with an emerging stage career was a challenge; nonetheless he found himself on a path to Italy to study with the world-famous Carlo Bergonzi (greatly admired for his pointed diction, beautiful legato, and elegant phrasing). Upon the recommendation of one of his mentors, the legendary mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne, Frangoulis went to Rome to audition for the acclaimed tenor Alfredo Kraus, who was performing with Nicola Rescigno (Maria Callas’s favorite conductor). Both were impressed. Mario became the only private student that the late Kraus ever accepted, and he traveled all over the world, studying and learning while Kraus performed. This intensive daily training cultivated Frangoulis’s solid vocal technique and good high notes, both hallmarks of Kraus’s style. He continued his studies at the Julliard School of Music in New York under the guidance of Dodi Protero, solidifying his skill as a vocalist and musician. Despite his intensive training Frangoulis is anything but a conventional operatic singer. He won the role of Tony in West Side Story at Milan’s La Scala for the New Millenium. He has appeared in films, on television, and even in epic presentations of Greek tragedies. In his native Greece, Mario has been acclaimed by critics in roles ranging from high-school hero Danny Zuko in Grease to Aristophanes’ The Birds featuring the songs of Manos Hadjidakis (the Oscar-winning Greek composer of Never On Sunday) in the ancient amphitheater at Epidaurus. As an actor, Mario has played leading roles in King Lear, The Bacchae, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and created the title role in Kit Hesketh-Harvey and James Mackonnell’s Yusupov. More recently, he played the role of Alfred Drake from Kiss Me Kate in the film De Lovely, performing the Cole Porter song So In Love with world-famous singer Lara Fabian.
In 1998 Frangoulis began recording for Sony Classical. Since then, he has completed several international recordings (both live and in-studio): Feggari Erotevmeno, Short Stories: Live at the Herod Atticus Theatre, Sometimes I Dream, Follow Your Heart, TheGarden of Wishes, Music of the Night, and Amor Oscuro. In 2007 he was asked to be a featured artist with Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Natalie Merchant, Jewel, and others on a major compilation CD entitled Give Us Your Poor in support of an education and awareness project to end homelessness in the United States.
In late 2007 he completed Passione, a tribute to the ground-breaking tenor, Mario Lanza, featuring the worldfamous Hayley Westenra in the duet “Be My Love.” Passione was released in early 2008, and went platinum in Greece and to #5 on Sony BMG’s International charts. He is currently working on several new and exciting projects—both live and in the studio. Frangoulis is best known for his powerful and charismatic live performances. He is an artist who is refined, diverse, and far reaching, and because of his intensive vocal and theatre training, impeccable interpretation, and knowledge of multiple languages, is able to reach across generational and cultural boundaries. He sings and speaks to his audiences in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Greek, and loves to blend multiple musical styles (opera, pop, rock, folk, soul/R&B, world). As a result he has successfully collaborated with many artists ranging from Plácido Domingo, José Carreras, Montserrat Cabellé, Hayley Westenra, and Alessandro Safina to Jim Brickman, Justin Hayward, Lara Fabian, Alejandro Fernández, Madeleine Peyroux, Natalie Merchant, Lucio Dalla, and many more. But it is Mario the person that distinguishes him from the rest. He is a true humanitarian who is recognized all over the world for his charity work and commitment to humanitarian causes. Over the years, he has consistently supported events and organizations such as: Voices for Darfur, José Carreras’ Leukemia Foundation, AIDS, and homelessness prevention and intervention.
He is most passionate, however, about any cause that pertains to the protection of “at risk” children. In March, 2008 Frangoulis was invited by Nobel Peace Laureate Betty Williams to be her official Global Ambassador for Peace, partnering with her and other Nobel peace laureates such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama, President Gorbachev, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, President Oscar Arias, Rigoberta Menchu Tum, and Jody Williams on a global education and awareness campaign to take children and their families out of refugee camps and war-torn countries to Cities of Peace that will be built specifically as violence-free zones all over the world. The first City of Peace is currently being launched in the Basilicata region of Italy in 2008. As Mario says, “You have to show your personality, your character, your education, and most of all your truth…You have to express the hopes of your soul, and that’s what my music is about…That is the number one thing I do…It’s simply about what it means to be human.”
Jenny Drivala – Oceania
Greek soprano Jenny Drivala is throughout the European and other continents one of the most important singers of the Belcanto repertoire during the last 20 years.
At a very young age, she won two International Singing Competitions”: the Concourse International de Toulouse (France) and the Vincenzo Bellini Competition in Italy,
Where she won both the 1st Prize and the special Maria Callas Award. Her debuts in Greece and Italy happened almost simultaneously in the title role of “Lucia di Lammermoor” in the National Opera of Greece and at Bari in Italy. Since then she appeared in numerous opera houses around the world. To mention some of them: Milan La Scala (Amina in “La Sonnambula”), Vienna State Opera (Lucia), Paris Chatelet (Violetta in “La Traviata”), Paris Champs Elysees (Ginevra in “Ariodante”), English National Opera (Maria Stuarda), Liceo in Barcelona (Giunia in “Lucio Silla” and Maria Stuarda), Florence Maggio Musicale (Gilda in “Rigoletto”),Rome Teatro dell’Opera (Amina, Norina in “Don Pasquale” and others), La Fenice in Venice (Aspasia in “Mitridate,Re di Ponto”), Teatro Bellini in Catania (Lucrezia Borgia and Imogene in “Il Pirata”), Spoleto Festival dei due Mondi ( Eupaforice in “Montezuma” and Antigone).
She appeared also in Basel (Melisande), St Gallen (Thais), Lausanne (Konstanze in “Entfuherung aus dem serail”), Victoria State Opera in Melbourne (Elvira in “I Puritani”), PAC -Pretoria and CAPAB-Cape Town (Olympia-Antonia-Giulietta in “Contes d’Hoffmann”,Violetta in “La Traviata”).
She has been given the prize of best “Interpreter of the Year”for her “Antigone” at the Spoleto Festival (1988).
She has appeared in two films:”Malina” and “Poussieres d’amour” both by director Werner Schroeter.and in the title role of Gluck’s “Armide” for the ORF (Austrian Television).
In Greece she appears regularly with the GNO (Greek National Opera) and the Concert Hall (Megaron Moussikis) as well as at the Greek Festival (Herode Atticus Theatre), in roles of her repertoire and concerts.
She has been the creator of the title roles in the world – premieres of the following operas: “Antigone” by Mikis Theodorakis and “The return of Helena” (Helen of Troy) by Th.Microutsikos.
She has recorded full operas and albums.
Vassilis Bisbikis, Ocean/Hefaistus
Graduated at Traga Drama School. Acting workshop with Andreas Manolikakis (Method of Actor Studio), Dimitris Katalifos, Iannis Dalianis, Kiki Selioni, Michael Zaibel. Dance studies wit Kate Holden and Sidy Triadou. Music studies with Frida Tripi.
Theatre experience:
Theatre Akis Davis, the Lisbon Traviata, Terrence Mc Nally, dir. L. Georgakopoulos
Theatre Alekos Alexandrakis, Middle Age, Albert Gurney, Dir. Pemi Zouni
National Theatre of Northern Greece, Orestes Euripides, dir. Sl.Unkovski
National Theatre of Northern Greece, Astreetcar named desire T. Williams, dir. A. Kalogrides
National Theatre of Northern Greece, Blood Wedding. F.G.Lorca dir. I. Ioannides
Meli Theatre Babylon, D. Vizantios, dir. I. Mortzos
Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus Aeschylous, dir Anna Sinodinou
Michaella Chadiarakou- Via
Michaella was born in London, UK, in 1990. She grew up in the UK, Greece and Saudi Arabia. She has a degree in Theater Acting from the New York Film Academy, N.Y. She has played the role of Abbie in Eugene O'Neill's Desire Under The Elms, the role of Lorna in Golden Boy by Clifford Odets and William Gibson and the role of Martha in Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf by Edward Albee. She participated in the production of "Apollo" in 2008 in Efessus.
Anna Koutsaftiki - Io
Anna Koutsaftiki graduated from the School of Philosophy of Athens and the Greek Art Theatre “Karolos Koun”. She has attended seminars with Amanda Chappelle and voice lessons with Kaiti Papalexopoulou. She has participated in numerous performances with the National Theatre and the Art Theatre in roles such as Erofili by Hortatsis, Tatiana at Shakespear’s “Midnight Summer Dream”, Loudmilla at Gorki's “Vassa”, Selestina at“Melibea” by De Rohas, Agnes at Pelmier's “Agnes of God” and Aretousa at “Erotokritos” at Herod of Atticus Theater. She has worked with directors such as G.Lazanis, G.Livathinos, B. Nikolaidis, M. Kougioumtzis, B. Myrianthopoulos, G.Chouvardas and N. Mastorakis. She participated in three TV series and had three roles in movies at the cinemas. In summer of 2009 she participated in G. Lignadi’s “Evripides Fragments.” at “Epidavros” while she got a special honour from the majority of the critics for her performance in Andromeda. She is one of the first tutors of the Medea role at the lately redraft play of Sophocles “Kolchides” on national radio.
Aris Athan - Hermes
Professional Experience
Theatre:
“Madame Melville"
Alan Palmer
Director: Giannis Vouros,
Television:
“Love Like Desert”
Philip Kaisaris
Director: Reina Eskenazy,
Film:
“Words of the Sea”
Manolios
Director: Elias Maladris
Additional Experience
Appeared with Kate Moss in her new Rimmel advert for TV
Pending for the film production of “Young Cleopatra"
Training
Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London
Classically trained as a baritone
3 weeks Biomechanical course with Nikolai Karpov
Semi-professional drummer
Currently training with Roger Kain in rock and musical singing and currently studying film acting with James Wilson (USC)
Apostolis Totsikas, Propet
Selected Feature Films:
«Sto Vathos Kipos» (2009)
Nondas
Director: Kleanthis Danopoulos
«Evil- In The Time Of Heroes» (2009)
Androkles
Directors: Yorgos & Petros Noussias
«The Guardian’s Son» (2006)
Elias
Director: Dimitris Koutsiambassakos
«Exit» (2005) Short
Director: Thanasis Totsikas
«Brides» (2004)
Nikolas
Director: Pantelis Voulgaris
Voiceovers:
«Brother Bear» (2003)
(Voice- Greek Version) - Kenai
Directors: Aaron Blaise & Robert Walker
Television:
«O Polemos Ton Astron» (2009-2010)
ANT1 (TV Series) - Nikos
Director: Christos Dimas
«To Kleidi Tou Paradeisou» (2008–2009)
ANT1 (TV Series- 26 episodes) - Dionysis
Directors: Elissavet Chronopoulou & Christos Dimas
«Μαζι Sou» (2007)
MEGA (TV Series- Male Lead)- Aris
Director: Alexandros Pantazoudis
«Ta Paidia Tis Niovis » (2004)
ET-1 (TV Series) - Stergios
Director: Kostas Koutsomytis
«10i Entoli» (2004)
ALPHA (TV Series) - Menios
Director: Kostas Lapatas
Episodes: «Mount Kronos» & «On the road» - Tzimis
Theatre:
«Electra» (Epidaurus - 2007)
By Sophocles
Orestes
Director: Peter Stein
«American Buffalo» (2006)
By David Mamet
Bobby
Director: Antonis Kafetzopoulos
«The Sound Of The Gun» (2003 - 2004)
By Loula Anagnostakis
Giannoukos
Director: Vassilis Nikolaidis
Training:
Graduate of the Drama School of the National Theatre of Greece (2000 – 2003)
George Perris, Leader of Titan
George Perris was born in Athens in 1983, his father is Greek father and mother is French. In addition to launching his music career, he studied ancient Greek literature at the University of Athens. At the age of 4, Perris decided he wanted to become a singer, and began studying the piano. From the age of 14, he started performing at several contests, festivals, piano bars.
At the age of 18, famous Greek composer Mimis Plessas discovered him and invited him to tour all over Greece and Cyprus. He then signed with EMI and shortly after released his first solo album. “My new day” featured compositions by famous composer Stefanos Korkolis and a greek version of “Caravane”, Raphael’s major European hit.
In the summer of 2006, Perris joined the internationall tenor Mario Frangoulis on a tour throughout Greece; and continued to perform jazz music with Mimis Plessas, which led to his participation on the album ''Mimis Plessas & the jazz quartet''. Perris has performed at some of the most prestigious concert halls in Greece and Cyprus (Megaron Moussikis, Red, House of art, Stavros tou notou, Zoom).
In april 2008 he participated as a featured artist at the Athens Arena International Festival hosted by Mario Frangoulis, singing duets and appearing on stage with many important international artists such as Lara Fabian, Lucio Dalla, Justin Hayward, Madeleine Peyroux, Frances Ruffelle.
At the same time (May 2008), his second album was released by SONY BMG. George Perris wrote most of the tracks on the album.
In July he performed at the Ancient Theatre of Efessus in Turkey. A few months later appeared for the first time on his own at the “Polis Stage” music-hall in Athens singing in 5 languages. In January 2009 he performed in Cyprus –his first sold-out shows- a homage to French music. On the 22nd of February he performed for the first time in London at the Cadogan Hall with the Oxford Symphony Orchestra.
In April 2009 he was in Boston for his first solo shows at the Stuart Street Playhouse and the Ryles Jazz Club.
Christianna Mantzourani – Leader of Chorus
Βorn in Athens, she graduated from the Department of Theatre Studies of the University of Athens (1998) and was awarded a Master’s Degree in “The Greek Theater from Ancient until Modern Times, Theory and Performance” from the same University (2003).
She received a further diploma in acting from the Drama School of M. Bellou-Sanikopoulou (2003). In addition she attended theatre courses on the ancient Greek drama with K. Georgousopoulos, L. Koniordou, S. Chatzakis, A. Stellatou and D. Davis at the Centre for Ancient Greek Drama Research and Practical Applications ('Desmi').
Thereafter she participated in the following theatre productions: AMPHI-THEATRE Spyros A. Evangelatos at Euripides “Iphigeneia in Tauris” (Epidavros Festival 1997), HELLENIC SCENE-Anna Synodinou (2000-2006) at: “Hommage to the poet George Seferis”, D. Solomos “The Woman of Zakynthos”, “Parents and Children in the Ancient Greek Drama”, “Penelope St. Delta”, Aeschylus “Eumenides” (Epidavros Festival 2004), Gr. Xenopoulos “The Secret of Contessa Valeriana” and Thucydides “Melian Dialogue” in inauguration of the Open University of Cyprus (Municipal Theatre of Nicosia), THESSALIAN THEATRE at: Aeschylus “Prometheus Bound” (Epidavros Festival 2005), ATTICA SCENE at: Aristophanes “The Frogs” (Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus 2006), FRIENDS OF THE PIRAEUS MUNICIPAL THEATRE SOCIETY at: Fragments of Euripides “Phaethon” & “Apollon – Dorion Phos” (Celsus Library, Ephesus 2008) and NATIONAL THEATRE OF GREECE at: Sophocles “Oedipus Rex – Oedipus at Colonus” (Epidavros Festival 2008), Al. Ostrovsky “The Diary of a Scoundrel” (2009) and K. Taktsis “The third wedding wreath” (2010).
In parallel she directed the performances of Arsakeion – Tositseion School groups (2003-2005).
Under the supervision of Prof. E. Fessa-Emanouil: She contributed to the writing of the book “Dance and Theatre” (Ephesus Publications 2004). She was scientific collaborator of the republication of the book “Stage – Costume Greek Designers and Ancient Drama” (Department of Theatre Studies of the University of Athens 2007–2008) and of database on the theatrical architecture “Theatrical Spaces” (Department of Theatre Studies of the University of Athens 2008–2009).
She was the editor for the programmes of the opera productions: A. Mozart “Don Giovanni” and Th. Sakellaridi “The Godson” (Opera of Thessaloniki 2009–2010).
She also participated in television productions and recordings.
The Friends of the Municipal Theatre of Piraeus
President: Eleni Meleti
Honorary President: Aggela Frantzeskaki-Daifas
Vice Presidents: Irene Daifas & Ifigenia Katsaridou-Tsolia
General Secretary: Rena Vasilaki
Deputy Secretary: Eva Chatzichristidou-Vasilatou
Treasurer: Irene Vantaraki
Board Members: Antigone Klentou, Vicky Lagadianou, Elli Meleti
The Friends of the Municipal Theatre of Piraeus (non-profit organization) has been founded by a team of citizens from Piraeus who had the vision to see their city and its Municipal Theatre regain its lost “glamour” - a city that bustled with intellectual and spiritual cultural life. Lack of essential cultural infrastructure as well as the necessity for the Theatre’s maintenance and re-establishment constituted the two main aims and objectives of their activity plan. In addition, over the past 8 years, the organization has activated in the charity field, offering help and support to the city’s vulnerable social groups.
Celebrating 20 years since its foundation in 1990 – 20 years of contribution to Culture and Charity – the “Friends” have been invited by the International Ismyr Festival for the 2nd time and are proud to present the great Greek tragedy “Prometheus Bound” by Aeschylus, representing in this way our country.
We strongly believe that Greece, as much as Turkey, are two countries with rich culture and share the same sensitivities in matters such as protection, maintenance and promotion of our country’s valuable cultural heritage.
About Prometheus Bound
In the 20th century, the revival of Aischylos’ plays was mainly the work of the Delphic Festival of Angelos and Eva Sikelianos, who produced Prometheus Bound in 1927, in the ancient theatre of Delphi with Yorgos Bourlos as Prometheus and Athena Kakouri as Io – a performance which met with resounding success, and was repeated, with a simpler stage design by Y. Kondoleon, again in Delphi, in 1930. Prometheus, who gave to manking the gift of fire, is punished for this by Zeus, the new god, in a show of power, condemned to be nailed to a rock and bearing daily torment by a bird of prey; Io, herself punished by Hera to wander in the form of a heifer, comes and foretells that Prometheus will one day be saved by somebody of her own blood. The impact of this performance abroad gave the impetus for the presentation of ancient drama in the open, in its natural surroundings. Prometheus the Fire-Bringer – Prometheus Bound
Prometheus Unbound
1st Play: Prometheus the Fire-Bringer
The Titan Prometheus, who had helped Zeus snatch the power from the other Titans and from Kronos, now wants to help mankind, and, against the will of Zeus, offers mankind rich gifts, among which the gift of fire. This is the story of the first tragedy from the Prometheus trilogy. Zeus is furious and orders him nailed to the rock of Parnassus. From this play only four verses remain.
Zeus
Always staying silent where it was needed
And saying only what was fitting
He gave to mortals
the gift of fire
Prometheus
Wretched brothers.
At this point Gaia -(Earth) the mother of Gods and Titans appears and informs us
for all that has taken place before during the battle. Using fragments of Theogonia by Hesiodus.
O! You mortal woman, made out from the seed of clay
2nd Play: Prometheus Bound
In the second play of the trilogy, which has survived whole, we see Kratos (Power) and Via (Violence), the servants of Zeus, drag the chained Prometheus to nail him to the rock.
The daughters of Okeanos come and sympathize with Prometheus’ plight. Prometheus prophecizes that some son of Zeus will come to deliver him from his bondage and will have the might to dethrone the king of the gods. Zeus, on hearing this prophecy, sends Hermes who tries to coax Prometheus into telling him who will be the one to yield such power, so that Zeus can protect himself. Prometheus sends Hermes away. Prometheus hears someone coming from afar. It is Io, Inahos’ daughter, whom Zeus made pregnant and, to protect her from the jealousy of his wife Hera, transformed her into a heifer. Hera, however, punished her by sending a deadly gadfly after her, a constant torment that kept her running away from land to land. Io comes to learn from Prometheus when there will be end of her woes. He prophesizes that one of her sons will free him from his bounds.
Zeus strikes the rock and Prometheus is engulfed into Tartaros, the earth abyss. This is the end of the second part of the trilogy.
3rd Play: Prometheus Unbound
In the third and last play, the Titans’ Chorus comes to Prometheus, sunk into the Tartaros, and brings him back on the surface.
Chorus
We have come to look upon your ordeals, Prometheus,
and the affliction of your bonds.
[Leaving] the Erythraean Sea’s sacred stream
and the lake flashing like bronze by the shores of Okeanos,
the life-giving lake of the Aethiopians
where the all-seeing Sun always
in warm outpourings of soft water
refreshes his undying body
and his wearied steeds.
Prometheus
You race of Titans, blood-kinsmen mine! Behold me fettered,
clamped to these rough rocks, even as a ship is moored fast
by timid sailors, fearful of night because of the roaring sea.
Thus has Zeus, the son of Kronos, fastened me
and to the will of Zeus Hephaistos lent his hand.
With cruel art has he riven my limbs by driving in these bolts.
By his skill transfixed, I tenant this stronghold of the Furies.
Each third day, with dreadful swoop, a griffon-vulture*, minister of Zeus
with his hooked talons tears me asunder
eats at my flesh, adding unbearable pain to my other torments.
Then, crammed and glutted to the full on my fat liver, utters a prodigious scream and,
soaring aloft, with winged tail shakes off my thickened gore.
But when my gnawed liver swells, renewed in growth, greedily he returns
to satiate his hunger with this foul repast.
Thus do I feed this guardian of my awful torture.
For, fettered by the bonds of Zeus,
I have no power to drive from my vitals the cruel bird.
Thus I endure countless woes fraught with torment:
longing for death, I look around for an ending of my misery;
but by the doom of Zeus I am thrust far from death.
The blazing sun wraps my body from all parts
My flesh is melting, day by day, and pours
in drops upon the rocks of Kaucasos.
But it is written that in three generations and ten
the savior will be born, who’ll come to release me.
Indeed, Herakles-Prophet appears, a descendent of Io, just as Prometheus had prophesized. The Titan gives directions to Herakles concerning the road he is to take on his journey from the Kaucasus to the Hesperides.
* The griffin, griffon, or gryphon is a legendary creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle.
Prometheus
First follow this straight road.
When the north winds encircle you,
beware the roaring madness of the hurricane,
lest unawares it twists you up and snatches you away towards the stars.
Prometheus
Thereafter you shall reach a people of all mortals
the most hospitable - the Gabians;
where nor plough nor mattock, that cleaves the ground, parts the earth,
but where the seeds, self-sown,
bring forth a rich and bounteous crop
as sustenance for mortals.
Prometheus
You shall then come to the land of fearless Ligurians
where, full well I know, you cannot win in battle
courageous though you are.
First the arrows will be over
and the ground is smooth, you cannot find any stone,.
This has been ordained for their protection.
But the Father, beholding your helplessness, shall pity you.
And, holding above you a cloud,
shall overshadow the land with a shower of round stones.
Hurling these, you shall easily drive back the Ligurian host.
Herakles
May Hunter Apollon
speed my arrow straight!
Prometheus
Of your hated father dearest son
Listen to what I say.
Here Phasis, the mighty common boundary
of the land of Europe and Asia
Zeus, frightened by the turn of events, and because he is very fond of Herakles, as well as aware of his great strength, decides to compromise, and unties Prometheus. This is the end of the third part of the trilogy.
At our performance together with the Chorus lines “Spiritual marching Song” by Aggelos Sikelianos and Mikis Theodorakis is being presented as an oratorium. The poet wrote this work inspired by Prometheus.