Twenty five-hundred years ago,
theatre was born in Greece.
Between 600 and 200 BC, the ancient Greeks created
a theatre culture whose
structure has lasted two thousand
years and produced civilization.
Athens - Epidaurus
Festival is an annual arts festival that
The ancient theatre of Epidaurus is located in an extended
archaeological
site surrounded by lush greenery,
cypresses, pine and olive trees.
Greek
theatres could only be built on hills
that were correctly shaped.
This
year the festival was opened with Medea by
Euripides,
the tragedy of love turning into a terrible and savage hatred.
Greeks and tourists filled the theatre which is able
to seat
around 15.000 spectators to watch the drama of Medea.
The Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus is a superb example of classical theatre
and regarded as the best preserved ancient theatre in Greece
in terms
of its perfect acoustics and architectural symmetry.
It was built in the late 4th century BC. by the architect Polykleitos
on the side of a mountain and overlooking the sanctuary of Asklepius
a celebrated healing center of the classical world which was used
as a therapeutic and religious, as Asklepius was the God of healing.
Due to its incomparable acoustics the actors can be
perfectly heard by all spectators, as you can even hear
the sound of a pin dropping!
Medea (431 BC) addresses
the eternal struggle between
Man and Woman as well as the clash between two
cultures.
A complex, alluring creature, the princess from Colchis,
a foreigner
in Corinth,
experiences the ultimate betrayal
at Jason’s hands. Medea the witch, vows to
take her revenge
and comes up with the most inhuman punishment of all;
murdering her two children by Jason.
The play was staged
exclusively with male cast in all the roles
(and in the Chorus) wearing masks.
The protagonist in the role of Medea, was G.Kimoulis.
“Medea is a play which breaks conventional
logic, even the same
conventional passion. And the most paradox: although
the
heroine has committed the most heinous crime, the infanticide,
she is not
punished at the end of the play.
The Euripidean conception is moving elsewhere.
Beyond morality” said the director Spyros Evangelatos.
Each summer, we visit the
theatre at least once or twice
and have seen unforgetable plays and
great actors, Greek and foreigner as well.
Helen Mirren performed Phedra on 2009.
If you ever come near Athens in summer, don’t miss the chance
to
visit the theatre of Epidaurus and its performances.
Even if the play isn’t so known, it will be a unique experience,
I can assure you! It’s a sacred
place which emanates
the magic of ancient times.
The surroundings
There will be another last post before my summer break...
So sweet and touching comments for the "little ballerina"!
Thank you!!!
I hope you enjoy lazy summer days and
get enough energy to welcome the fall.
Ο
