The rhythmic novel of the Cretan Renaissance by Vincenzo Kornaros, staged by the National Theatre of Northern Greece opens the curtain for the Nicosia International Festival...never ends for the new year. The production was conceived and directed by Argyro Chioti, a familiar theatre director for the Nicosia International Festival audience since 2019 when she presented Dante's “Divine Comedy”, a production of Onassis Cultural Centre.
The classic work of Cretan theatre, at first glance unfolds the obstacle-filled and socially unequal love between the only daughter of the King of Athens, Aretousa, and the son of the King's loyal advisor, Εrotokritos. A tale overflowing with emotion and celebrating love. In addition to the fascinating love story, the story sheds light on key current issues relating to the limits of human will and the conflict with contemporary social norms. It focuses on Aretousa, a woman who does not passively accept her fate but asserts her self-determination with bravery, passion, and hope. The performance incorporates a poem, a women's manifesto written especially for the show by Iranian writer Rahil Fallahfar, influenced by the struggles of women in her country.
A purely revolutionary text, "Erotokritos" gave the cast and especially Argyro Chioti the opportunity to exploit the very high vibration and the inconceivable power that love has. "We very much want this power to be transferred in some way to every decision of humans at any level... It is very important not to be afraid to go to the extremes of your choice at any cost", claims the director of the production.
The performance emphasizes the power of narration and, above all, music. The rhythmicity of the speech and the bodies compose a contemporary theatrical experience. Sword fights are transformed into dance contests, serenades are sung to the accompaniment of an electric bass, while the music, performed live by piano, cello and drums, is an original composition by Lola Totsiou.
The play
"Erotokritos" was first published in Venice in 1713 and was first performed in the Greek theatre by Marika Kotopouli in 1929, adapted by Theodoros Synadinos and directed by Spyros Melas. The story of Erotokritos is written in a language that, as described by George Seferis, "expresses consistently the sensitivity of the people who spoke it". A language that comes from the past and connects us with our folk tradition; it moves us and takes us on a journey.
Reviews for the performance
"… with an absence of didacticism, Argyro Chioti adapts the famous "Erotokritos" as a story about love, forgiveness, selfishness. With sincerity and directness, she conveys a poem exactly as a reader would feel it, with colours, musicality, emotions" (Pavlos Lemontzis, cityportal.gr.)
"Watching Argyro Chioti's "Erotokritos", you felt an air of freshness, youth and vitality that made the performance even more charming. A modern take on the well-known play that treated the love story of Erotokritos and Aretousa as an opportunity to highlight the very topical issue of the abuse of women and to promote the idea of their equality, independence and autonomy in a moving way." (Ania Kanakari, kulturosupa.gr/.)
Credits
Conceived and directed by: Argyro Chioti
Adaptation - Dramaturgic editing: Efthymis Theou
Poem by: Rahil Fallahfar
Stage design: Eva Manidaki
Costumes: Angelos Mentis
Music composition - Music teaching: Lola Totsiou
Lighting design: Tasos Paleoroutas
Music Instruction: Chrysa Toumanidou
Assistant director: Viki Kitsiou
Assistant set designer/ costume designer: Ellie Nalbanti
Production organization: Marily Ventouri
Photos by Mike Rafail (That long black cloud)
Cast:
Poetry - Frosyni: Theodora Loukas
Poet - Pezostratos: Yannis Harisis
Aretousa: Chara Giota, Ioanna Demertzidou, Emmanuela Kabitsi, Aegli Katsiki
Erotokritos: Costis Kapellidis, Constantinos Chilas, Christos Stylianou
King: Stelios Kalaitzis
Musicians:
Aliki Marda (cello), Iordanis Arzoglou (piano) and the actors: Kostis Kapellidis (electric bass, percussion), Constantinos Chilas (piano)
Duration: 90 minutes (without intermission)
For tickets: https://bit.ly/NIF_never_ends_tickets, Stephanis Stores and at the Nicosia Municipal Theatre box office (Monday-Friday 10:00-13:00).
For information: 22797979 (Monday - Friday 10:00-13:00).
Ticket prices
ZONE A: €24 / €20
ZONE B: €20 / €16
ΖONE C: €16 / €12
ΖONE D: €12 / €10
Festival identity:
The Festival is co-organised by the Nicosia Municipality and Nicosia For Art, and forms part of Nicosia's bid for the European Capital of Culture 2030.
The Festival is presented by ECOMMBX.
Festival Silver Sponsor: Cyprus Public Transport
Festival Bronze sponsor: Embassy of Spain in Cyprus, Deloitte Legal
Hospitality sponsor: The Classic Hotel