ATHENS – The program of the international two-day event inaugurating the Interbalkan Festival of Ancient Drama from the Region of Attica begins on Monday, July 25 with guest speakers from important Balkan institutions discussing Ancient Drama as a timeless source of inspiration and creation, while on Tuesday, July 26 Euripides’ ‘Iketides’ (The Suppliants) will be presented through the unique method of directing and teaching of Dimos Avdeliodis. The event takes place at the Theatre of Attikou Alsous ‘Katina Paxinou’ with free admission. Start time 9 PM.

Reserve seats online: https://bit.ly/3cz150U.

The Interbalkan Festival of Ancient Drama of the Region of Attica, established annually from this summer on the initiative of the Regional Governor of Attica Giorgos Patoulis and the Regional Councilor for Culture Marys Vidalis, includes a round table with guest speakers from the Balkans and a theatrical performance.

On July 25, the round table on ‘Ancient Drama as a Timeless Source of Inspiration and Creation’ features the guest speakers Lora Chenakova of Bulgaria, Head of the International Department of the Drama Theater of Plovdiv; Vlad Dragulescu of Romania, Artistic Director of the Marin Sorescu National Theater of Craiova & Artistic Director of the Craiova International Shakespeare Festival; Iulia Huiculescu of Romania, Artistic Advisor at the Lucian Blaga National Theater of Cluj-Napoca; Krastyu Krastev of Bulgaria, General Director of the Drama Theater of Philippopolis; Klajdi Marku of Albania, Director and Actor of the Bylis Theater in Fier; Ibrahim Spahic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, General Director of the Sarajevo Winter International Theater Festival; and Gorcin Stojanovic of Serbia, Artistic Director of the Yugoslav Drama Theater.

On the Greek side, the actress and director Elena Mavridou, Assistant Professor of the University of Patras Agios Marinis, Head of International Relations & Drama of the National Theater Dr. Irene Moundraki, dramatist and critic Dr. Konstantinos Bouras, Honorary Ambassador Periklis Nearchou, and Cultural Historian and Director of Letters of the Ministry of Culture Sissy Papathanasiou. The discussion is moderated by the Artistic Director of the Inter-Balkan Ancient Drama Festival Aris Asproulis.

The performance of Euripides’ ‘Iketides’, translated, with teaching interpretation, and directed by Dimos Avdeliodis, takes place on July 26.

The play answers simply and rationally what is Democracy, what is conscience, as well as what is the correct practice of good leader in the face of any obstacle or danger. The play speaks clearly about dealing with issues that concern contemporary international society and political practice, supporting its ideas and plot within the timeless moral framework of universal human values. The topicality of these issues through an iconic, experiential performance creates a common understanding of the common truths that connect and motivate us. In no other surviving works of antiquity has it been rendered with such clarity and simplicity, how the Athenian spiritual leaders of the 4th century BC perceived and accepted the importance of Democracy, in relation to consciousness and to God, to the universal values and self-awareness – to such an extent, that it seems like a humanistic civilization of the future.

‘Iketides’ by Euripides

Translation, Interpretation Teaching, Directed by: Dimos Avdeliodis

Statue – Costumes: Aristides Patsoglou

Actors: Dimitra Kotidou, Tzorgina Liosi, Dafni Markaki

Piano: Alexandros Avdeliodis

Lighting Design: Avdeliodidis Municipality

Coordinator-Production Organization: Stefania Vlachou

Duration: 80 minutes

The roundtable is held in Greek with live interpretation from English to Greek and the show is presented in Greek with English supertitles.

Submission of proposals for 2023

It should be noted that submission proposals for the artistic programming of the Interbalkan Festival of Ancient Drama, which will take place in the summer of 2023 at the Attic Grove Theater “Katina Paxinou”, is in effect. Those interested from Greece and the rest of the Balkan countries can submit their proposals electronically to [email protected] until December 30, 2022. Terms and conditions of participation can be found here. Those selected will be notified by March 6, 2023.

Region of Attica

Interbalkan Festival of Ancient Drama

Artistic Director

Aris Asproulis

Advisory Committee

Mary Vidali (President)

Io Voulgarakis

Elena Mavridou

Agis Marinis

Irene Moundraki

Konstantinos Bouras

Pericles Nearchou

Sissy Papathanasiou