Hybrid Webinar with

Peter Stein, Erika Fischer-Lichte, Oliver Taplin, Henri Schoenmakers, Dimitris Dimitriadis, Freddy Decreus, Milo Rau and others.

Saturday 20 November 2021 to Monday 22 November 2021

Within the framework of Regional Operational Program “ATTICA” Partnership Agreement 2014-2020, Act: Establishment and Promotion of International Institutions of Contemporary Culture in Attica

Τhe Michael Cacoyannis Foundation organizes the  Action: Ancient Drama: Interdisciplinary and Cross Art Approaches

Some of the most prominent personalities of world theater will participate in the first of a series of hybrid webinars, entitled “Atreides: The Greek and Czech Society Turned Upside Down On Stage.” The webinar on the reception of Ancient Drama in Greece and the Czech Republic will take place at the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation from Saturday, 20 November to Monday, 22 November 2021.

Participants will have the opportunity to attend talks and discussions with Peter Stein (Director), Milo Rau (Director), Erika Fischer-Lichte, (Freie Universität Berlin), Oliver Taplin (University of Oxford – APGRD), Henri Schoenmakers (Roosevelt Academy Universiteit Utrecht), Dimitris Dimitriadis (Author), Freddy Decreus (Universiteit Gent), Eleni Papazoglou (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki), Konstantina Stamatogiannaki (Greek Literary and Historical Archive ELIA-MIET), Platon Mavromoustakos (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens). 

The seminar will use a comparative approach to examine the reception and interpretation of ancient Greek drama, in the Greek and Czech theatre tradition, focusing on works related to the House of Atreides.

In Greece, staging the plays has been linked to matters of national identity since the establishment of the Greek state. Especially the Aeschylus trilogy of Oresteia (or its individual tragedies) has been directed by iconic Greek directors (for example, Thomas Oikonomou, Fotos Politis, Dimitris Rontiris, Alexis Solomos, Karolos Koun, SpYros Evangelatos, Yannis Kokkos, Yannis Houvardas, Lilly Meleme, Io Voulgaraki, Georgia Mavragani etc.). Oresteia has been staged at critical moments in Greek history, bringing to the fore concepts such as politics, justice, revenge, the language issue, etc. A typical example is the clashes that took place in 1903, called Orestiaka, a historic event associated with the first years of operation of the Royal Theater.

At the same time, in the Czech Republic, although works on the myth of the Atreides are not often staged, when this happens, the performances become the subject of study (eg Oresteia, directed by Miloš Hynšt, Iphigenia in Aulis, Divadlo Na Zábradlí Theater, Goethe’s version of Iphigenia in Aulis staged at the National Theater in Prague during the German occupation, Electra, directed by Daniel Špinar in 2006, etc.).

Based on the different stage versions of Oresteia, the seminar will explore: How do these works relate to our existence today? What possibilities do they offer creators? What role have they played in the recent past?

The seminar is organized by the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation in collaboration with the Laboratory of Ancient Drama and Theatrical Research of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, which houses the European Network for Research and Documentation of Greek Performances, and the Czech Center in Athens.

It is a continuation and evolution of the action of Arc-Net “Performing the Archive. The Persians On Stage: experiencing trauma, interconnecting cultures”.

To attend the seminar: call 210 3418579 and email adrama@mcf.gr

Those who register will receive a Certification of Attendance at the end of the webinar.

“Within the framework of Regional Operational Program “ATTICA” Partnership Agreement 2014-2020, Act: Establishement and Promotion of International Institutions of Contemporary Culture in Attica

Atreides: The Greek and Czech Society Turned Upside Down on Stage”

Investigating the reception of Atreides

The hybrid webinar and international forum continues with the participation of important theatre artists at the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation

from Thursday, January 20 to Sunday, January 23.

“Atreides: Grand Narratives | The Greek and Czech Society Turned Upside Down on Stage – Exploring the reception of Atreides in popular culture

Within the framework of Regional Operational Program “ATTICA” Partnership Agreement 2014-2020, Act: “Establishment and Promotion of International Institutions of Contemporary Culture in Attica”.

The Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, the Laboratory of Ancient Drama and Theatrical Research of the Department of Theatrical Studies of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, in collaboration with the European Network of Research and Documentation of Performances of Ancient Greek Drama and the České Centrum Athens, organize the Action: Ancient Drama: Interdisciplinary and Cross Art Approaches.

The hybrid webinar entitled “Atreides: Grand Narratives | The Greek and Czech Society Turned Upside Down on Stage – Exploring the reception of Atreides in popular culture” continues Thursday 20 and Friday 21 January 2022, at the Michalis Cacoyannis Foundation.

The webinar will host renowned academics, researchers, and artists from Greece and the Czech Republic, picking up from the leading Greek and world theatre personalities who participated in the first cycle. 

Taking place in November 2021, the first cycle attracted significant interest due to the prominent academics and theatre-makers who participated: Oliver Taplin (University of Oxford – APGRD), Erika Fischer-Lichte (Freie Universität Berlin), Henri Schoenmakers (Roosevelt Academy Universiteit Utrecht), Dimitris Dimitriadis (author – translator), Freddy Decreus (Universiteit Gent), Eleni Papazoglou (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki), Konstantina Stamatogiannaki (Hellenic Literary and Historical Archive ELIA-MIET), Platon Mavromoustakos (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens).  

The great German director Peter Stein shared his memories and thoughts on his historic staging of “Oresteia” at the Berlin Schaubühne. Swiss director and writer Milo Rau spoke as an artist, activist, and artistic director of NTGENT, on his groundbreaking performance of “Orestes in Mosul”. 

As part of this exciting synergy, their two iconic performances were offered online for free for a limited time.  

Following the seminar lectures, young and renowned researchers and creators will explore issues of representation, reception, and dramatic approach in contemporary performances of Oresteia, focusing on notions like Hybris, Nemesis, and Catharsis vis-à-vis the fate of another emblematic tragic hero Hercules. 

This comparative study will explore the issue of Hybris and its imperishable connection with Power. In addition to theatrical representational research, the Atreides myth will also be explored through cinematic performances. 

During the International Forum, on January 22 and 23, round tables will host directors who have proposed stage versions of Oresteia or other dramatic texts on the theme of Hybris and Power, as well as actors who participated in these performances, to discuss: their creative choices, the difficulties they encountered, as well as how we can approach these works today, how they relate to our existence and a range of contemporary concerns.

Well-known Czech director Tomas Louzny will participate in the webinar and a round table with his creative team. Daniel Pribyl, Academic Professor and Director of City Theaters in Prague -one of Prague’s most dynamic and prestigious cultural institutes, playing an important role in the Czech and European theatrical scene- will discuss tragedy reception. 

The seminar will offer simultaneous interpretation between English, Greek, and Czech. 

The seminar is organized by the Michalis Cacoyannis Foundation, the Laboratory of Ancient Drama and Theatrical Research of the Department of Theatrical Studies of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, in collaboration with the European Network of Research and Documentation of Performances of Ancient Greek Drama, in cooperation with the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

To attend the seminar: please call 210 3418574 and email adrama@mcf.gr

Those who register for both cycles will receive a Certification of Attendance.