Performance of Antigone at the Theatre Festival in Epidaure
Information
Extracts from the theatrical representation of Antigone produced by the governmental Cypriot organisation, The Cyprus Theatre Organisation, and given at the 25th anniversary of the Epidaure theatre festival. Interviews with the actress Annita Santorineou, the director Stavros S. Stakiris and the composer Mikis Theodorakis.
Context
This adaptation of Antigone produced by The Cyprus Theatre Organization (THOC) marks the 25th anniversary of their participation in the Epidaurus theatre festival. It is in fact in 1980 that the famous Epidaurus festival, which was started in 1953, opened its doors to artists and companies that had never before had access to the festival, including the national Cypriot company.
The Cyprus Theatre Organization (THOC) is a Cypriot government organization that was founded in 1971 to encourage the development of Cypriot theatre culture, and to develop professional theatre relationships with Greece and other countries. Every year it produces all sorts of productions, from the great classics to experimental theatre, and they perform throughout the island and abroad.
The director of this adaptation, Stravros S. Stakiris, wished to incorporate Sophocles' great classic into contemporary life while giving the production a distinctly Cypriotic identity.
The performance includes a number of internationally famous artistic professionals, including the great Greek composer, Mikis Theodorakis, as well as actors from the screen and the stage, Antonis Katsaris (Creon), Annita Santorineou (Antigone) and Achilleas Grammatikopoulos (head of chorus).