For the first time ever, a performance of an ancient Greek drama will be live-streamed live from the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus on Saturday, July 25 at 1 PM ET, to benefit the National Theatre and Greek actors, who have been feeling the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 90-minute play, The Persians by Aeschylus, presented in Greek with English subtitles, is free, although donations are welcome. It’s being stage with support from the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports, as part of this year’s Athens and Epidaurus Festival, to commemorate the 25th centennial of the Battle of Salamis.
The Persians, written in 472 BCE, is the oldest Greek drama that has survived in full to the present day. It’s an antiwar play that dramatizes this historic battle and serves as a record of it. The Battle of Salamis was the most important battle of the second Persian invasion of Greece, in which the play’s author took part. With respect for the suffering of the defeated, Aeschylus delivers a drama about tyranny and blind obedience to power and the freedom of the individual within democratic ideals. Victory rewards those who act wisely, while the rule of law punishes those whose pride leads to excess, offending both gods and men with their arrogance.
Included in the cast are Vasilis Athanasopoulos, Alberto Fais, Konstantinos Gavalas, Nikos Karathanos, Lydia Koniordou. Spyridon Kyriazopoulos, Alkiviadis Maggonas, Laertes Malkotsis, Giorgos Mavridis, Argyris Pandazaras, Dimitris Papanikolaou, Giannos Perlegas, Michalis Theofanous, and Argyris Xafis.
The Persians is directed by Dimitris Lignadis, with movement by Konstantinos Rigos, translation/metric coaching by Theodoros Stephanopoulos, set design by Alegia Papageorgiou, costumes by Eva Nathena and music by Giorgos Poulios.
Click here to view the performance on Saturday, July 25.
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