Yannis Ritsos' THE MONSTROUS MASTERPIECE, Athens & Epidaurus Festival, 2009.
A play about the life and work of Greek Poet Yannis Ritsos, inspired from his surreal, autobiographical poem 'The Monstrous Masterpiece', written in 1977. The small ancient theater of Epidaurus offers the perfect setting to revive the nostalgic aura of his poetry: The ancient marbles, the Medditeranean Sea, the olive and orange groves and a small stone farmhouse as a backdrop. A heretic mystic of metaphysical insights, who dares to experience alone the extreme contradictions of his time. "Alone" is also the first word of the poem. The stage was filled with cinematic and photography equipment as if a documentary on Ritsos' life was about to be filmed, on the spot.
Αwarded the 'Karolos Koun' prize for Original Greek Play, 2009.
The cast: Lazaros Georgakopoulos, Rania Oikonomidou, Lydia Fotopoulou, Vagelio Andreadaki, Giannis Kotsifas, Kostis kallivretakis, Fotini Baxevani, Dimitris Daskas, Tatiana Papamoschou, Maria Vardaka, Manolis Dounias, Alexandros Klimopoulos, Apostolia Papadamaki, Panos Vlachos, Giannis Briamis.
The creative team: Directed by Dimitris Mavrikios / Dramatourgy: Dimitris Mavrikios, Maria Vardaka, Dimitris Polychroniadis / Set Design: Dimitris Polychroniadis / Costumes: Eva Nathena / Lighting Design: Lefteris Pavlopoulos, Nikos Vlasopoulos / Choreography: Apostolia Papadamaki / Music arrangements: Dimitris Mavrikios, Fotini Baxevani, Stathis Skouropoulos, Video direction: Dimitris Mavrikios.
Photographs by Nikos Gargerakis, Michalis Dalanikas and Nikos Nikolopoulos.