15 Posts in Theater & Stage

Through DJ sets and live performances centered around an elaborate and bold curatorial concept, Borderline Festival explores new sounds and technologies, deconstructs the commonly known music genres and how pop music constantly reinvents itself, and re-approaches the future of the experimental electronic music scene. Noise, acceleration, and multiplicity. Borderline 2023 is an exploration of the ways that avant-garde music and its techniques (loops, samples, distorted vocals) have bled into mainstream music. A new generation of artists has access to cheaper hardware and software and all the world's music at their fingertips thanks to the internet. Lines between genres crumble, new sounds and technologies emerge. Pop is dead and more alive than ever as it absorbs and metabolizes these changes. In Borderline 2023, young Greek creators, members of the vibrant local community, meet with rising international artists at three unexpected spots all over the city, creating a new soundtrack for Athens: a Mediterranean mosaic reflecting the constantly shifting musical landscape, bringing the so-called periphery back to the center of cultural production.From the open-to-all events at the Municipal Market of Kypseli to the late-night concerts at Gagarin 205 and the live performances at the Exhibition Hall -1 of Onassis Stegi. The longest-running festival of Stegi returns once again to Athens, further pursuing the exploration of the boundary lines between arts, cultures, and traditions. Borderline 2023 is curated by Movement Radio, Onassis Stegi's web radio.

With taped interventions by world renowned Hellenic director Costas Gavras and Fatih Akin, who underlined the importance of saving the 2 historic cinemas of the Athens center that are threatened with closure, the Ideal and the Astor, and whose administrators request that their use be immediately declared preserved, it began the long open press conference which was organized today in the Astor hall and which was attended by representatives of associations and bodies of the audiovisual and cultural sector, political parties and institutional actors (Society of Greek Directors, Hellenic Academy of Cinema, Hellenic Cinema Center, SAPOE, ESPEK, Union Hellenic Documentary, Greek Actors' Association, PEKK, POTHA etc.). "I want to address the Minister of Culture Ms. Lina Mendoni. I'm sure he has cultural patriotism. And I hope he also has cinematographic patriotism to save these theaters" stressed Kostas Gavras, declaring his absolute support for the "great fight to save the two theaters". The creator of Turkish origin, Fatih Akin, in his own intervention described the news arriving from Greece as "sad" and spoke about the importance and history of cinema. "Cinema is our heritage. It's what our ancestors always did, telling stories through which they understood themselves and the world better. Save the cinemas. These cultural heritage sites are a sin to close," he said. The managers of the 2 cinemas, Babis and Andreas Kontarakis (Astor), and Giorgos and Spyros Spentzos (Ideal) referred to the history of the case, calling on the public bodies - EFKA, the Ministry of Environment and Energy and the Ministry of Culture - "to do their duty" , as they said, they are "competent in relation to the defense of the public interest, culture, public property, the city and its inhabitants". "All of us who have been protesting since the very beginning are asking for the obvious: for the State to assume its obligations in favor of the public interest. To keep the halls in their places, to keep the city. We have already collected over 10,000 signatures of support. We can bring as many as needed. But we still need one more. That of the Minister of Energy and Environment. We are at the point where the minister just needs to put a signature, but apparently something is holding him back. We therefore call on the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications to assume their responsibilities and immediately declare the use of the cinemas, Astor and Ideal, protected, which, based on the explanatory reports of the Directorate of Architecture, Building Regulations and Licensing of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, are entitled to this status" said Babis Kontarakis and added: "Neither EFKA nor any investors are our interlocutors. It is none of their business to protect cinemas. There is already a framework that provides for the protection of cultural sites such as ours, and while we are fulfilling the conditions for inclusion, they are preventing us." Referring to the support call held last Sunday under the title "Our cinemas, our city", he said that the support of the people was unprecedented and proved that the people want the theaters and want their city alive. "Cinemas are not museums, nor mausoleums. They are still making history in the city and in culture." Responding to comments that talk about the small attendance of people at the cinemas, Mr. Kontarakis stated that "despite the cultivated impressions, the theaters only this year came out of the covid regime, and yet they managed to recover impressively. The cinemas are still here and support the entire film system of the country." "The day before yesterday we had a magnificent night with endless queues of people, who came reverently to sign for the rescue of the halls" said Giorgos Spentzos in tears. "Ideal carries a history of 102 years. It's not a joke. It is not a shop that you can take from here and take it across the street. So it is in a place where the 'Rex' is listed, the building next door is listed, the German Archaeological Institute is listed, the restaurant 'Ideal' is listed. And I wonder: among 4 listed buildings, a 102-year-old hall doesn't deserve to be listed as well?" he added. As is already known, the exploitation of Ideal has now been taken over by the Mitsis Hotel group. "To avoid any misunderstanding", Mr. Spentzos stressed, "we are not interested in whether we will operate the cinema, let someone else take it, whoever the investor decides. All we want is for Ideal to be saved." The unanimous position of the municipal council of Athens, which has been expressed with 2 respective resolutions for the declaration of historic cinemas as preserved - in terms of use - was reiterated by the mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannis, in his intervention at the press conference. "We are all here because we want to join our voices with yours and highlight the need to preserve - in use - these 2 historic cinemas. I want to remind you that something similar was done in 1997 for the 47 summer cinemas. Therefore, there is a precedent and indeed there is a cross-party consensus on this," he noted. The mayor of Athens restated his clear position that the city "belongs" to the permanent resident and that all efforts for economic development must be connected to his own life. "Yes, we want economic development. We want the investments, we want the visitors. However, we do not want Athens to lose its soul. We don't want to turn into an ancient Greek Disneyland. The opposite. Our strength is our authenticity and mixed uses," he said. Warm texts of support for the cinemas, through the director of the Panorama of European Cinema, Nino Fenek Mikelidis, the veteran and multi-awarded director Ken Loach, who said that "we strongly support your fight to preserve your historic cinemas that are part of the culture of the city" as well as the Serbian director, actor and musician, Emir Kusturica, who stated that "closing them would be a crime".   Lanthimos voices concern over historic Athens cinemas Acclaimed Greek film director Yorgos Lanthimos added his voice to those calling for the rescue of three historic cinemas in central Athens which are at immediate risk of closure. “I would like to add my voice to those who have recently expressed their concern about the disappearance of historic cinemas from the center of Athens, and to express my support in the efforts to save them,” the director said in a video-message published on social media. “I consider it self-evident that we understand their value, socially and culturally, for the center of such a city, and I implore the authorities and those who have the real authority to do what is necessary to designate these cinemas as listed, so that they can continue their operation,” he added. Integral parts of the capital’ cultural scene, the Ideal has been around since 1921 and the Astor since 1947. The future of the Ideal and Astor, two of the Greek capital’s oldest movie theaters, looks uncertain amid speculation over the intentions of the owner of the buildings housing the cinemas, the Single Social Security Entity (EFKA). Last week, a Greek hospitality business, Mitsis Hotels, announced it had leased the building from EFKA and was planning an extensive renovation to turn into a luxury 5-star hotel. A third cinema in central Athens threatened with closure is Irida, the cultural association of the Athenian University students that first opened its doors in the 1960s. In March 30, the Culture Ministry ruled that Ideal and Astor cannot be regarded as historic cultural monuments, stating that they “do not meet the criteria” for enhanced protection and citing legislation passed in 2021. It also clarified that it has no jurisdiction over the two buildings and no say in how they are used.   It is reminded that thes reactions came from the March 30th, 2023, declaration to the media stating that the HellenicCulture Ministry dismissed calls for protection of 2 iconic Athens cinemas: The Ideal and Astor cinemas in downtown Athens cannot be regarded as historic cultural monuments, the Ministry of Culture said in an announcement on Thursday. Citing legislation passed in 2021, the ministry stated that the two movie theaters – on Panepistimiou and Stadiou streets respectively – “do not meet the criteria” for enhanced protection. It also clarified that it has no jurisdiction over the 2 buildings and no say in how they are used. The ministry’s announcement came in response to growing calls for the protection of the 2  cinemas, which are located in buildings owned by the social insurance fund EFKA that are being slated for private development. No provisions have been made to safeguard the operation of the 2 venues.           Integral parts of Athens’ cultural scene, the Ideal has been around since 1921 and the Astor since 1947. In a related development, meanwhile, the managements of the 2 movie theaters have decided to hold a series of free screenings to raise awareness about the campaign to keep them open.

The new exhibition highlights how the arts bring the world together, transcending every kind of border. Since its earliest inception, the theater has constantly made us aware that we are all passengers on a single planet, the great globe itself. On the Arrivals level, a theatrical map invites passengers and visitors to the airport to explore a world without borders and countries, an open world that brings people and cultures together. This map, although by no means exhaustive, features influential authors from around the world, who we can learn more about through QR codes with details of their life and work, photographs of National Theater of Greece productions of their plays, and quotations from their writing. Visitors to the exhibition will also be able to see Moliere’s costume from a production of Mikhail Bulgakov’s play of the same name directed by Stathis Livathinos on the Main Stage in 2020. The costume was designed by Eleni Manolopoulou and worn by Stamatis Fasoulis, who played Moliere.   OPENING HOURS DAILY 24H/DAY   TICKETS ENTRANCE IS FREE AIA Venue: Art & Culture, Arrivals Level (Exit 1)

Sign up to attend 2 hours dedicated to what it means to study Fine Art at Deree, American College  of Greece. Deree enrollment advisors and faculty from the School talk about everything Deree can offer young people for a futureproof career in the arts! Learn about:      The study programs offered      The scholarships      Parallel studies if you are a student of the Greek University      Opportunities to study at universities abroad      The soft skills      Career paths after graduation      The prospects for postgraduate studies and an academic career A Q&A section will follow, where those interested can ask their questions about what interests them. The presentation will take place Online. Complete the registration form to be able to attend the Deree Info Session and learn about all that Deree has to offer Fine Arts students.   Wednesday, February 22 | 18:00-20:00 Register here: https://myacg.secure.force.com/events/targetX_eventsb__events#/esr?eid=a1lIV00000075kXYAQ

Some 40 emerging choreographers have featured so far, with the Onassis New Choreographers Festival (ONC) acting as a springboard launching them beyond Greek borders, giving them the chance to tour internationally and garner awards at international dance events. Looking to the future, this year’s festival - to be known, from now on, as Onassis Dance Days - will continue to support the creation of new works developed within the utterly hybrid and dynamic form that is the contemporary performing arts. Works by artists who, no matter their ethnicity, age, disability, or arts background (be it dance or other), love to answer the simplest question in the world - “ What is dance?” - in thrillingly oblique ways. The festival will be held from March 2 to March 5.

Poised and plain-spoken, a peerless Valmont in the Oscar-winning film “Dangerous Liaisons” (playing alongside Michelle Pfeiffer and Glenn Close in 1988), a leading light of the historic Steppenwolf experimental theater company in Chicago (from 1976 to 2020), and the only Hollywood actor to have let us to take a deep dive into their mind (in “Being John Malkovich”, the cult art-house movie written by Charlie Kaufman) is appearing at Onassis Stegi for the first time, performing the role of the darkest client in the world theater repertoire. Duration 60 minutes Age guidance 18+ Language The performance is in English with Greek surtitles. For more information go to : https://www.onassis.org/whats-on/in-the-solitude-of-cotton-fields-john-malkovich-ingeborga-dapkunaite When: Saturday, 11/02/2023, 20:30 Sunday, 12/02/2023, 20:30   Venue: Onassis Stegi 107-109 Syngrou Avenue 11745 Athens, Greece

The NTG's Drama School Asssociation of Teachers protested the decree, which equates the diplomas of drama schools with high school diplomas. In a press conference on January 24th, NTG teachers had warned they would resign if the government failed to amend the decree by February 8th. The news was announced over the loudspeakers at the students’ sit-in at the National Theater premises on Agiou Konstantinou Street in central Athens which started on February 5th. Students have occupied the Ziller Building premises of the National Theater since February 5th over the same issue.

The labor action by actors and theater workers is taking place in protest of a draft government bill on payment in the industry. The Panhellenic Federation of Theaters said that under the proposed law, the, “renumeration of artists in the wider public sector and in private entities will not be determined by collective labor agreements but by the respective government.” Other unions said the bill would downgrade their degrees and qualifications. According to a National Theater announcement, those who have purchased tickets for the plays will either be able to change the dates or be reimbursed for price of their tickets. Those that bought their tickets electronically will be informed via email regarding the necessary procedure. Tickets bought from sale points can changed or cancelled at the point of sale.

According to an announcement, the event will begin with a lecture by Dr. Archimandritis on the play "Fourth Dimension" by Yiannis Ritsos and will be followed by a theatrical recital performed by Irène Jacob, best known for her work with Polish film director Krzysztof Kieślowski, who will perform the monologue "Helen" from the "Fourth Dimension" by Yiannis Ritsos. Yiannis Ritsos was born in Monemvasia in 1909. He is one of the famous and internationally acknowledged Greek poets, as many of his works have been translated and successfully published in many languages. He published more than one hundred poetic collections, as well as some novels, plays and translations. He belonged to the Communist Party of Greece and his strong political identity is reflected in his works. The event, which will take place on Monday, 16 January, 2023, at 19:00, at the Richelieu amphitheater of the Sorbonne University, is being held with the support of Andreas and Alexandra Martinos, as well as the Jan Michalski Foundation.

One of the world's leading ballets, Kiev City Ballet, presents the most beautiful Christmas tale, The Nutcracker, following their performances in Chicago and New York. The Nutcracker rightly holds a special place in the ballet's repertoire and is now an integral part of the magic of Christmas. The plot is based on Alexander Dumas' adaptation of the fairy tale "The Nutcracker and the King of the Mice" by E.T.A. Hoffman. Christmas provides the perfect setting for this fantastic story. Fantasy and reality coexist through strange and wondrous incidents to create a fascinating story, choreographed by Vasili Vainonen. The brilliant music written by Tchaikovsky is one of the most recognizable in the international repertoire. Tchaikovsky created The Nutcracker for the Kirov Ballets (now known as the Marinsky Ballets) in 1892. Its brilliant orchestration and harmonious melodic passages have charmed and moved people of all ages and ethnicities throughout the ages. The leading roles are performed by two internationally acclaimed soloists of the Kiev Ballets. Clara-Maria: Oksana Bondarenko Prince- Nutcracker: Danyil Podhrushko   SUNDAY 25/12/2022 AT 20:30 MONDAY 26/12/2022 AT 16:00 AND AT 20:30   CHRISTMAS THEATER VEIKOU AVENUE, 11146 +30211 7701700  

By her side until the last minute was the psychiatrist, Dimitris Souras, with whom she had a long friendship. He stood by her side even when the actress had to undergo a gallbladder removal operation in the fall of 2020. That's when her health problems began. The actress lost a lot of weight and her body had weakened. As reported, as a doctor Dimitris Souras was asked to sign her death certificate. "She left for her home, as she wanted. Here I am still we are all shocked. The truth is that for the last three years he was suffering a lot because of the stroke he had suffered and he did not want to go out and do anything. She was depressed but in good condition. It was not sudden, those of us who were close to her expected it. The last star of Greek cinema has passed away. It is tragic for me to have to sign your best friend's death certificate as a doctor. Martha and I were close friends, I don't remember how many years. I love her and I will always love her," he said. Martha Karagianni was one of the greatest actresses of Greek cinema and theater. In 1957, just one year after her first film appearance, she will appear on the stage for the first time in the play "Elephants and Fleas" with the troupe of Kostas Hatzichristou. This performance was the beginning of a long and successful theatrical journey in classical Greek comedies, works by foreign authors, musicals and revues. Theatrical "stations" and her favorite roles, with which she stood out, were in the shows: "Beautiful City" (1962), "Cabaret" (1972), "Ice Cream in Winter" (1984), "Women's Bath" (1996) and "Male and Old Lace" (2000). She will also stand out for some of the most famous Greek films, such as "Some prefer it cold", "Girls for kissing", "A lady in bouzoukis", "Mermaids and tough guys". Relatives, friends and the people who adored her through her cinematic and theatrical career will have the opportunity to say goodbye to her for the last time this Thursday, September 22nd at noon, at the First Cemetery of Athens. The family's wish is that instead of wreaths, the money be deposited in the "Actor's House".

The world’s premier psychedelic soul band, Monophonics, cordially invites you to attend the grand re-opening of the once thriving, once vibrant establishment, the legendary Sage Motel. A place where folks experience the highs and lows of human existence. A place where big dreams and broken hearts live, where people arrive without ever knowing how they got there. It’s where individuals find themselves at a crossroads in life. What started as a quaint motor lodge and a common pitstop for travelers and truckers in the 1940s morphed into a bohemian’s hang by the 1960s and 1970s. Artists, musicians, and vagabonds of all types would stop there as seedy ownership pumped obnoxious amounts of money into high end renovations, eventually attracting some of the most prominent acts of the era. But when the money ran out, The Sage Motel devolved into a place where you rent by the hour. Sage Motel, Monophonics’ fifth studio album since 2012, tells its story. Once again produced by brilliant bandleader Kelly Finnigan, the album captures a timeless sound that blends heavy soul with psych-rock. With their previous album, It’s Only Us, selling over 10,000 physical units and garnering over 20 million streams, Monophonics have built a reputation over the past decade as one of the most impactful bands in the country. If these walls of the Sage Motel could talk, this is what they’d say. So join us as we examine where the stories are told and experiences unfold…..and sink into a soft pillow of soulful psychedelia…..down at the Sage Motel. Warpaint, the leading single from Sage Motel, reveals the vices of each resident and confronts the struggles of substance abuse and addiction. Their warpaint becomes compulsory to face the day, tolerate the struggle, get through the hardest parts of the world, humanity, life and to fight the good fight. Cloaked in heavy riffs and robust vocals, Warpaint gives you the first look through the doors of the Sage Motel. The tour heads off on September 1st at Technopolis (100 Pireos, Gazi) in Athens, before heading to Kavala’s Akontisma venue on September 2nd, then the Thessaloniki Beer Festival on September 3rd, the Lab Art Yard in Volos on September 5th after that, and lastly the old slaughterhouse in Patra on September 6th, 2022. Tickets can be booked online at www.viva.gr or by phone at 11876.