Apocalypse

Prophecy, vision, or manifesto of insurrection? The Apocalypse has been exciting imaginations since the first century CE, summoning utopias, dystopias, and revolutionary movements. It is divine prophecy? Escatological preaching? A message of patience, belief, and hope in a better future? A call to insurrection? What’s certain is that this ominous phantasmagoria is a world-changing text.

A director of the new generation, with an idiosyncratic visual sensibility, Thanos Papakonstantinou pays close attention to the Apocalypse of John, takes inspiration for a contemporary ritual, and notes: “The myth of the Apocalypse is a kind of parable for the constant transformations of the human faith in a better world to come.”From 3-20 October, John’s vision fills the Main Stage of Onassis Stegi. A group of remarkable performers and musicians transfer us to an on-stage allegory of the Second Coming, the four hoursemen, the seven seals, the Lamb of God, 666. Who is deserving of eternal life?

Credits

Concept & Direction: Thanos Papakonstantinou

Translation: Michaela Pliaplia

Set & Costumes Design: Niki Psychogiou

Music Composition: Panos Iliopoulos

Conductor: Markellos Chryssicos

Movement Design: Nadi Gogoulou

Lighting Design: Christina Thanasoula

Sculpture: Alekos Bourelias

Assistant to the Director: Constantina Aggellopoulou

Performers: Alexia Kaltsiki, Marianna Dimitriou, Kalliopi Simou, Eleni Moleski, Kleopatra Markou, Thanassis Dovris, Sotiris Tsakomidis, Marios Panagiotou, Miltiadis Fiorentzis, Yorgos Dikaios

Musicians: Thodoris Vazakas (percussion), Kostas Gatsios (clarinet/ bass clarinet), Alexis Karaiskakis (cello), Spiros Moschonas (trombone), Eleftheria Togia (viola), Dimitris Tigkas (double bass), Kostas Tsiolis (electronics)

Produced by: Onassis Stegi

Thursday 10 October: After performance talk

On Friday 18 & at the weekends 12-13 and 19-20 October 2019 with English surtitles.

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According to the Christian tradition, the creator of the Apocalypse (95-96 CE) is John the Evangelist, exiled from Ephesus to Patmos.The Apocalypse (“The Book of Revelation”) is the only apocryphal text included in the Canon of the Bible.Here are some appreciations of the text of the Apocalypse:

“A text not of one age or generation, but for all ages and all generations” (George Seferis)

“A book of comfort and hope” (Jean Delimo, historian)

“A terrifying meteorite of a text that broke free from the Old Testament’s graviational field and dropped into the orchard of the Gospels” (Ilias Petropoulos)

“It is not merely a biblical description but a very practical possibility” (Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, former General Secretary of the United Nations)

“A source for various expectations and revolts. A permanent prototype of the anticipation of a disaster and a hope for transformation. A tool for challenging any kind of established meaning.” (Umberto Eco)

Part of the research for the performance took place during the 12-hour action “Hack the drama” of the Onassis STEGI’s Dramaturgy Department, which took place on 9 and 16 July, 2019, run by Iliana Dimadi and Estelle Papadimitriou, with the valuable contribution of Savvas Michail (doctor, theologian, political activist), Giorgos Koutsodiakos (theologian, vivlioipallilos), Eurydice Kravariti (pathologist and geriatrician), Elias Stouraitis (historican and creator of educational computer games for children), Christina Chrysanthopoulou (VR artist), Christos Vrettos (ecoanthropologist), and Tina Mandilara (journalist and book critic). On the part of the STEGI, co-coordinators were Roka-Yio (artist and visual curator), Iraklis Papatheodorou and Katerina Varda (Department of Digital Development), Christos Sarris (cinematography and documentation), and Eirilena Tsami (production).

Director’s note

“Behind every insurrection is the desire for a radical reformation of humankind and of the world.

Behind every move toward reforming humankind and the world is the violence of the harvest.

Behind the violence of the harvest is the hope for rebirth.

Behind the hope for rebirth is the joy of destruction.

Behind the joy of destruction is the fear of death.

Behind the fear of death is the belief in beauty.

Behind the belief in beauty, there is light.

The myth of the Apocalypse is a kind of parable for the constant transformations of the human faith in a better world to come.”

Director’s bio

Director and actor. Graduate of the Drama School “Empros – Theater Workshop” (2009) and of the Faculty of Law, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2007).

He has directed the performances: “The Haunted” by Dimitris Maramis (music direction: Dimitris Maramis, Athens Concert Hall, 2019); “Electra” by Sophocles (National Theater, Epidaurus, 2018); “L’ Orfeo” by Claudio Monteverdi (music direction: Markellos Chrysikopoulos, Athens Concert Hall, 2018); “Colossus” (based on Aeschylus’ “Agamemnon”, Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, 2017); “Redshift” by Giannis Mavritsakis (Athens Festival, 2014/2015); “Macbeth” by Shakespeare (Apo Michanis Theater, 2015); “Pedestal” (based on Aeschylus’ “Choefores”, Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, 2013); “Venison” (based on Aeschylus’ “Eumenides”, Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, 2012); “The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark” by Shakespeare (Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, 2011).