The "Birds" by Aristophanes

For "The Birds", Aristophanes received the second prize in the Dionysia Festival in 414 BC. The play is considered by leading scholars to be the best of his surviving works. It was written during a time when peace was strongly undermined (Nikiios Peace Treaty); the operation in Sicily was ongoing and the political situation in Athens was not managed by suitable politicians.

Aristophanes (c. 445-385 BC) is the most prominent representative of ancient comedy. Eleven of his works survive in a complete form: “The Acharnians” (425 BC), “The Knights” (424 BC), “The Clouds” (423 BC), “The Wasps” (422 BC), “Peace (421 BC), “The Birds” (414 BC), “Lysistrata” (411 BC), “Thesmophoriazusae” (or, “The Women Celebrating the Thesmophoria”, 411 BC), “The Frogs” (405 BC), “Ecclesiazusae” (or, “The Assemblywomen”, 392 BC), and “Wealth” (388 BC). The plot in his comedies often focuses on someone leaving a place full of machinations, poverty, war, and big words, for imaginary places where he attempts to make his dreams come true.

“The Birds” are the first production of the Onassis Stegi of the Onassis Foundation at the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus in the context of the Athens and Epidaurus Festival, 2016. This is another collaboration between Onassis Stegi and Nikos Karathanos and his wonderful team, following “The Cherry Orchard”, a production that not only surprised audiences but also sparked a rare discussion and an invaluable debate on stage readings of Chekhov’s oeuvre.

The production of "The Birds" by Karolos Koun for the Art Theatre (Theatro Technis) is a point of reference in the history of contemporary Greek stage works; featuring a translation by Vasilis Rotas, sets and costumes were designed by Greek painter Yannis Tsarouchis, music was composed by Manos Hadjidakis, and choreography by Rallou Manou. The production received its premiere in 1959. The rest of the performances were cancelled by order of Konstantinos Tsatsos, Minister to the Presidency of the Government. It was staged again in 1960 in its final form. This was the first Art Theatre production to be presented abroad, receiving the first prize in the Festival of the Nations in Paris (1962).

More than any other kind of poetic language, Aristophanes brings us closer to the human condition. If through tragedy we become familiar with the quality and the content of ideas of classical Greece, through comedy we gain insight on the kind of person who conceived these, bringing them to life.’ Nikos Hourmouziadis

'“The Birds” are perhaps the first work of utopian literature.’ Stathis Dromazos

‘Comedy is often the writer’s sob, when he knows that he cannot or is not allowed to write a tragedy.’ Pavlos Matesis