Parodos

Parodos, the interdisciplinary research programme launched in 2021 and aiming to renew approaches on Ancient Drama dramaturgy, is back this year, drawing inspiration from the theme of freedom, with Aeschylus’ Prometheus Bound as its starting point. For the third year in a row, the Athens Epidaurus Festival will hold a studio residence at the Little Theatre of Ancient Epidaurus, wishing to provide artists from diverse fields with the opportunity to proceed with their research in situ and under ideal conditions. More specifically, the programme is addressed to young artists who have completed their studies in theatre directing, dance and/or choreography, acting, theatre studies, opera in Greece or abroad within the last 6 years.

This year director and dramaturg Argyro Chioti has been tasked with the general coordination and supervision of the programme. Chioti is joined by internationally established artists, namely Jean-Yves Ruf, director, dramaturg, actor and educator at Rencontres Internationales de Mise en Scène (RIMES) and Chantiers Nomades, among other institutions; Lisaboa Houbrechts, dramaturg and director who began her creative career as member of the Need Company (Jan Lauwers) and also studied under Alain Platel; and Eric Vautrin, dramaturg, main collaborator of Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne, Philippe Quesne’s collaborator and professor/researcher of the performing arts.

Approaching the stage in a comprehensive manner wherein speech, body, voice, body, music all work together and complement each other, this year’s Parodos embraces both the dramaturgy of language as well as research on movement and voice, opera singing and the quality of chorus, always in connection with Ancient Drama and its contemporary onstage renditions.

The team will initially work in Athens (20 – 24 June) and subsequently at the Little Theatre of Ancient Epidaurus (26 June – 1 July).

The programme will come to a close on 1 July with an open rehearsal and discussion among the members of the artistic team, programme coordinators and the Artistic Director of the Athens Epidaurus Festival.

As part of the International Network of Ancient Drama