Written in the aftermath of the Athenians’ crushing defeat at the Sicilian Expedition, Euripides’ Helen is notable both for its anti-war qualities and its focus on virtues such as the power of oath and intelligence, both personified in the titular heroine. Drawing on the version of the myth created by lyrical poet Stesichorus instead of Homer’s best-known version, Euripides portrays the Trojan War as a massacre committed for a phantom rather than a real woman. One of the lesser-known works of Euripides, classified as a “tragedy” almost as a technicality, but also famous for its humorous aspects, Helen, a National Theatre of Northern Greece production directed by Vassilis Papavassiliou that was set to premiere last year but was ultimately postponed due to the wildfires, will now be staged at the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus.
With Greek and English surtitles
Translated by Pantelis Boukalas
Directed by Vassilis Papavassiliou
Dramaturgy - Collaborating director Nikoleta Filosoglou
Set and costume design Angelos Mentis
Musical composition Angelos Triantafyllou
Choreography Dimitris Sotiriou
Lighting design Lefteris Pavlopoulos
Orchestration - Musical coaching Yorgos Dousos
Musical coaching Chrysa Toumanidou
Assistant to the director Anna-Maria Iakovou
Assistant to the set and costume designer Elli Nalmpanti
Assistant to the choreographer Sofia Papanikandrou
Production manager Athanasia Androni
Stage guides Giannis Palamiotis, Marina Chatzioannou
Cast Emily Koliandri (Helen), Themis Panou (Menelaus), Agoritsa Oikonomou (Theonoe), Giorgos Kafkas (Theoclymenus), Efi Stamouli (Old Woman), Dimitris Kolovos (First Messenger), Angelos Bouras (Second Messenger), Dimitris Morfakidis (Teucer), Christos Mastrogiannidis, (Attendant), Nikolas Maragopoulos, Orestis Paliadelis (Dioscuri)
Chorus Nefeli Anthopoulou, Stavroula Arampatzoglou, Natassa Daliaka, Eleni Giannousi, Electra Goniadou, Sofia Kalemkeridou, Egli Katsiki, Anna Kyriakidou, Marianna Pourega, Katerina Plexida, Fotini Timotheou, Chrysa Toumanidou, Loukia Vassiliou, Momo Vlachou, Chrysa Zafeiriadou
Musicians on stage Yorgos Dousos flute, clarinet, saxophone, kaval, Danis Koumartzis double bass, Thomas Kostoulas percussion, Pavlos Metsios trumpet electric guitar, Haris Papathanasiou violin, Manolis Stamatiadis piano, accordion
