Lee Breuer & Bob Telson
The Gospel at Colonus
A Gospel version of the Oedipus story which reinterprets ancient Greek tragedy. By handing over the sceptre of the theatrical narrative to a black Pentecostal preacher, Lee Breuer – one of the core proponents of the American avant-garde – transforms the tale of the King of Thebes’ pain and redemption into an extraordinary spectacle. In this parable of the Sophoclean myth, the narrative and call-and-response of Gospel music is used to merge the vibrancy of the black congregation with the austerity of Greek drama. Gospel at Colonus combines acting, song and dance. The coupling of ancient Greek theatrical rituals with their African equivalents – traces of which are discernible still in the Afro-American church tradition – and with the psychological forms of Western theatre make for a unique production [V.P.].
A Sharon Levy / Dovetail Inc. production
An Athens Festival / American-Hellenic Arts Centre of Halandri co-production
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Odeon of Herodes Atticus
- 21/06/2008 at 21:00
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