Thanasis Zeritis – Harry Kremmydas / 4frontal
Spyridoules
by Nefeli Maistrali
Combining aspects of documentary theatre, original dramaturgy and contemporary Greek music, this performance by the well-known 4frontal ensemble takes the true story of Spyridoula, a 12-year-old housemaid, as its jumping-off point; a story that shocked the 1950s Greek public.
At the time, numerous poor, underage girls were adopted by prominent families as psychokores (foster daughters) to be employed as live-in servants in what was a peculiar condition of modern-day slavery.
One of them was 12-year-old Spyridoula Rapti from Mataragas, Agrinion, who moved to the Greek capital to work in the wealthy Veidaze household. For two consecutive years, as revealed in the hospital, the Veidaze couple abused her physically and mentally, even reaching the point of burning her face and body with the clothes iron. Nevertheless, Spyridoula mustered the courage to speak out, breaking the vicious cycle of violence. A popular idol and source of empowerment for several generations of women who have suffered abuse and managed to speak out and put an end to it, she continues to inspire people.
Drawing on historical documents such as the court records for the Giorgos and Antigoni Veidaze trial, literary texts and contemporaneous narratives by women as well as present-day interviews of women working as live-in servants, Nefeli Maistrali has authored an original theatrical text. Utilizing this new text to the sounds of Greek punk music by Thrax Punks, the performance brings alive the voices of women who found themselves or still find themselves in this position, fighting for control of their lives.
grape – Greek Agora of Performance is an exciting new initiative by the Athens Epidaurus Festival aiming to establish a platform for Greek artists to communicate with the international Theatre and Dance scene, giving them the opportunity to present their works to representatives and artistic directors of international festivals and cultural institutions abroad. The platform presents 14 new productions in two periods: 3 – 8 July & 18 – 22 July.
grape is open to the general public and is part of the main artistic programme of the Athens Epidaurus Festival. The performances included are also scheduled on dates outside the duration of the platform.
Read more here
10 & 11 July: The performance will be accessible to visually and hearing impaired persons
- A touch tour and audio description, for the visually impaired
- Interpretation and subtitling, for the hearing impaired
On 10 July, a discussion in collaboration with the European Network Against Violence will take place after the performance.
Discussion topic: preventing violence against domestic workers.
Provision will be made to ensure full accessibility to the discussion for visually and hearing impaired persons.
Ευχαριστούμε το Ευρωπαϊκό δίκτυο κατά της βίας.
Duration 1 hour 40 minutes
Peiraios 260 (Ε)
- 08/07/2023 at 22:00
- 09/07 until 11/07/2023 at 21:00
all events
Opera | Cinema | Greek Music | Music | Theatre | grape | subset | Dance | Education | Αναβίωση | Διεθνής Συμπαραγωγή | Classical music | Performance | Contemporary music | Talks | Contemporary Ancients | Premiere | Greek Debut
Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus | Little Theatre of Ancient Epidaurus | Peiraios 260 | Odeon of Herodes Atticus | Sotiria Hospital | «THEATRON» | Cultural Center «Hellenic Cosmos» | Icthyoskala Keratsiniou | Sychrono Theatro | National Library of Greece | Athens Conservatoire | Pallas Theatre | Hellenic Cosmos Cultural Centre Pireos 254 Tavros
all venues
