2009

SPECTACLE – THEATRE


POETS HAVE DISAPPEARED FROM LIFE ON EARTH


Katia Gerou, Thodoros Kotepanos

Greece


Show dedicated to the memory of the great Greek composer Manos Hadjidakis and the great theater master Karolos Koun.


Wednesday 17 June 2009, 9:00 pm

Babel Theatre, Hamra

A dedication to all the poets who determined the culture: Lorca, Brecht, Williams, Gatsos, Hadjidakis, Koun, in occasion of the 100th birth anniversary of Karolos Koun. A musical-theatrical performance by Katia Gerou, who interprets extracts and songs from theatrical plays that were put on stage for the first time in Greece from the Greek Art Theatre and cover a period of time from 1946-1960, one of the most important periods of the Greek Art Theatre and of Karolos Koun.


Heroines and heroes of Williams, Lorca, Anouilh and Brecht come alive in this performance through the songs and music which was composed exclusively from Manos Hadjidakis, close associate of Karolos Koun.


Concretely Katia Gerou, one of the most important actresses of “The Theatre of Art” and in Greece, will interpret extracts and songs from the following theatrical plays:

  • “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams, presented by the Greek Art Theatre in 1949;
  • “The Rose Tattoo” by Tennessee Williams, presented by the Greek Art Theatre in 1957;
  • “Antigone” by Jean Anouilh, presented by the Greek Art Theatre in 1948;
  • “Blood Wedding” by Federico Garcia Lorca, presented by the Greek Art Theatre in 1949;
  • “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams, presented by the Greek Art Theatre in 1946;
  • “Orpheus and Eurydice” by Jean Anouilh, presented by the Greek Art Theatre in 1959;
  • “Sweet Bird of Youth” by Tennessee Williams, presented by the Greek Art Theatre in 1960;
  • “The Caucasian Chalk Circle” by Bertold Brecht, presented by the Greek Art Theatre in 1957

In lyrics written exclusively for this specific performance by Agathi Dimitrouka, the main musical theme of “ Suddenly last Summer” will be heard. The title of the performance is from these two first verses “ Poets have disappeared from life on earth”.


Katia Gerou not only she interprets monologues from well-known heroines but also complete scenes passing from one role to another so that even the most “uninitiated” spectator can have a global understanding of the complete theatrical play.

Actress

Katia Gerou is a drama professor at “The Theatre of Art” School of Athens.


Some of her roles in Ancient Drama include

  • “The Trojan Women” by Euripides, directed by Karolos Koun;
  • “Oresteia “by Aeschylos, directed by Karolos Koun;
  • “Iphigenia in Aulis” by Euripides, directed by Giorgos Lazanis;
  • “Oedipus at Colonus” by Sophocles, directed by Mimis Kougioumtzis;

Some of her roles in Contemporary Theater include

  • “Miss Julia – Souanevit” by August Strindberg, directed by Giorgos Lazanis;
  • “Richard the Third” by William Sheakspeare, directed by Giorgos Lazanis;
  • “Tempest “ by August Strindberg, directed by Mayia Lymperopoulou;
  • “Happy End” by Bertold Brecht and Kurt Weill, directed by Giorgos Lazanis;
  • “The Three Sisters” by Anton Checkov, directed by Giorgos Lazanis;
  • “King Lear” by William Sheakspeare, directed by Giorgos Lazanis;
  • “Transit” Cabaret, directed by Theodoros Grampsas;
  • “Midsummer’s night dream” by Sheakspear“Transit” Cabaret, directed by N. Mastorakis;
  • “Fire and water” by Spilioti, directed by Tombouli;
  • “Our poets have gone away”, a one-woman show directed by V. Nikolaidis;

Katia Gerou participated in four theatrical events of Kyriakos Katzourakis 

  • “The Temple”, text by Kyriakos Katzourakis;
  • “Portrait”, text by Dionyssis Kapsalis;
  • "The way to the West",  text by Maro Douka - “ Do you like Brahms ?”- “Of the road” Cabaret  

Katia Gerou acted in movies

  • “The Hours” by Antouaneta Angelidi;
  • “Dream in white background” by Dimitris Spirou;
  • “The falling dust ” by Tasos Psaras;
  • “The way to the West” by Kyriakos Katzourakis;
  • “Sweet Memory” by Kyriakos Katzourakis;
  • “Small Revolts” by Kyriakos Katzourakis 

Television participation:

  • “ The Treasure of Angelinas” Tv production by NET ( National Channel), directed by Tasos Psaras 

Katia Gerou was awarded:

  • 2004 - Honorary award Patras, by the Organisation of Cultural events; 
  • 2006 - 1st Female Role for 'Sweet Memory' at the 14th International Mediterranean Film Festival in Morocco

Musical Supervision

Born in Athens, Thodoros Kotepanos studied music in Athens and Paris. He was awarded first prize for piano by the Conservatoire de Paris, as well as two prizes at the international competitions of Épinal and Athens (Maria Callas). His music studies expanded into many areas, including advanced theory, aesthetics, electroacoustic music, the pipe organ, and orchestral conducting, paving the way for his multi-faceted entry into the Greek music scene upon his return to Greece in 1991. Beyond his work as a soloist, he mainly concerns himself with accompaniment and orchestration. He has accompanied the countertenor Aris Christofellis on two recordings. He worked with Manos Hadjidakis as a pianist and assistant from 1987. Since then, he has made numerous contributions to the music scene and discography of contemporary Greek culture.

Writer & Director Sulayman Al-Bassam (Kuwait)

Performers actress Hala Omran (Syria/France) with ‘Two or The Dragon’ featuring composers and musicians Abed Kobeissy & Ali Hout (Lebanon)

Scenographer and Lighting Designer Eric Soyer (France)

Sound Designer Mathilde Dahossy (France)



Performer Katia Gerou

Conceptor and Director Vasilis Nikolaidis

Text paste Agathi Dimitrouka

Music Manos Hadjidakis

Scenery-costumes Giorgos Ziakas

Choreography supervision Efi Karakosta

Musical supervision Thodoros Kotepanos

Piano Spyridon Papatheodorou


Communication Bouboulina Nikaki (bouboulina.nikaki@gmail.com) 

Producer DIPETHE de Agrinion (Greece)

Performance in Greek with subtitles in English and Arabic.

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