The Kodjabashis of Kastropyrgos

Item

Title

Creator

Greek National Theatre

Poria Theater at Victoria

Spatial Coverage

Online

Athens See all items with this value Athens->Searchculture.gr

Subject - keywords

Literature

Karagatsis M. See all items with this value Karagatsis M. -> Searchculture.gr

Date

20 February 2021

27 March 2021

10 December 2021–27 February 2021

Date Issued

2021

Abstract

The great M. Karagatsis’ s extraordinary trilogy of novels The Kodjabashis of Castropyrgos, Blood Lost and Won, and The Last Days of Michalos is brought to the stage as the National Theatre of Greece marks the bicentenary of the Greek War of Independence. We see history through the personal story of Micahlos Rousis, a man thirsty for life who does not to hesitate to become an outlaw, a traitor, but also a hero. The director notes: The Kodjabashis of Kastropyrgos is an elegy on human fear. Against the background of the Greek Revolution, Karagatsis speaks boldly about the complexity of human nature, about history that flows like a rushing river and surpasses us, about the life we let slip through our hands, about its unbearable chance of existence, for heroism as an accident, for freedom as an elusive dream. Thanasis Triaridis, who undertook the theatrical adaptation, delivers a very interesting work, as he is constantly moving on the edge of a nightmare. It could also be called “In the Mind of Michalos Rousis”. The director tries to capture the characters as dream creatures, in critical moments of existence. Acceptance of subjectivity is the key to being able to converse with our history, our biological identity. Everyone and everything is something other than what they seem. The comically tragic epilogue of the life of Rousis is just a reminder of human futility, of the unbearable lightness of our existence.

(Edited description from organiser’s website)