Press Releases

“Seven Against Thebes” by Aeschylus, a uniquely energetic, poetic, political tragedy, that the public does not often have the opportunity to attend, is the summer production of the National Theatre of Northern Greece. It will be presented at Philippi & Thassos Festival and at Athens & Epidaurus Festival. The audience will have the unique chance to enjoy the tragedy in a new powerful and clear translation made by the leading Greek poet Yorgos Blanas directed by the internationally renowned Lithuanian director Cezaris Graužinis.
Yannis Stankoglou will perform –alternately with the NTNG protagonist Christos Stylianou– the role of Eteocles. Along Nantia Kontogeorgi (Antigone), Iovi Fragatou (Ismene), Giorgos Kafkas (Messenger), Alexandros Tsakiris (Herald) and 14 young actors as the chorus.
 
The production’s premiere will be held at Theatro Dassous (Forest Theatre) on July 6th and 7th. Then, it will be presented at the Ancient Theatre of Philippi on July 15th and 16th and at the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus on July 22d and 23d. A big tour in the whole of Greece will follow.
 
About the play
The conflict between the two sons of Oedipus is the theme of “Seven Against Thebes”. After his appalling actions were revealed to him, Oedipus left the throne to his two sons, Eteocles and Polynices. The two agreed to rule Thebes alternately. However, when the time came for Polynices to take reign, Eteocles did not keep his promise. This provoked the wrath of Polynices, who allied with the king of Argos Adrastus and organized a military campaign against Thebes. Seven leaders of each of the two rival armies lined up on either side of the seven gates of Thebes. Eteocles and Polynices faced one another in front of the seventh gate.
 
Eteocles is the lonely main character of the tragedy. Thebes is under siege and he is trying to organize a counter-attack in a battle doomed to end without a real winner.
 
Director’s Note
It seems, that all of us –not only people in Greece, but all the people in the whole of Europe– are living with a feeling as if deathly threatening enemies are standing outside the fragile walls of our common miserable, but still comfortable, lives.
 
We don’t know the name of the enemy – our enemy has many masks, many names. Sometimes it even seems that our worst enemy has the face of our own and has our own name.
 
We need a tragedy, in order to rediscover again that we are, nevertheless, humans and our human fate is to be united. The iron and steel will turn to dust, we will remain in existence. 
 
The whole team of creators of “Seven Against Thebes” are taking a challenge to explore, how the instinct of our common survival is going along with our need, which we have inherited from our ancestors, and which we are obliged to pass to our own children, to remain human, against fear, against insecurity, against desperation.
“Seven Against Thebes”
Translation: Yorgos Blanas
Director: Cezaris Graužinis
Sets & Costumes: Kenny MacLellan
Music: Dimitris Theoharis
Choreography-Movement: Edgen Lame
Lighting: Alekos Yiannaros
Assistant Director: Athina Samartzidou
Production Co-ordinator: Athanassia Androni
 
CAST
Eteocles: Yannis Stankoglou / Christos Stylianou. Messenger: Giorgos Kafkas. Herald: Alexandros Tsakiris. Antigone: Nantia Kontogeorgi. Ismene: Iovi Fragatou.
Chorus: Loukia Vasileiou, Dimitris Drosos, Dafni Kiourktsoglou, Christos Mastrogiannidis, Kleio-Danai Othonaiou, Vasilis Papageorgiou, Stavrianna Papadaki, Grigoris Papadopoulos, Alexia Sapranidou, Evi Sarmi, Polyxeni Spyropoulou, Giorgos Sfyridis, Evanthia Sofronidou, Konstantinos Hatzisavas.
 
SUMMER TOUR PROGRAMME

JULY
6 &7 July – Thessaloniki, Theatro Dassous
15 & 16 July – Kavala, Ancient Theatre of Philippi (International Philippi & Thassos Festival)
22 & 23 July – Epidaurus, Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus (Athens & Epidaurus Festival)
27 & 28 July – Patras, Roman Odeum (International Patras Festival)
30 July – Olympia, Flokas Theatre
 
AUGUST
2 August – Delphi, Frynihos Theatre
4 August – Chalkida, “Orestis Makris” Theatre
10 August – Chalkidiki, Amphitheatro Siviris (“24th Kassandra Festival 2016”)
18 August – Alexandroupoli, Egnatia Park Theatre
20 August – Dion, Ancient Theatre of Dion
24 August – Ioannina, Open Air Theatre EIM-Frontzou
28 August – Papagou, Papagou Garden Theatre
31 August – Elefsina, Old Olive Warehouse (Festival “Aisxylia 2016”)
 
SEPTEMBER
2 September – Petroupoli, Theatro Petras (International Petra Festival)
5 September – Vyronas, Theatro Vrachon “Melina Mercouri” (Festival “In the shadow of the rocks”)
7 September – Nikaia, Katrakeio Theatre
12 September – Larissa, “Alcazar” Garden Theatre
16, 17 & 18 September – Thessaloniki, Vassiliko Theatre
 
TOUR TICKET PRICES
Online tickets presale price (up to 15 days before the show): 10 €
Regular ticket: 15 €
Discount tickets (Students / 65+ / Groups): 10 €
Disabled & Escorts: 8 € *
 
THEATRO DASSOUS TICKET PRICES
Presale price: 12 €
Regular ticket: 15 €
Discount tickets (Students / 65+ / Groups): 10 €
Disabled & Escorts: 8 € *
Unemployed: Free (20 seats per day)
*Applies also to the students who appertain to the Covenant of Collaboration signed between the NTNG and the Greek Ministry of Education.
 
 
TICKETS FROM “AGROTIKI ESTIA” FOR THE SUMMER PERIOD 2016 ARE ACCEPTED
 
EPIDAURUS PRICING POLICY
DISTINGUISHED AREA: 45 €
A ZONE: 40 €
B ZONE: 20 €
B ZONE STUDENTS*: 13 €
Upper Tier: 8 € **
DISABLED / unemployed: 5 € (At the Upper Tier by demonstration of the relevant card)
 
*    Applies also to holders of the European Youth Card.
** Applies also to the students who appertain to the Covenant of Collaboration signed between the NTNG and the Greek Ministry of Education.
 
TICKETS FROM “AGROTIKI ESTIA” FOR THE SUMMER PERIOD 2016 ARE ACCEPTED