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Performances

Anchors Aweigh

 

"Anchors Aweigh” by Thanasis Papathanasiou and Michalis Reppas

Directed by Asterios Peltekis
 
Theatre of the Society for Macedonian Studies

Opening: 30 November 2024

Second Year

 
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*Shots are heard during the performance, which also features strobe lighting.
 
 
Α FEW WORDS ABOUT THE PLAY
“Anchors Aweigh” is a homage to the Theatrical Review penned by Thanasis Papathanasiou and Michalis Reppas.

The play was staged in 1997 by the National Theatre of Greece in honour of this most misunderstood of theatrical genres.

Beginning in 1894 with the first Greek review on record, “Ligo ap’ ola” (A little bit of everything), the creative duo take us on a journey through time, transporting us to the glamorous world of the Review as its actors and contributors battle for its survival against the backdrop of important historical events.

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The two playwrights used found material to write the work’s main characters, drawing on autobiographies of great leading ladies of the age, such as Sperantza Vrana, Marika Nezer, Zozo Sapountzaki, and combining it with biographical information about grandes dames of the theatre and stories and/or rumours that did the rounds on the theatre scene.

Combining nostalgic atmosphere with humour, “Anchors Aweigh” is a fiction inspired by the history of the Greek stage which brings music, dance and song together in a unique work which has been delighting audiences since it premiered 26 years ago.

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DIRECTOR’S NOTE
On the occasion of the 130th anniversary of the first Greek revue performance, the National Theatre of Northern Greece celebrates this unique theatrical genre. It is a genre that emerged from the historical course of the theatre, commencing with Aristophanes and eventually reaching its natural habitat, the place where theatre was born, as a new genre at the beginning of the 20th century, after a tortuous path of many twists and turns as well as loans and counter-loans from various countries and cultures.

Reppas and Papathanasiou, a widely loved writing duo, with a brilliant career in contemporary Greek theatre, have made a play based on the history of this very genre, which was at once very well-received by Greek theatre-goers, from its first ever historic performance at the National Theatre in 1997, under the artistic directorship of the late Nikos Kourkoulos and from which featured a number of great protagonists and prominent actors.

Approximately thirty years after its first performance, we are honoured to have been granted the rights to stage this wonderful play once more, so that we can recall the beauty of the text, the energy and the laughter it generates as well as the concerns that underpin it. This beautiful journey intersects with the historical journey the long-suffering Greek people made during the course of a “lively” century of two World Wars, a Cold War that “accompanied” us for a long time, but also a series of great intellectual, social, political and technological developments.

Through our efforts to render it in the best possible way, we hope that the audience in Thessaloniki embraces this great play. Though this, we aim to offer laughter and entertainment, both of which are extremely valuable nowadays, as well as to create an enjoyable experience of a grand and fine performance by the National Theatre, the cradle of culture of Northern Greece.

People, energy, dancing, singing, life!!!! Take your seat, lights off and enjoy the performance!!!!
 
Asterios Peltekis
 
 
 
CREDITS
Direction: Asterios Peltekis
Sets: Manolis Pantelidakis
Costumes: Nikos Charlaftis
Orchestration: Giorgos Andreou
Choreography: Dimitris Papazoglou
Lighting: Stelios Tzolopoulos
Music coaching: Panagiotis Barlas
Video Art: Vallentina Kopti
Assistant to the director: Evi Sarmi
Assistant to the set and costume designers: Danai Pana
Orchestration collaborator: Stergios Gargalas
Assistant choreographers: Stella Eminoglou, Anastasia Kelesi
Production coordinators: Christoforos Mariadis, Eva Koumandraki
Photos: Mike Rafail / That long black cloud
 
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