Symposium: “Avant-garde theatre in 21st-century Greece”

Organizing committee: Evi Prousali, Helen Petassi, Grigoris Ioannidis

A panel discussion involving theatre critics and artists, directors, actors, representatives of institutions, and the audience.
There will be a greeting by the Artistic Director of Athens & Epidaurus Festival, Vangelis Theodoropoulos, and introductory speeches by Savvas Patsalidis, president of the Hellenic Association of Theatre and Performing Arts Critics, and Dimitra Kondylaki, co-curator for contemporary Greek theatre of Athens & Epidaurus Festival, followed by brief speeches by the members of the organizing committee, Evi Prousali and Grigoris Ioannidis.
Moderators: Evi Prousali, Grigoris Ioannidis, Eleni Petasi.
In the first section, representatives of institutions and theatre critics will discuss and share their views, followed by a discussion with the audience. Estimated time: 1 hour 15 mins.
In the second section, theatre artists and directors will discuss and share their views, followed by a discussion both with critics and the audience. Estimated time: 1 hour 15 mins.
Fellow theatre critics can freely intervene.

A. Representatives of institutions
1. Prodromos Tsinikoris (National Theatre of Greece, Experimental Stage)
2. Nikos Diamantis (Municipal Piraeus Theatre)
3. Marianna Calbari (Greek Art Theatre Karolos Koun)
4. Alexandros Efklideis (Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, Alternative Stage)
5. Kyriaki Spanou (Municipal and Regional Theatre of Larissa)
6. Katia Arfara (Onassis Cultural Centre)

B. Artists / Directors
1. Yannos Perlegas
2. Dimitris Karantzas
3. Elli Papakonstantinou
4. Marilli Mastrantoni
5. Olga Pozeli
6. Argyris Xafis
7. Roula Pateraki

The main question is whether the changes that have been brought about by globalization and the new economics allow for a survival of avant-garde theatre, not only in the sense of something cutting-edge, but also avant-garde as as disruptive, subversive, transcendental element, as avant-garde has been historically defined.
Is there such a thing as avant-garde theatre in contemporary Greece?
What are its themes and styles?
Who are its representatives? To whom does it appeal?
What is the context (ideological, social) wherein it has developed?
What is its relationship with the market?
Is it possible for a performance to self-identify as 'avant-garde', while at the same time being promoted in press releases as a sold-out show?
Does massive appeal negate or reinforce the role of avant-garde?
What is the relationship between avant-garde theatre and established institutions?
Does the abolition of the confrontational character of modernism and the acceptance of postmodern tolerance work to the detriment of avant-garde dynamics? Or does it enhance those very dynamics?

Applications submitted to seminars@greekfestival.gr