Love as something that springs forth from amidst death and dares to bloom in ugliness. Love as redemption from a world doomed to repeat the same mistakes over and over again. Love as the only countervailing force to the absurdity of a strange, violent, spiritually arid age that is disturbingly familiar to us today. William Shakespeare's matchless poetic masterpiece, Romeo and Juliet, comes to the National Theatre of Greece’s Main Stage in an inspired production by Dimitris Karantzas.
On the one hand, life-giving passion and on the other, brutal violence. On the one hand poetry, light and love, and on the other, profanity, darkness and hate. The dramatic love story of Romeo and Juliet, two young people from Verona who dare to love each other despite the fatal enmity that divides their powerful families, is based on an explosive mix of opposites. By setting the action in a space that begins as a place of pleasure and ends as a mass grave, the director illuminates both these divergent trajectories in Shakespeare's work: on the one hand the rot and the decay of a dissolute society that is sinking into the mire, dragging with it everything that pure and beautiful, and on the other, the unstoppable drive of love that moves towards the light.
“Romeo and Juliet construct their own world of poetry and fantasy and pursue love as an escape from an enmity can last for centuries. When they meet, the lyricism of the encounter creates a haven that is maintained until the end. Love and spirituality are their way out of a decaying society that arranges religious festivals, debauched revels and deaths with equal ease,” notes the director.
The production highlights Shakespeare's unrelentingly harsh world, mirroring the more dystopian aspects of our own era. An uncompromising social system that defines not only our position but also our identity. An unforgiving world where paternal love is synonymous with violence. A place where, as death encroaches, the space available for love shrinks. Romeo and Juliet's love will be born from a sterile and inhospitable womb, will be suppressed as a sacrilegious rebellion, and will die an early death, but not before indelibly infusing our hearts with an irresistible desire for change.
Information
Wednesday & Thursday: Premium seats €18 | Zone A €16|Zone B €15
Friday: General admission €13
Saturday, Sunday & public holidays: Premium seats €25 | Zone A €20 | Zone B (lower circle) €18 | Zone C (upper circle) €10
TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE
At NTG box offices (Ziller Building & Rex Theatre)
Debit or Credit cards may be used at NTG box offices and
at TIcketservices, online purchase of tickets: www.ticketservices.gr/ Tel: 210 7234567/ Ticketoffice: Panepistimiou 39 (Pesmazoglou Arcade)
ZILLER BUILDING - MAIN STAGE
Wednesday & Sunday: 19:00
Thursday, Friday & Saturday: 17:00 & 20:30
Duration: 140', without intermission
The production is not recommended for under-15s.
creation team
-
Dionysis Kapsalis
Translation -
Dimitris Karantzas
Director -
Maria Panourgia
Sets -
Ioanna Tsami
Costumes -
Tassos Karahalios
Movement -
Giorgos Poulios
Music -
Dimitris Kasimatis
Lighting -
Grigoris Panopoulos
Video -
Erie Kyrgia
Dramaturg -
Kelly Papadopoulou
First directing assistant -
Antonis Antonopoulos
Second directing assistant -
Marios Kakoulli
Second directing assistant -
Sofia Theodoraki
Set design assistant -
Konstantinos Koliousis
Hair design
cast
-
Konstantinos Avarikiotis
Friar Laurence -
Giorgos Giannakakos
Montague, Guest -
Anna Kalaitzidou
Lady Capulet -
Giannis Klinis
Mercutio -
Antonis Kolovos
Gregory, Servant, Guest -
Thanos Koniaris
Sampson, Servant, Guest -
Giannis Koravos
Peter, Friar John, Servant, Guest -
Ektor Liatsos
Romeo -
Rita Litou
Lady Montague, Guest -
Aris Balis
Benvolio -
Iro Bezou
Juliet -
Aris Ninikas
Tybalt -
Giannis Dalianis
Capulet -
Manos Petrakis
Paris -
Reni Pittaki
Nurse -
Haris Haralambous-Kazepis
Prince Escalus, Guest -
Ioannis Harkoftakis
Balthasar, Servant, Guest