21th – 23th June (Sunday – Tuesday)

Teatr Polski, Scena im. Grzegorzewskiego (Grzegorzewski Stage)

AJAX, THE MADNESS, dir. Theodoros Terzopoulos; Attis Theatre

Scenic composition based upon Ajax by Sophocles

Director, scenic composition, scenic design, costume design: Theodoros Terzopoulos

Dramaturgical collaborators: Konstantinos Arvanitakis, Nikos Nomikos

Lights: Theodoros Terzopoulos, Konstantinos Bethanis

Production Administration: Maria Vogiatzi

Production, Public Relations: Ileiana Dimadi

Photographs: Johanna Weber

Acting:

Tasos Dimas

Savvas Stroumpos

Meletis Ilias

This performance, minimal in its form but comprised of many means of expression, is based on the oldest of Sophocles’ seven preserved tragedies. Terzopoulos, who has received international acclaim as a director of Greek drama, has created a contemporary study on war’s paranoia, violence, and conflict together with just three actors. Betrayal, wrath, madness, vengeance, suicide, but also guilt and remorse – elements often overlooked in the contemporary world – are the main topics of this powerful performance.

The actors physically embody the ancient text with an interpretation that touches audiences’ deepest sensitivities. The text has extraordinary energy. The actors describe the criminal acts of Ajax with both pathos and irony; they are identified with them, they embody them, and finally they are transformed into victims. The performance becomes a contemporary chamber opera in its finale.

Theodoros Terzopoulos’ production of AJAX, the madness was presented in Lublin in 2005 as part of the 10th Theatre Confrontations. In Wroclaw, we will have an opportunity to see a new updated version.

Duration: 70 minutes