Ancient Greek Theatre Festival opens with Euripides’ “Medea” in Dodoni, Epirus

The 1st Festival of Ancient Greek Theatre in Epirus opened at the ancient Dodoni theatre on Saturday night with a performance of the Euripides tragedy ‘Medea’. The evening started with a message from Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, read by Administrative Reconstruction Minister Olga Gerovasili.

“Our culture and all we have to show, as well as all that we have still to create in the present, are the country’s great strength and one of our comparative advantages,” the minister underlined.

The work of economic growth and cultural development, the much-needed reorganisation of production and society, were things that “go together,” she said, while welcoming the new festival as a “great step”.

The opening performance was also attended by Greek Culture Minister Lydia Koniordou, who said it was “an important moment for culture.”

“Today three historic organisations are working together. The Art Theatre with the Ioannina Municipal Regional Theatre and the Athens and Epidaurus Festival. The union of forces can give a new momentum to culture. It can eject ancient drama and culture beyond the narrow boundaries of a single body. And this is important, it is why I came to watch this performance here and not in Epidaurus. To highlight exactly this historic event,” she stressed.

Referring to restoration work underway in Dodoni, Koniordou noted that the archaeological service had stopped the use of the theatre some years before in order to protect the monument but that a “solution was found and the Antiquities Ephorate is continuing its work while at the same time allowing use of the space in a reasonable way, so the monument is not at risk.”

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Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: arjenD License: CC-BY-SA

Source: ANA-MPA