From Tuesday the 17th of May running through until Saturday the 9th Of July 2022, the long awaited 57th theatre season at the Greek open air theatre in Siracusa, Sicily is with us once again, delighting all who come.
This years line up by the ‘Instituto Nazionale Del Dramma Antico’ Italian national institute for classical drama or INDA as they are commonly referred to as, feature as always three historical heavyweights.
WHAT’S ON
AGAMEMNON
by Aeschylus
Director: Davide Livermore
First performed at the Dionysia festival in 458 BC, it is the first play in a trilogy, the Oresteia, which is considered Aeschylus' greatest work, and perhaps the greatest Greek tragedy. In Greek mythology, Agamemnon was the king of Mycenae or Argos (different names of the same region), son of King Atreus and Queen Aerope. He was the leader of the Greek army in the Trojan War of Homer's Illiad and is presented as a great warrior but selfish ruler. His brother was Menelaus, who was married to Helen, the main characters that participated in the events leading to the Trojan War. The play tells a tale of how Agamemnon mourns the loss of his friend or lover Argynnus, when he drowns in the Cephisus river. He was married to Clytemnestra, and had four children; Iphigenia, Orestes, Chrysothemis and Electra (Laodike). The plot involves themes of jealousy, deceit and other family dynamics, playing out the abduction of Helen, assisted by Aphrodite in the hope of return to Troy. With sacrifices made the ending is unsure, whereby Artemis replaced her with a deer and took her to the region of Tauris in the Crimean Peninsula. Agamemnon never found out…
OEDIPUS THE KING
by Sophocles
Director: Robert Carsen
The Athenian tragedy also known as Oedipus Rex (Greek title) or Oedipus Tyrannus, by Sophocles was first performed around 429 BC. The performance starts with the complex problem of King Oedipus who is aware of a terrible curse has befallen Thebes, so he sends Creon his brother-in-law, to seek the advice of Apollo. Creon informs Oedipus that the curse will be lifted if the murderer of Laius (the previous King) is found and prosecuted. Oedipus dedicates himself to the discovery and prosecution of Laius’s murderer.With a series of unwilling citizens to speak to, there is then Teiresias, a blind prophet, who says to Oedipus that Oedipus himself killed Laius. The story continues in true Greek tragedy style with plots, twists and turns at every scene. Not to be missed.
IFIGENIA IN TAURIDE
by Euripide
Director: Jacopo Gassmann
Written between 414 BC and 412 BC, this drama of Athens offers a mix of genres from melodrama, romance to tragedy. This Euripidean masterpiece offers human sacrifice, a spirited heroine, a quest ending in a hairsbreadth escape, the touching reunion of long-lost siblings and exquisite poetry. Agamemnon gave Iphigenia, his oldest daughter, as a sacrifice to Artemis and with scenes of the great temple of Diana of the Taurians, a blood- stained altar and IPHIGENIA, clad as a priestess the story of the protagonist unfolds…
WHEN?
Tuesday May 17th - Saturday July 9th 2022
AGAMEMNON
MAY
17/19/21/25/27/29/31
JUNE
02/04/08/10/12
JULY
05
OEDIPUS THE KING
MAY
18/20/22/24/26/28
JUNE
01/03/05/07/09/11/18/22/24/26/29
JULY
01/03
IFIGENIA IN TAURIDE
JUNE
17/19/21/23/25/27/28/30
JULY
02/04
WHERE?
The Greek Theatre ('Teatro Greco'), Siracusa, Sicily, Italy.
A 15 minute drive from Ortigia Island. See 'Getting Around' blog here
More impressive than the performances and the incredibly talented and hard-working actors, is the theatre itself.
PRICING?
24-117 euro (adults)
15-30 euro (children)
free (children under 7)
Tickets and more information:
FOUNDATION TICKET OFFICE:
Corso Matteotti 29, Syracuse
Open from Monday to Friday
from 10:00 to 13:00
Tel: +39 0931 487248
Download the full 2022 Performance Calendar INDA
HISTORY
National Institute of Ancient Drama (INDA) started from an initiative by Mario Tommaso Gargallo (The Marquis of Castel Lentini). Still just an idea in 1913 and seen as an ambitious project - to revive the ancient drama productions and returning them to the remarkable original ancient Greek amphitheatre in the north of the city. Within a year, the first cycle of classical show was inaugurated on April 16, 1914 - Agamemnon by Aeschylus. In 1927 comedy was introduced - with the staging of Clouds by Aristophanes. The performances were so well received that they continued to be revived every other year since then and in 2000 the frequency increased to annually.
Last years 2021 performance line up can be seen here
HOTEL Theatre & Stay OFFER 2022
Algilà Ortigia Charme Hotel 4 Star Superior, Siracusa, Sicily
Tickets can also be booked via the hotel so please contact a member of the reception team
Book for at least three nights at either of our hotels in Ortigia, you’ll receive a 10% discount for your stay during the season of the Greek plays in the Greek Theatre.
For more offer details click here.
Algilà Ortigia Charme Hotel 4 Star Superior
Address 93 Via Vittorio Veneto I-96100 Siracusa, Italy
Phone (Italy) +39 0931 465186
E-mail algila@algila.it
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