The National Theatre of Northern Greece and the Foundation of the Hellenic World present "Loxantra" by Maria Iordanidou at "THEATRON" of Hellenic Cosmos. After the huge success in Thessaloniki (50,000 tickets), the performance of the National Theatre of Northern Greece, directed by Sotiris Hatzakis and with Foteini Baxevani in the leading role, comes to Athens from the 4th of May. The legendary text by Maria Iordanidou, in the excellent theatre adaptation by Akis Dimou and with the exceptional performance by Foteini Baxavani in the role of Loxantra, will be hosted at Hellenic Cosmos only for 16 performances.
In the framework of the performance, "THEATRON" will host a programme dedicated to people from Asia Minor, where, among other things, the spectators will be able to discover their roots and the make their genealogy tree, participating in the Genealogy programme of the Foundation of the Hellenic World.
The play narrates the story of dear Loxantra, a simple woman, exceptionally dynamic, who leads joyfully, tenderly and tirelessly a large, bourgeois family in Constantinople in the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. Numerous relatives, friends, neighbours, the Virgin of Baloukli, Turks, the pasha in the neighbourhood, all these constitute the elements of her life while important historical events take place. Loxantra appears dynamic and unbending, ready to face all difficulties of life, with the wisdom of instinct but also the maturity of experience of past generations and with her motto: "Who is rich? One who cannot rest". A hymn to life.
From the director's notes
…Loxantra loves, gets angry, is stubborn, dominates, grieves, survives. And teaches that life has a hard core, the natural law. Nature does not exist so it can provide nourishment for man, but for itself. So we have to learn to survive along its side, inside it. That is why Loxandra cooks. The food is blood, it keeps us warm, it drives the shivers of the cold world away, the bloodless demons of atony...
…Why Loxantra? Why now in the period of crisis and the "crusades" of the Markets? Because it moves us; because she has role models: father, mother, children, family table, principles, order, harmony.
In our times, something more difficult than economic recession, more horrible than poverty, is uncertainty for the future, the absence of any prediction for the future. However, here on our stage, a present time is being established every night, a unique present time of actors and spectators that includes in its two-hour duration a clear universe.
The doctrines of power, economy, religion, politics etc trick us continuously with promises of life, enchant us to an exotic future, pulling us away from here, depriving us from our most important property, now. This small island of here and now is what this "disreputable" theatre proposes. If we can experience, both actors and spectators, even a second of bliss, perhaps we will have started a new revolution, small and fragile, but which will bring back emphatically the importance of a present time that includes us...
Sotiris Hatzakis
CREDITS
Adaptation: Akis Dimou
Directed by: Sotiris Hatzakis
Sets-costumes: Ersi Drini
Music selection: Foteini Baxevani
Lighting: Antonis Panagiotopoulos
Choreography: George Likesas
Director's Assistant: Anastasia Golema
Stage Designer Assistant: Cleopatra Alagialoglou
Production Organization: Rodi Stefanidou
In the role of Loxantra Foteini Baxevani
Actors: Sophia Athanasopoulou (Efthimia-Aspasia-Vitoritza), Nefeli Anthopoulou (Theano-Efterpi), Despina Giannopoulou (Agatho), Michalis Gounaris (puppeteer), Thanasis Dislis (Giorgos-Assistant of the puppeteer), Giannis Iliopoulos (Manolios-Harilaos-Angelos), Nikos Kapelios (Logiotatos-Adonaidis-Kosmas), Maria Karamitri (Zoitsa-Ploplo), Dimitris Kontos (Theodoros), Anneta Kortsaridou (Soultana), Nikos Magdalinos (Tarsanas-Varsamis), Giorgos Bagiokis (Kostas), Hristos Ninis (Dimitros), Ioanna Pagiataki (Klio), Lilian Palantza (Elegaki), Marianna Papasavva (Kamilli-Margioga), Spiros Sarafianos (Giorgakis-Angelos), Dimitris Siakaras (Epaminondas-Filaretos), Giannis Siamsiaris (Madame Mari-Turk Consul), Marianna Tadou (Anna), Stergios Tzaferis (Alekakis-Angelos), Alexandros Tsakiris (Kotkotinos-Takis-Leprentis-Angelos), Mariza Tsari (Hariklo-Kleoniki-Lilika-Chanoumissa).
The orchestra "Loxantra", which plays on stage, consists of:
Dimitris Vasiliadis (kanonaki)
Athanasios Goudanos (oud)
Eleftheria Ellinidou (singing)
Prodromos Baklatzis (violin)
Dimitris Panagoulias (percussion)
Loukas Metaxas (percussion)
