“THE HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA”
By Federico García Lorca
A Contemporary Stage Interpretation of Lorca’s Universe
Sunday, 22 November 2026 | 9:00 p.m.
Michael Cacoyannis Foundation
The Cultural Association of Nea Kios presents Federico García Lorca’s iconic play, The House of Bernarda Alba, at the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, in an adaptation and direction by Giannis Sariyiannis.
A production born in the Argolis region, which received an enthusiastic response from audiences in Nea Kios, now brings to Athens a distinctive theatrical proposal: a contemporary interpretation of Lorca that seeks to explore not only the story behind the play, but, above all, its deeper poetic, political and existential universe.
The year 2026 marks the 90th anniversary of Federico García Lorca’s assassination. The poet who transformed poetry and theatre into acts of resistance against fear, authoritarianism and oppression continues, ninety years later, to speak with a power that feels remarkably relevant today.
A House That Becomes a Symbol
In Giannis Sariyiannis’ production, Bernarda Alba’s house is not merely a realistic family setting.
It is a psychological and symbolic landscape.
A closed system of power, where silence becomes law, the body is subjected to surveillance, and desire is treated as a threat.
Within the four walls of the house, the women of the play are trapped, struggling between submission and rebellion. Bernarda imposes her own order, her daughters suffocate under its weight, while Adela claims what should be a fundamental right: the right to desire, to love and to be free.
In this way, the play transcends the boundaries of a family tragedy.
It becomes a story about power, confinement, female desire, social oppression and freedom.
A story that speaks of yesterday, but above all, of today.
Lorca Meets Lina Nikolakopoulou
One of the central dramaturgical elements of the production is the encounter between Lorca’s writing and the poetic language of Lina Nikolakopoulou.
Her lyrics and songs are organically woven into the stage action, creating a dialogue between two significant poetic voices of the Mediterranean.
Nikolakopoulou’s poetry functions as a contemporary echo of Lorca’s world, illuminating memory, loss, love and female desire from a different perspective.
This is not simply a musical or poetic addition.
It is a dramaturgical encounter between two worlds, through which Lorca comes closer to the contemporary audience.
Theatre of the Body, Image and Sound
The directorial approach draws on elements of postdramatic theatre, dance theatre, physical expression and expressionist aesthetics.
Speech, movement, music and imagery acquire equal dramaturgical significance.
The body becomes the vehicle of oppression and rebellion.
Movement reveals what the characters are unable to express in words.
Music and song create a second, underlying language.
And visual imagery opens up a space beyond realism.
Projection mapping, video art and multimedia projections are not used merely as scenic effects, but as integral elements of the storytelling. They create moments of poetic distancing, allowing the audience to step back from the emotional intensity and look more deeply into the mechanisms of power and confinement that run through the play.
A Work That Continues to Speak to Us
The House of Bernarda Alba is not simply a story about a family.
It speaks of every society that fears freedom.
Of every form of power that seeks to control the body.
Of every voice forced into silence.
Of every human being who claims the right to live according to their own desires and truth.
And this is why Lorca remains alive.
Because his question remains unanswered:
How much can a human being endure when deprived of the right to desire, to love and to be free?
CREATIVE TEAM
Adaptation – Direction: Giannis Sariyiannis
Assistant Director: Dimitra Dede
Set Design – Projection Mapping: Spyros Poulos
Costume Design: Dimitra Dede – Giannis Sariyiannis
Choreography: Marilena Liagri
Creative Facilitation – Assistant Director: Elentina Katsikidi
Movement Direction – Music Supervision: Giannis Sariyiannis
Musical Arrangements: Penny Gavrili
Vocal Coaching: Katerina Vergadou
Video Art – Editing: Serafeim Ziou
Sound Engineering: Kostas Tsevopoulos
Lighting Design: Kostas Iliopoulos
Set Construction: Nikos Serekas, Lina Moutafi
Production – Organisation: Cultural Association of Nea Kios
CAST
Bernarda: Eleni Konomara
Maria Josefa: Despina Samiou
Angustias: Alexia Sariyianni
Magdalena: Athina Maniakou
Amelia: Natasha Tzavara
Martirio: Garyfallia Hatzikonstantinou
Adela: Anastasia Petropoulou
Poncia: Kaiti Sariyianni
The Maid: Eleni Katsikari
Prudencia: Lina Moutafi
The Beggar Woman: Gogo Kioumourtzoglou
The Girls: Katerina and Evalena Kanellou
Pepe el Romano: Spyros Poulos
A PRODUCTION FROM ARGOLIS TO ATHENS
The House of Bernarda Alba is a production born in Nea Kios which, through the Social Theatre initiative of the Cultural Association of Nea Kios, brought together artists, theatre professionals and members of the local community in a vibrant creative encounter.
Now, this encounter comes to Athens.
To the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation.
Here, Lorca’s poetry, the contemporary writing of Lina Nikolakopoulou, music, movement, imagery and the actors’ performances come together to retell a story about power and freedom.
Because Bernarda’s house may be located in Andalusia.
But its silence, its suffocating atmosphere and the longing for freedom can be found anywhere.
Sunday, 22 November 2026
Time: 9:00 p.m.
Michael Cacoyannis Foundation
