THE APOCALYPSE OF JOHN

Under the auspices of the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation “The Apocalypse of John” based on the poetic performance by Nikos Papakostas, a universal work of literature that moves between the prophesy and the vision, the agony and the transgression, goes on a journey abroad, while shortly before will be presented at MCF on Saturday, November 24th, at 21:00.

In a poetic version with the music by Nikos Papakostas, as well as the participation of important actors of the avant-gardes theatre shapes a new, different form. A minimalistic form of interactive tragedy, where the divine word, the chorus (people) presence, the image through video art and street art, the sound and the light overrule.

Without the degradation of its content or the imposition of unsolicited interpretations it moves a step closer to the religious and non Greek audience, as well as the global, revealing all of its uniqueness. The entire distinct power of it, its multiple symbolisms as well as its divine greatness, just as it is unveiled through the visions and the word of John.

Nikos Papakostas attempted to make more accessible to the reader as well as the spectator an exceptionally difficult and some times obscure text, and this is the reason he chose in the translation and the poetic adaptation a simple, comprehensible language without extremities.

Characteristic press reviews highlight: “The Apocalypse of John, in this new poetic adaptation by Nikos Papakostas is a whimsical and at the same time precise poetic view on this unique and archetypical work”.

The performance, being interactive, accompanied by video on which visual illustrations of the Apocalypse (from 950AD to 1870AD) are screened as well as street art visual-arts interventions (result of two-year and more persistent research and work) and accompanied by the enhanced with traditional and modern instruments and rhythms music, highlights the impressive, concrete and complete conflict of forces within the original text.

The Dark against Light, Demons against Angels, human Fear against the primal Knowledge. At this point, both visually and cognitively, the elements of nature encounter the symbolic aspects of the Apocalypse.

Main elements of our performance are the music, the image and the word. “The sound along with its silence, and the light along with its shadow”.

In the performance important role belongs to the set creation by Michalis Athanasiadis, the visual arts interventions by STMTS, the lights by Takis Podaropoulos, and the sound effects with natural, mainly, recordings by Panas, which shape a contemporary and spectacular set environment.

The performance takes place for the purposes of the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation and all the production members participate voluntarily, just a few days before the “Apocalypse of John by Nikos Papakostas” be presented in Brussels.