Lily Zographou is chic, philosophical, eccentric, an estet, a smart cookie, tough and yet tender and she has been to hell and back and come out on top – as her inner beliefs cannot be marred – her statement is that “Life will prevail!”.

 

Using this motto as a source of inspiration, Enke Fezollari directs Alexandra Paleologou in the stories “of the Junta” from Lily Zografou’s book “Occupation: Whore”. Two autobiographical tales which give us the gist of the times and also provide a profile of the writer – a milestone for Greece during the political change-over: a woman fighting against every form of violence. For every regime which impoverishes its people and every inherent power which infringes upon basic human rights.

 

 

First story: Junta. The writer is prohibited from leaving the country due to her political beliefs but on the pretext of not practicing in the profession of journalism as described on her passport. Zografou, reacting with humour to this strange regime, changes her profession, by hand, to “Whore – of liberal morality”. The consequences of this were dire.

 

Second story: 1973. After her attempted suicide on New Year’s Eve she is admitted to a psychiatric clinic.  Here we witness the inhumane attitude of the staff which is beyond shameful: the writer – whilst tied to her bed – is repeatedly raped by the night guards. However, she does not lose her strength: this traumatic experience forces her to come up against those responsible and to condemn this sham of an institution which presents itself as a medical clinic.

 

 

Enke Fezollari presents, from his own penetrative viewpoint, the incredible confessions of Lily Zographou: a conscious and thinking citizen, a non-conformist writer, a person who considers freedom the greatest of riches, to the point where she decides to take her own life in order to escape the hell of servility and famine.

 

The sharpness of her writing, her sarcastic and bitter-sweet humour, her narrative ardour and her disarming honesty acquire a voice on stage with Alexandra Paleologou, enhanced by the music of Stamatis Kraounakis.  

 

In the basement of the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation and in a modern performance which tears down the dogma and the myths which the Junta fed to those ignorant as to the rights of the people: “No, my revolution would not turn against the regime and its system but against those who accept it. I would kill, I would obliterate misery, submissiveness and humility. There is no more space in this world for the humble and the scorned. As there is no more space for other mouthpieces”.

 

 

Text: Lily Zografou (The book “Occupation: Whore” is available from Alexandria Publications)

Directed by: Enke Fezollari

Assistant Director: Maryanthi Grammatikou

Set Design – Costumes – Lighting: Enke Fezollari, Maryanthi Grammatikou

Music: Stamatis Kraounakis

Photographs – Video: Athina Liaskou

Production: Lykofos S.A.

 

Performimg: Alexandra Paleologou

 

^{€10 Reduced for: Students / (+ Open University, Greece and abroad) / Persons with special needs / Unemployed (OAED) & families with many children (ASPE) / European youth card holders / Cultural Card holders and Club IFA card holders (the French Institute)  /  ITI card holders / OTOE, OIELE & OLME card holders/ Over 65s}