The Ballad of Reading Gaol | The concept album by the rock band KollektivA adapted into an innovative theatrical performance
In 2014, the rock band KollektivA released a concept album titled The Ballad of Reading Gaol inspired by the homonymous poem by Oscar Wilde. From its conception, the music album was created with the intention to evolve later on into a theatrical mise-en-scene.
The theatrical performance of The Ballad of Reading Gaol is an interpretation of an album, stemming from a unique collaboration between KollektivA and some of the most up-and-coming artists in the theatre and dance scene Christina Mitropoulou who penned the play and Tassos Bekiaris, artistic director, who choreographed and directed it.
The main theme of the play is the antithesis between confinement and freedom – a topic which greatly concerned Oscar Wilde who himself was imprisoned in 1897 when he wrote the poem The Ballad of Reading Gaol. The play works with this antithesis not only in the realm of penitentiary but also in various kinds of individual as well as collective forms of confinement. Contemporary world perceived as a prison cell. The innate quest for freedom.The Ballad of Reading Gaol is the interpretation of an album where actors, musicians and dancers meet onstage in order to tell a story about liberation in a time of restrictions. Music, drama and dance intertwine in order to present a groundbreaking mise-en-scene that is not solely a theatrical play but rather a comprehensive experience.
The play is going up at the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation on Sundays 10, 17, 24 and 31st of January right before KollektivA launch their new much-anticipated album in early 2016. The digital single titled Elena, a song condemning child abuse, inspired by the tragic infamous story of Eliza Izquierdo, is already released by 5th Season Records.
The Ballad of Reading Gaol
Director / Choreographer: Tassos Bekiaris
Music / Music arrangement: KollelktivA
Original story / Lyrics: Fanis Margaronis
Theatrical play: Christina Mitropoulou
Light Designer: Nikos Vlassopoulos
Sound Designer: Dimitris Retouniotis, Michael Skarakis
Line Producer: Victoria Vittoratou
Executive Producer: KollektivA
Performing: Yiannis Giaramazides, Yorgos Ziogalas, Aristotelis Magoulas, Iakovos Mindrinos, Yorgos Tsagarakis and Evi Hatzaki
and KollektivA: Thanassis Chouliaras, Fanis Margaronis, Yorgos Theofanous, Makis Kretsis, Yorgos Pavlou, Dimitris Giannouhos
Information
The Ballad of Reading Gaol
Sundays 10, 17, 24 and 31st of January at 20:30
Duration: 80 mins
Parental discretion required for 15 years old and under.
Ticket prices:
12 presale
10 reduced (for students and unemployed)
15 at the MCF’s box office on the day of the performance
