PESSOA by Thanasis Akokalidis

Thanasis Akokalidis and his group are presenting the play “Pessoa”, within the framework of the theatrical and audiovisual platform Black Box, focusing on  the subject of the coming of age, organized by the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation. Through a rich caleidascope of images, the original texts by Fernando Pessoa come to life, sketching the life and many faces of the great Portuguese writer.  What’s more “pessoa” means “face” in his mother tongue. An original concept which emanates the saying by Pessoa, “Oh, if only I were not all the people and all the lands”, guided by the unconstrained humour and melodic songs of another era.

Concept / Direction:  Thanasis Akokalidis

Translation / Texts by Fernando Pessoa:  Maria Papadima

Dramaturgy:  Irene Anagnostopoulou

Scenery:  Nikos Papadopoulos

Movement director:  Briseis Solomou

Costumes:  Vana Giannoula

Lighting:  Eleutheria Deko

Sound design:  George Poulios

Assistant director/production manager:  Smaragda Dogani

Performace photographs:  Rita Tsela (FOCUS photography school), Thodoris Doupas

Video:  Thodoris Doupas, Koralia Dogani

Poster graphic design:  Andonis Kontoleon

Performing:

Pavlina Zachra, Constantinos Karvouniaris, Lampros Papageorgiou, Alexandros Chomatianos

A few words about the director
Thanasis Akokalidis graduated from the Veaki Drama school in 2003.  For four years he was a member of Z. Nikoloudis’ dance-theatre group “Chorica”.  He collaborated with the Artistic Director of the Closing Ceremony for the Olympic Games in Athens.  Since 2010 he has also collaborated with R. Wilson for the International Summer Program at the Watermill Center, USA.  He has been involved in productions within Greece and abroad with acclaimed Greek and foreign directors and choreographers, including:  R. Wilson, R. Touminas, Pina Bausch Group,  M. Abramovic, L. Peisinger, M. Kavalieratou, A. Dinelescu, D. Papaioannou, M. Marmarino, St. Livathinos and more.  He has also co-created the following:  ‘Moment’, ‘Meeting’, ‘Miso’, ‘U’, ‘Don’t look down’, ‘Window’, ‘Nature’s Hot Spot’.

Artistic Director of BLACK BOX:  Christos Paridis

SPONSOR

GUTENBERG

MEDIA SPONSORS

ERT, SECOND PROGRAM, THIRD PROGRAM, COSMOTE TV, FOX LIFE, LIFO, Pepper 96,6, Boemradio.com, Culturenow.gr, Monopoli.gr, Theatromania, TVXS, MAD