Written in 1826, during the Greek War of Independence, The Woman of Zakynthos is one of the most significant works of modern Greek literature and among the most enigmatic and daring texts by Dionysios Solomos. Through the first-person narration of a monk, the poet portrays an upper-class woman who embodies malice, intolerance and moral decay, directing her hatred towards the women refugees from Missolonghi, the struggling Greek nation and the revolutionary cause itself. A satire of social hypocrisy, a political allegory about division within the nation, or an existential inquiry into the darkest impulses of human nature? Nearly two centuries later, Solomos’s unfinished work continues to resist definitive interpretation while retaining its striking contemporary resonance.

Director and choreographer Antigoni Gyra uses The Woman of Zakynthos as a point of departure, weaving together excerpts from The Free Besieged and The Poisoned Woman with contemporary voices drawn from the creators’ personal memories, texts by journalist Konstantinos Poulis, and original music by rapper Anser.

The two performers follow the rhythm of Solomos’s language with their entire bodies; they sing, shift roles and guide the audience through a journey between poetry, memory and storytelling both spoken and embodied. The result is a staged reading that transcends the act of reading itself, transforming into a performative event that resonates effortlessly with the present day, illuminating, with both humour and sorrow, enduring questions of power, violence, injustice and human cruelty.

The production was warmly received by audiences during its two runs in Athens, where it inaugurated the anniversary programme celebrating the 30th year of the multidisciplinary arts organisation Kinitiras.

…and the dance went on until the noose was tied…

CREATIVE TEAM

Direction & Artistic Concept: Antigoni Gyra
Music Direction: Aliki Avdelopoulou
Original Music: Anser
Eternal Memories / Text: Dimitra Zagora
Assistant Director: Eleni Agora

Performed by: Aliki Avdelopoulou and Dimitris Agoras

Featuring the recorded voice of journalist Konstantinos Poulis, The Press Project, performing his own text.

Running time: 65 minutes, no intermission

NICOSIA INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL

FESTIVAL IDENTITY

CO-ORGANISERS: Nicosia For Art Ltd, Nicosia Municipality
MAIN SPONSOR: Deputy Ministry of Culture, Department of Contemporary Culture
GOLD SPONSORS: VF Foundation, Allwyn
SILVER SPONSOR: PwC
OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR: Phileleftheros Media Group
SUPPORTERS: L’Oréal Paris, French Institute of Cyprus, The Classic Hotel, Ethimo
PARTNER: Press and Information Office
HOSPITALITY SPONSORS: Centrum Hotel, Altius Boutique Hotel
OFFICIAL FESTIVAL CAR: Pilakoutas Group
EXCLUSIVE TICKETING PARTNER: more.com

Ticket Prices

General Admission: €20

Persons with Disabilities PwD enter free of charge with the relevant ID.

For group bookings and tickets for persons with disabilities PwD, please contact the theatre box office directly.