Actor Andreas Fylaktou describes the magic behind what the audience didn't see
I’m on my way back from Epidaurus to Cyprus. On the bus with a triumphant theater troupe. I had the pleasure of reliving the Epidaurus experience for four days, this time from a different perspective. In the summer of 2013, I had come as an actor in Evi Gavriilidi’s *Samia*, with Alkinoos Ioannidis in the lead role, and now I’ve come to document those that the audience doesn’t see in Thomas Moschopoulos’s *Ionas*.
THOK returned to Epidaurus this year after a nine-year hiatus with its own production. The last time was in 2017 with *The Persians*. So it returned this year, and the performance can only be described as a success. An audience in the five-digit range enjoyed and applauded a beautifully structured production. Direction, performances, music, movement, costumes, sets, and lighting—all coming together harmoniously as one—took the audience on a journey for about 90 minutes.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
All of this, however, is what you’ll see written everywhere. What I’m going to tell you is what isn’t visible to the naked eye. I need not speak of the acting prowess of Neoklis Neokleous (Xouthos) and Stella Fyrogeni (Creusa), but I will speak to their experience, their integrity, and their professionalism—which serve as a beacon of protection and guidance for their colleagues, the production, and the organization.
Alongside these pillars, I saw the new generation standing firmly on the soil of Epidaurus. Yannis Tsoumarakis, who took on the eponymous, enormous role of Ion, brought to rehearsals not only his talent but also a dedication and discipline that were evident in his every glance backstage. Alongside actors such as Margarita Zachariou in the role of Athena, Valentinos Kokkinos as the Tutor, and Dimitris Antoniou as the slave, the strength and dynamism of the entire new generation—which filled both the smaller roles and the Chorus—were brought to the fore. Actors brimming with energy, technique, and passion, who proved that the power of a performance lies in the collective dedication of the team.
Special mention must be made of the captivating and almost magical chemistry between the two great actors who portrayed the mischievous Hermes, Vasilis Charalambous and Andreas Koutsoftas, who rightly received a brief ovation from the audience. Their presence was, in fact, linked to one of the most unexpected, poetic moments of this year’s Epidaurus Festival: at the time of the premiere, two foxes made an appearance in the orchestra pit, strolling alongside the actors as if they were trained members of the troupe! A truly Dionysian coexistence, the kind that happens only when art meets the natural landscape of the Argolic region.
But the magic is also created by those working around the orchestra. It was moving to watch Fotis Nikolaou, through his choreography and movement, tirelessly coordinating and inspiring the performance’s demanding mixed dance ensemble. It was magical to watch musician Nama Dama, who not only composed the music but was also performing live on stage alongside Nikola Tsangaris and Zinonas Oikonomidis. Their music not only filled the auditorium but continued to resonate in the dressing rooms as well, keeping the troupe’s spirits high.
At the same time, the visual identity created by Vasilis Papatsarouhas through his sets and costumes, bridging the archaic with the contemporary, was brought to life with meticulous care, while Giorgos Koukoumas’s lighting was meticulously adjusted to “dress” the climaxes of the play. And above all, the orchestrator of this endeavor, Thomas Moschopoulos—with his collaborator, director Mario Kakoulis, by his side—managed, through quiet, substantive guidance, to bring the pieces of this puzzle together.
Experiencing all of this firsthand, one realizes once again the exceptional, high-caliber human talent we have in Cyprus. We have artists and technicians of rare caliber, talent, passion, and professionalism—capable of holding their own on any major stage.
This is precisely why THOK’s return to Epidaurus this year does not feel like a flash in the pan, but rather the beginning of a new era. The recent appointment of Marina Maleni as Artistic Director brings a breath of optimism and vindication. At long last, after many years, the reins are being taken by someone who knows the theater from the inside, cares deeply for the country, and truly respects its human resources. With her experience, knowledge, and deep love for the people of the stage, the future of the organization and of Cypriot theater looks truly bright.
Epidaurus is a living organism that embraces all those who give their all. As I leave, I carry this embrace with me: the fatigue that vanished in an instant with the audience’s applause, the smiles, and the bond of a team that believed in its material. THOK has demonstrated in practice what collective spirit, respect, and true theatrical harmony truly mean.
