2024-11-03 15:00:00
A one-act play for two actors in a cafe ● From Monday 4 November to 9 December in a cafe in Piraeus
Piraeus Municipal Theater presents the play “The Shadow of the Fly” written by Valentina Papadimitraki and directed by Tassos Karakyklas.
The show takes place in the neighborhoods of the city, exclusively in coffee shops. From the center of Piraeus to Korydallos, Nikaia and Drpetsona, “The Shadow of the Fly” goes to meet the inhabitants of the city and tell their story in a direct, humane, anguished, honest way.
The coffee shop, as a place for socializing, exchange of ideas and daily interaction, is the natural setting for a show that acrobats the boundaries of nostalgia, realism and daydreams.
A one-act play about the changing city.
For the neighborhoods that are being lost.
To the urban landscape that is being violently changed for the sake of gentrification.
About the internal landscape of people struggling to adapt.
To fade the traces of individual and collective memory with the progress of hypertourism.
Excerpts from the director’s note
The neighborhood becomes a temporary residence, the inhabitants are transformed into heroes of a scenery consumed daily by new cut walkers, relations are reorganized and organized on the basis of economic activity.
The heroine of the story embodies the qualities of this new type of inhabitant. Their lives move on the sidelines of daily exchange negotiations. She confronts her acquaintance, the owner of the cafe. Like another Beckettian heroine, she acknowledges, shares, and the sounds of the coffee machine, the frying pan on the fire, clinking glasses, cars from the surrounding area along with her pauses and her associative functions, creating a natural soundscape.
Tasos Karakyklas, actor, director
Excerpt from the epidemiology of the publication of the project
“The Shadow of Flight”, Kappa Publishing
The heroine, following the fate of the inhabitants of the tourist areas, now thinks about herself, that she considers that she can and must cater to other people’s tastes, that her house can be another point on the map… which is on available. Our goal, if possible, they disappear. Although the play was written for the city of Athens, it can very well be adapted and performed in any city.
Georgina Kakoudaki, theater expert, director
Shadow of the fly – performanceCoefficients
- Text: Valentina Papadimitraki
- Directed by: Tasos Karakyklas
- Music: Fotis Siotas
- Clothing: Vasso Jareni
- Photos: Stelios Angelidis, Simos Giannakos
- Production organization: Valentina Papadimitraki
- Production: Sofia Liakou
- Tasos Karakyklas in the role of the coffee maker
Co-production of “Theatre of the shoe on the tree” with the Municipal Theater of Piraeus.
Information about the show
- Performances from 4 November to 9 December 2024:
- Monday, November 4 and 11 and Wednesday, November 6 and 13 at Elefthera Politia cafe, Gounari 21-23 (inside the porch), Piraeus
- Monday, November 18 and 25 at the As Old Cafe, P. Tsaldari and Filadelfias, Nice
- Wednesday, November 20 and 27 at the Paratairo cafe, Ag. 30 Georgiou, Korydallos
- Monday, December 2 and 9 at Methystero cafe, Er
Start time: 20:30
General admission: 15 euros with a drink (beer or wine)
Tickets: Online at more.com and in the coffee shops before the show starts
Duration: 50 minutes
Info: 6973421650
Interview: Exploring “The Shadow of the Fly” with Theater Expert Georgina Kakoudaki
Time.news Editor (TNE): Welcome, Georgina Kakoudaki! It’s great to have you with us today as we dive into the fascinating one-act play “The Shadow of the Fly,” which is being performed in cafés across Piraeus. Can you start by sharing what initially drew you to this production?
Georgina Kakoudaki (GK): Thank you for having me! The concept of “The Shadow of the Fly” immediately intrigued me. The play is not just a performance; it’s a reflection of the urban experience, especially in the context of gentrification and changing neighborhoods. The choice of cafés as the setting is particularly compelling as they represent social hubs where people congregate and share their stories.
TNE: Absolutely! The café setting adds a rich layer to the story. How does the director, Tassos Karakyklas, utilize this environment to enhance the narrative?
GK: Karakyklas brilliantly incorporates the sounds and atmosphere of a café to create a unique soundscape. The clinking of glasses, the humming of the coffee machine – all these elements contribute to the play’s ambiance and draw the audience into the everyday lives of the characters. The interactions between the characters reflect the social dynamics of urban life, making it relatable yet poignant.
TNE: The play seems to tackle significant themes like nostalgia and loss amid urban change. Can you elaborate on how these themes are portrayed through the characters?
GK: Certainly. The protagonist navigates her identity in a city that is constantly evolving, much like the neighborhoods that are disappearing. She embodies the struggle of modern inhabitants who must adapt and often compromise their memories and histories due to increasing tourism and economic pressures. This internal conflict resonates deeply with many who feel displaced in their own communities.
TNE: As we move to a broader context, you mentioned that the play, while written for Athens, can be adapted to any city. Why do you think its themes are universally relevant?
GK: Urban spaces around the world are undergoing similar transformations due to tourism and economic shifts. The sense of nostalgia for what once was and the anxiety over what is being lost are feelings found in many cities today. “The Shadow of the Fly” captures this existential struggle of individuals striving to maintain their sense of place and identity in the face of change, making it timeless and multicultural in its appeal.
TNE: That’s a powerful point. With the play running from November 4 to December 9, what do you hope audiences take away from this performance?
GK: I hope audiences leave with a heightened awareness of their own environments and the stories behind them. This play is a call to reflect on how urban landscapes shape our lives and the importance of preserving our collective memory amidst relentless change. It’s not just theater; it’s a conversation starter about who we are in relation to our cities.
TNE: Such a beautiful sentiment! Thank you for sharing your insights, Georgina. We look forward to experiencing “The Shadow of the Fly” and the conversation it sparks among the audience.
GK: Thank you! I can’t wait to see how audiences respond to it.