Extroversion, collaborations with leading creators such as Peter Stein, Bob Wilson and Adolf Shapiro, and the cream of the Greek theater scene include, among others, the artistic program of the Piraeus Municipal Theater for the period April 2023 – May 2024.

At the press conference held today (22/3), in the presence of the Mayor of Piraeus, Yiannis Moralis and the actors of the performances, the artistic director of the ITHP, Lefteris Yovanidis, announced the theater’s programming for the coming period with the performances that will be presented in its two stages, as well as the program of the inter-artistic festival “Piraeus Artport III” which will take place in September for the third consecutive year.

“Extroversion is our priority and the goal is always to secure partners and a repertoire similar to the value of our theater” said Lefteris Yovanidis, also stressing the need for the State to ensure in a timely manner that substantial solutions are found to chronic and key legislative problems faced by the organization.

Artistic programme

The Main Stage will host three important directors with international reach and recognition.

“We aim for all three productions to be a fruitful partnership and osmosis with Greek actresses, and to yield extremely interesting fruits” said L. Yovanidis.

The beginning is made by Peter Stein, who will direct Moliere’s “Mismanthrope” with Vassilis Charalambopoulos as the protagonist. The performance that premieres immediately after Easter (19/4) is an adaptation of Stein’s direction, which he presented in 2018 in France, but is, as he explained in the press conference, a new bet.

The German director admitted that he adores Moliere and the specific play, however for him it is a “nightmare” that he does not speak the Greek language, as he wants to understand what the actors he directs are saying. “I ask them to translate into English every sentence they say in Greek. And I thank them for putting up with me. You will say to me, “but why do you do that?” It’s a matter of vanity, I guess, money but also a new opportunity to stay a while in Greece. The motivation to work here is emotional,” said Peter Stein about the show, which is his fifth direction in Greece.

In November, Bob Wilson’s directorial look at Edward Albee’s “Three Tall Women” starring Reni Pittaki, Karyofyllia Karabeti and Loukia Michalopoulou will take over. Albi’s text is built on the fundamental existential issues of man’s relationship with himself and his death, presenting three women of different ages who gradually converge into one person. The internationally renowned American director orchestrates a complex narrative about the passing of time and about the man who wonders about his multiple images in the mirror of life.

Wilson referred to meeting Edward Albee when he was still an architecture student in New York. This is the first time he has directed one of his works. “To date I have seen two performances of the play “Three Tall Women” and I didn’t like either of them. This project revolves around the number three. Many times we come across this number in literature.

But here, it’s like I’m describing the structure of a body: Its skin, its flesh and its bones,” he said. Referring to his three protagonists, he said that “just looking at them creates a story”. “The first day I met them, I just lit up their faces and we didn’t talk further. But the story was there, like a close-up on camera. And as the filmmakers say, once the lens zooms in on the face, not much needs to be done. In my work, I always start with the physical appearance of the actors, I focus on the mystery that exists there,” he added.

In February 2024, Russian director Adolf Shapiro will present Anton Chekhov’s Platonov. “I have directed Chekhov’s works in many countries and in many languages, but never his first play, which in the meantime hides many mysteries. Let’s start with the question, if it is a coincidence that the main hero bears the name of the great Greek philosopher of antiquity.

I believe that the show will provide the answers to this and many more questions,” said Shapiro in his taped message. In the title role we will see Nikos Psarras and with him, Themi Panou, Antigoni Frydas, Nikolas Hanakoulas, Thanasis Zeritis, Katerinas Papoutsakis, Anastasis Roilos.

Finally, the spirit of extroversion is complemented by the important and symbolic collaboration of the Municipal Theater of Piraeus with the Municipal Theater of Constantinople, in the performance of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”, which will be directed by Lefteris Yovanidis with a troupe made up of actors and the two countries (as of 5/5/24).

At the same time, the alternative Omega Stage is preparing to host three very ambitious productions on the complexity and violence of marital and family relationships.

Elena Karakoulis is soon directing Bergman’s “Scenes from a Wedding”, starring Marina Aslanoglou and Nikos Psarras (from 21/4), while Marilita Lampropoulou takes over next spring with Shelley’s “Chensi” (from in February 2024). In between, “The Deer” by Kostas Bostanzoglou will be shown, with direction and distribution to be announced later (November 2023).

Finally, in September, the “Piraeus Artport III” Festival returns for the third year, with exhibitions, shows, concerts, tributes, film screenings and activities in the city.