A show co-organized with the Institute “Agios Maximos the Greek”
A musical theater performance-documentary dedicated to the legendary “victory singer” titled “Sofia Vembo – A Life in Greece”will be presented from Monday 28 October and for a limited number of performances at the Bretania theater, in a theatrical adaptation and directed by Dimitris Adamiswith Theofania Papathoma in the title role of Vembo.
The show draws material from the book of Mimi Traiforo’s nephew, Vassilis Traiforo, “Children of Greece…”based on the author’s memoirs from his late uncle and Sophia Vembo, who appears on stage in the role of narrator. The songs are performed live by Sofia Manou accompanied by a musical ensemble. Music direction, piano, orchestral editing by pianist Tatiana Papageorgiou, who is also the artistic editor. The actors are still playing: Angelos Kyriakopoulos, Konstantinos Mitrakas, Penelope Chalkia, who embody many roles – faces of Vembo’s life.
The performance is a musical, theatrical journey, in which alongside her songs, the career, the life of Sofia Vembo, the audience follows the very history of Greece from 1936 to 1978 when she left. Dimitris Adamis, who wrote the texts and signed the direction, studied in depth the book by Vassilis Traiforos, in order to accurately approach the work and the path of the great performer.
The journey starts from Gallipoli in Eastern Thrace, continues to Volos and Thessaloniki, where Sophia Vembo first appeared, reminding us of the beginning of her unique journey. Then the first records, the first appearances, the first hits. The saga of the ’40s. Where Sophia became Vembo. The voice of Greece. The singer of victory. The voice of a people, a homeland that later carried it from the Middle East to America and Australia. From the camps of ordinary soldiers to Carnegie Hall and from there to the scenes of Athens, to its theater.
For her part, Theofania Papathoma, an actress who needs no introduction, as she notes, talking about her role: “I have studied the life of Sophia Vembo a lot for years, as I am moved by her form, her work, her character. I am very happy and excited to play this role.”
Sofia Manou, a performer of the younger generation, has also engaged and recorded the work of the legendary Greek artist. We will hear her perform timeless songs from all the time periods of Vembo’s career, such as: “My black-eyed gypsy”, “How sorry I am”, “In Larisa comes out the Augerinos”, of course the songs of the 40’s epic, “Children of Children of Greece”, “The Duce puts on his uniform”, “Take courage my Greece” but also all the great hits that followed, such as: “The Snuffbox”, “Let’s come for a while”, “Let the clouds take me” and so many more.
Images and videos, authentic to the era, shown complement the truth and add excitement to the spectacle.
Scenes from the dressing rooms of the theaters, personal moments of her sometimes with humor and sometimes with emotion, historical moments from her turbulent life, imprisonments, persecution but also her glory and almost “saintship” by the Greek people.
In the show, adults will remember what they knew or had heard and will get to know unknown aspects of her action. Young people will learn how one can go from the individual to the collective, to the social and political, without putting forward his personal ambition, but only the love for his country, for his people and his homeland.
That was Sophia Vembo! It was and is the voice of the people, the voice of love, the voice of struggle and action. The voice of every Greek. She is the Victory Singer and always for the Children of Greece… A show co-organized with the “Saint Maximos the Greek” Institute
Songs from the album “Sofia Vembo – The voice that defeated fascism” will be presented
Performed by Sofia Manou
Production: Institute of Saint Maximus the Greek
Identity of the show
“Sofia Vembo – A Life in Greece”
- Theater Brittany. From Monday 28 October at 8.00 for a limited number of shows.
- Tickets 20, 18, 16 euros
- Text – Direction – Dimitris Adamis
- Sophia Vembo and Theofania Papathoma
- Performer: Sofia Manou
- Musical direction – Orchestration: Tatiana Papageorgiou
- Vassilis Traiforos plays the role of the narrator
- Actors: Angelos Kyriakopoulos, Konstantinos Mitrakas, Penelope Chalkia
- Assistant director – Video projections: Nikolas Xidous
- Sets – Lighting – Costume Design: Dimitris Adamis
- Tickets on sale: https://www.more.com/theater/sofia-bempo-mia-zoi-ellada
Source :Skai
I am Frederick Tuttle, who works in 247 News Agency as an author and mostly cover entertainment news. I have worked in this industry for 10 years and have gained a lot of experience. I am a very hard worker and always strive to get the best out of my work. I am also very passionate about my work and always try to keep up with the latest news and trends.
