What makes you breathe? What’s taking your breath away? What do you believe in? What do you swear by?
“Oxygen” by Ivan Viripayev, a work-manifesto of the 00s, is presented as an antidote to the “psychopolitical suffocation” of Generation Z. A troupe of 25 people, representatives of this generation, in a spiritual rave experience.
“If you learn to masturbate with oxygen, then nothing, not money, not drugs, not even death itself will save you from your thirst for beauty and freedom.”
“I’m writing for a generation of educated young people who don’t go to the theater much,” declared Ivan Viripayev in 2003, the leading representative of New Russian drama, now awarded by the Russian regime and a naturalized Pole. A work-manifesto of the 00s generation, Oxygono (2002) was written as theatrical prose spoken by two persons – a girl and a boy with the same name –, accompanied by a live dj-set. The show, structured in ten chapters, like a transcription of the Ten Commandments, like a new New Testament, starts from the reverse of “You kill”, ends in a biblical Apocalypse, while it runs through the challenging question “what is oxygen to you?” ».
Twenty years later, the popular Greek director Giorgos Koutlis transfers the work to today, as a reflection of an entire generation, turning the Main Stage of the Roof until January 12 into an “arena” of a rave party, with DJs Reign of Time on the decks, live video art and a young troupe, which, like a post-dramatic Dance, seeks, in the terms of a blasphemous of poetry, the antidote to the psychopolitical suffocation of our times. These young creators become the mirror of their entire generation and, together, the image of the reflections and desires of every human being who does not stop agonizing and hoping.
Giorgos Koutlis says about the show: “A rave party, an unstoppable Bacchic rhythm, creatures vibrating to the music of the DJs, searching for a lost spirituality and giving the impression that if they stop dancing, they will stop breathing. They are looking for what oxygen is, what makes us breathe and what deprives us of air. They try to speak to the audience alongside the music that brings the bodies into a trance. They dance non-stop and some grab the microphones and speak. Using Ivan Vyrypayev’s play Oxygen as a vehicle, the actors will tell the story of Sasha and Sasha, to talk about all the filth, agony and beauty of human nature, trying to answer a vital unanswered question: “What is Oxygen for you?”
At the time he was writing Oxygen, Viripayev stated that he was concerned with the place of the theater vis-a-vis the world, a theater that raises questions. As stated in his biography, his main concern is the spiritual development of man with the help of art.
Oxygen is a play that subverts what is taken for granted about the theatrical form in order to speak about all that makes us unable to breathe. As the text boldly states: “Even if you feel anything, I’ll tell you the truth.”
Coefficients
Directed, Translated & Adapted: George Koutlis
Dramaturgy & Adaptation: Vassilis Magouliotis
Choreography: Alexandros Stavropoulos
Move: Alkistis Polychroni
Music Composition & Sound Design: Jeff Vanger
Additional Music & DJs on Stage: Reign of Time
Stage: Konstantinos Skourletis
Video Design: Uncharted Limbo Collective
Costumes: Eva Goulakou & Dimos Klimenof
Lighting: Eliza Alexandropoulou
Assistant Director & Artistic Associate: Eleni Koutsiumba
Sound engineering: Brian Coon
Costume Designers Assistant: Alexandra-Anastasia Ftouli
Assistant Lighting Designer: Marietta Pavlakis
Assistant Director: Orpheus de Corbiere-Calesis
B΄ Assistant Lighting Designer: Paulina Papadakis
Assistant Stage Designer: Dimitra Sarri
Hair Design: Konstantinos Vassiliou
Makeup Design: Teo Zografaki
Stage Construction: Yannis Nitsos – Art Wood Creations
Construction of Stage Scaffolding: Aristides Papoutsakis – Concert Copa Services
They interpret (alphabetically): Gabriela Antonopoulou, Anastasia Valsamaki, Noemi Vasiliadou, Jason Vrohidis, Chara Iota, Nikos Gonidis, Eleftheria Iliopoulou, Theodoris Theodorakopoulos, Panos Kladis, Despina Lagoudaki, Marianna Mathia, Electra Barouta, Ioannis Bastas, Alexandros Nouskas Varelas, Evini Pantelaki, Antonia Pitoulidou, Gal A. Robisa, Katerina Samara, Natalia Swift, Yannis Tomazos, Costas Phoenix, Marios Hatziantoni, Nikolas Hatzivasiliadis
Her recorded voice can be heard in the performance Lena Platonos
English subtitle translation: Memi Katsoni
Simultaneous overtitration: Giannis Papadakis
Production Coordinator: Nikos Charalambidis
Production Execution: POLYPLANITY Productions/ Yolanda Markopoulou & Vicky Strataki
Assignment – ​​Production: Onassis Foundation Roof
It is supported by the “Extroversion” program of the Onassis Foundation Shelter.
The show has loud music and uses lasers, strobe lighting and smoke effects.
Oxygen by Ivan Viripayev will be published in November by Kappa publications. The book will include the translation made by Giorgos Koutlis from the Russian original, as well as the adaptation made by him, in collaboration with Vassilis Magouliotis, for the needs of the show.
Performance information
Onassis Foundation Roof
Syngrou 107
Central Stage
Until January 12, 2025
Thursday to Saturday, 20:30
Sunday, 14:00
Duration: 80 minutes
Suitable for ages 16+
Tickets
Regular ticket: €18, €22, €28
Reduced ticket, Friend, Neighborhood resident: 20% discount on the regular ticket price
Group of 5-9 people: 10% discount on the regular ticket price
Unemployment, Disabled, Disabled Companion: €10
Limited Visibility Ticket: 50% discount on the regular ticket price
Group bookings at [email protected]
Shows with English subtitles
Saturday 7/12, Sunday 8/12, Saturday 14/12, Sunday 15/12, Sunday 22/12 and Sunday 29/12/2024.
Accessible performances
The performances on December 20 and 21 and January 2 and 3 will be presented in conditions of universal accessibility, in collaboration with the cultural organization liminal. More specifically, interpretation in Greek Sign Language and surtitling for deaf and hard of hearing people are included, as well as a tactile tour of the stage area and an audio description for people with visual impairment.
Accessibility services are provided with the support of the Europe Beyond Access network, which is co-financed by the Creative Europe program of the European Union.
For ticket reservations under this accessibility service, please contact [email protected] or call 213 017 8036.
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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.
