By Vangelis Liakogona
Where you come across Roman and Byzantine monuments, a fairytale old town, enough green, there you also meet culture.
In – Archekes near Northern Greece – Philippopolis of Bulgaria, the second population of the country in the country, on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, a much -discussed internationally Greek performance was distinguished, the “Tsenti family” directed by Ioli Andreas.
The official Festival of the Plovdiv Drma Theater (Plovdiv Drama Theater) was presented at the Crossroads Autumn Theater Festival.
It is one of Europe’s most important theater festivals, which has been inviting top theater directors from all over the world for 28 years. This year was the Greek participation of Ioli Andreas, as well as the participation of Thiago Rodriguez, artistic director of the Avignon Festival.
The journey of skai.gr
We “followed” the team of the “Cenci family”, knowing the beautiful Philippopolis, after being transported by road from Sofia, where we landed starting from Athens.
We talked to the staff of this great cultural event on the Balkans and the whole of Europe.
We saw the rehearsals of the protagonists (Konstantina Takalou, Thanos Koniaris, Elena Kalaitzis) and we talked with international director, Ioli Andreas.
And, of course, we watched the excellent performance, which was very warmly received by the spectators of the festival, applauding.
The show
The work was written in 2015 and is the writing debut of Greek playwrights Iolis Andreas and Aris Asproulis. He talks about the true story of Beatrice Centzi, the first woman – a teenager who resisted the patriarchy by paying her with her life in Rome in 1599.
The “Tsenti Family” was first presented at the Michalis Kakogiannis Foundation, then at the historic basement of the Art Theater, and when it began its international journey, the New York audience and was praised by Broadwayworld.com, the number one site for the theater.
Starring Konstantina Takalou, Thanos Koniaris, Elena Kalaitzis.
The show now went up at the Filipopolis Dramatic Theater Festival with Bulgarian subtitles. It should be noted that it is the fourth performance that the international Greek director Ioli Andreadis has been invited to present at this festival for the last three years. The “Helen” of Euripides 2023 had preceded – the first performance ever to be held at the archaeological site of the ancient royal diocese of Philippopolis at a special invitation by the Minister of Culture of Bulgaria and the “Kokkalos” and “Arto Van/Gog”.
In November, the show is expected to travel again, with the support of the IF Foundation. Kostopoulos, to present it to Rome, returning to the real place where this tragic story took place.
The “Tsenti Family” is part of the authors’ trilogy on the life and work of the radical intellectual, with international reputation and Greek ancestry, Antonen Arto, entitled The Artaud Trilogy.
The other two projects of the trilogy that also travel around the world in recent years, “Arto/Vank Gogh” and “Kokkalos”, can be watched in Athens these days at the Point Theater.
Directed by: Ioli Andreas
Text: Ioli Andreas & Aris Asproulis
Scenery – Costumes: Dimitra Liakoura
Lighting: Stella Kaltsu
Starring: Konstantina Takalou, Thanos Koniaris, Elena Kalaitzi
The work
Rome, 1599. Count Cenci is the richest man of the time. He is smart, disrespectful and cynical. Iron and scandalous. Rumors of him are raging. It is said that his horrors have no precedent and that his appetites, despite his age, have not yet known the measure. One night, Chendy receives an unexpected visit.
In his mansion, Pope’s envoy, Syniror Camilo, arrives. The Count has difficulty finding the good in the intentions of the uninvited visitor, and the rain that accompanies him does not look like a good omen. Sinior Camilo advises Count that if he wishes to remain unknown his crimes so far, he must immediately grant the Vatican one -third of his property.
In spite of his objections, Elder-Chendy, surprised by the proposal of the Holy Inquisition to silence with his own gold, decides to capitulate. But in the name of this capitulation – and since the granted gold looks like a few crimes still – it plans the unmistakable: a huge orgy, where he will kill his two sons and spit on the honor of his only daughter.
The dishonest Beatrice is the only one in all Rome to have the courage to avenge him for his non -stupid. Power, however, is a force without justice and is returned to anyone who fights it. The scaffolding waiting for her is warm. And the story is real.
The play is dramatically inspired by the play “The Chendy” of Artos and by the true story of Cenci as described in Standal’s homonymous chronicle. Excerpts from works by Rembo, Kami and Ginsberg are used.
It attempts to present a 16th -century event today, in a way of mediated and spatially limited, placing the heroes trapped in an ideal showcase, which gives them prestige, but removes them every outlet.
The play of Ioli Andreadis and Aris Asproulis is released in bookstores by Kappa publishing in a preface by Glykeria Basdeki. It has been translated into English, Italian and Bulgarian.
The festival
The Crossroads Stage Autumn Theater Festival (Сцена н кръстопът), hosts great names in the world theater each year, such as Thiago Rodriguez, artistic director of the Avignon Festival, who presented his latest directorial “The Distance” this year.
The institution started in 1997 by Stefan Danailov, then Mayor of Philippopolis and the Ministry of Culture, and presents both classical and contemporary plays, often with the participation of international artists.
It includes an accompanying event program and is an important part of the city’s cultural calendar.
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.
