A return to the sources: a visit to three “Odyssey” rhapsodies
Directed by: Michail Marmarinos

Premiered at the Ancient theater of Epidaurus, Athens & Epidaurus festival 2026

All pictures by Mike Rafail (That Long Black Cloud)

Alcinous, majesty, shining among your island people,
what a fine thing it is to listen to such a bard
as we have here—the man sings like a god.
The crown of life, I’d say. There’s nothing better
than when deep joy holds sway throughout the realm
and banqueters up and down the palace sit in ranks,
enthralled to hear the bard, and before them all, the tables
heaped with bread and meats, and drawing wine from a mixing bowl
the steward makes his rounds and keeps the winecups flowing.
This, to my mind, is the best that life can offer.
Homer’s “Odyssey”, Rhapsody ι’ 2-11, translated by Robert Fagles

In the afterglow of two performances that were destined to linger in memory, “NEKYIA”—presented with the Japanese theatre troupe NOH in 2015—and Sophocles’ “Trackers” in 2021, Michail Marmarinos revisits the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus with yet another riveting dramaturgical proposal. Ηere, he orchestrates a return to the sources through a journey to three rhapsodies of the Homeric epic, confirming once more that the endless mystery of oral Storytelling (the cavernous mystery of Theatre itself) can still thrillingly propel us “there, where history is still occurring”.

The additional fragments of the “Iliad” in the performance are translated by D.N. Maronitis (Agra publications, 2012) and the excerpts from the “Aeneid” are from Theodoros Papangelis’ modern Greek translation (MIET publications, 2018).
In addition, there are fragments from Giannis Doukas’ modern Greek translation of Quintus of Smyrna’s “The Fall of Troy”.

CREDITS
Translation: Dimitris Maronitis
Direction: Michail Marmarinos
Dramaturgy: Eleni Moleski, Michail Marmarinos
Set design: Yorgos Sapountzis
Costume design: Eleftheria Arapoglou
Music: Andys Skordis
Choreography: Gloria Dorliguzzo
Lighting design: Eleftheria Deko
Mask maker: Martha Foka
First assistant to the director: Eleni Moleski
Second assistant to the director: Alexia Paramytha
Αssistant to the set designer: Katerina Zyrpiadou
Assistant to the costume designer: Ernesta Chatzilemonidou
Assistant to the choreographer: Stella Mastorosteriou
Assistants to the lighting designer: Nasia Lazou, Sotiris Roumeliotis
Music coach: Panagiotis Barlas
NTNG partner for sets and costumes: Danai Pana
Μake-up artist: Manto Kamara
Production coordinator: Eva Koumandraki
Photographs: Mike Rafail (That Long Black Cloud)

The Stranger and Us

THE STRANGER
Haris Fragoulis

US / THE PHAEACIANS
Klelia Andriolatou: Nausicaa

Galateia Angeli: a Nymph, the Daughter of a certain Dymas, the goddess Athena
Erato Maria Mandalenaki: a Nymph, a Friend of Nausicaa – of the same age
Christina Bakastathi: a Nymph, a Friend of Nausicaa – of the same age
Stella Papanikolaou: a Nymph, a Friend of Nausicaa – of the same age

Ilektra Goniadou: the goddess Athena, a Phaeacian Woman
Kleio Danai Othonaiou: the goddess Athena, a Phaeacian Woman

Elena Topalidou: Arete
Christos Papadimitriou: Alcinous
Giannis Charisis: Echeneus, Phaeacian leader and counsellor
Foteini Timotheou: Eurymedusa, a Phaeacian woman
Nikos Kapelios: Phaeacian leader and counsellor, Cry of Hephaestus
Giannis Varsos: Euryalus, a Phaeacian Youth Nikolas Grammatikopoulos: Clytonius, a Phaeacian Youth
Nektarios Theodorou: Elatreus, Phaeacian leader and counsellor
Kostis Kapellidis: Amphialus, the Goddess Athena, a Herald, Ares, a Phaeacian Youth
Nikos Koukas: Laodamas, a Phaeacian Youth
Titos Makrygiannis: Thoon, a Phaeacian Youth
Giannis Tomazos: Alius, a Phaeacian Youth

Lenia Zafeiropoulou: Blind Bard (Demodocus, Aphrodite)

Musicians on stage – cello: Evi Kazantzi, Almpa Lymtsiouli, Aliki Marda 

Α co-production of the National Theatre of Northern Greece and Cyprus Theatre Organisation