After the masterpiece Three Sisters (2018), which will remain unforgettable due to the complete performance of the Chekhov play in sign language, the pioneering Russian director Timofey Kulyabin returns to the Athens Epidaurus Festival, which introduced him to the Greek audience. Internationally acclaimed for his poetic directorial eye, Kulyabin will open this year’s Epidavria, on July 5 and 6, with Euripides’ Iphigenia in Aulis, in an international production of the Festival. Great Greek actors and actresses make up the company, giving flesh and bone to this top artistic project. Staring (in alphabetical order): Anthi Efstratiadou-Iphigenia, Maria Nafpliotou-Clytemnestra, Nikolas Papagiannis-Menelaus, Dimitris Papanikolaou-Old Servant, Thanos Tokakis-Achilles, Nikos Psarras-Agamemnon. Chorus: Dimitris Georgiadis, Christos Diamantoudis, Marios Kritikopoulos, Alexandros Piechovak.

Referring to his choice to take on Euripides’ Iphigenia in Aulis, Kulyabin stresses: “When I was offered to direct at Epidaurus, I did not hesitate. The basic condition of the play is war. We don’t see any battles, but we can smell the odor of impending war. Everything is ready: the troops, the weapons. It just needs a little push to get going. It will be interesting to see how this translates into today. In the play there is not the question of if the war will happen but when. For me it’s all about the technologies of war, politics, the media… Today, unfortunately, war is again present in our lives. Paradoxically – and despite historical experience – we humans are doing things we thought would never happen again.”

Iphigenia in Aulis will have its world premiere at Epidaurus. Designed exclusively for the Argolic theatre, this highly acclaimed production creatively unites once again a foreign director with the Greek stage, further strengthening the international character of the Festival and the spirit of extroversion that has been consciously pursued in recent years.

More information about the performance will be given at the regular press conference of the Athens Epidaurus Festival for the announcement of the 2024 artistic programme.