The 2012 program for the Odyssey Greek Festival in Adelaide has been announced. The festival enters its seventh year as the Greek Orthodox Community of SA inc. once again presents a series of exciting arts and cultural events kicking off Monday 24 September and running till Friday 12 October. The theme for this year is ‘celebrating Hellenism’ with a chance to take a closer look at Greek culture and identity.
2012 marks the 100th anniversary of Greek poet and Nobel finalist Nikiforos Vrettakos. The Odyssey Festival will pay homage to this famous poet through the event Echoes setting his famous poems to music. Composer and producer Arthur Rorris will speak about the life and work of the poet, and then be joined by singer Anthea Sidiropoulos, cellist Kaija Upenieks, guitarist Ann Lehhman and Jacob Papadopoulos on bouzouki to perform this seven song cycle.
The Odyssey Plateia, a cafe and exhibition space, will be open for the duration of the festival at Olympic Hall. All are invited to visit, have a cup of Greek coffee and take a Greek cultural journey through this year’s Odyssey Festival theme ‘celebrating Hellenism’. The exhibition Memories of Home by celebrated Greek artist Takis Moraitis will run for the duration of the festival. His works are famous for striking portrayals of Mediterranean life and the dazzling dance of light on water. There will be a student art display by various Greek school students in South Australia and an icon display by students too. A Cultural Journey is a display of Greek spirit put on by The Greek Women’s Society; Pan Rhodian Society; Chios Association; Pan Ikarian Brotherhood; Tramountanas-North Association; Cretan Association; Pan Laconian Society and Castellorizian Association. Helena Carapetis, artist and designer, will walk you through the design of this year’s promotional material for the Odyssey Festival. Every Briki Tells a Story is a cultural display that showcases the humble briki being passed on from generation to generation. Adelaide restaurant The Greek on Halifax has donated their briki and the story is told as the coffee is prepared and tales are shared with the cup. A Mother’s Gift is a cultural display that honours the mothers and grandmothers who migrated to Australia and showcases family heirlooms alongside their story. The highlight of the exhibitions will be the Odyssey Art Prize. All artists have created works that showcase the theme ‘celebrating Hellenism’ and the winner will receive $2000.
George Donikian will host the Great Greek Debate, where debaters will battle it out over the topic: The Resurgence of the Greek Proxy on Friday 12 October at Olympic Hall. Speaking of proxy’s, the play Our Big Fat Greek Proxy – written by George Katsimbirs and George Gouzounas – will be the highlight of Saturday 6 October. Book a table as this play is filled with love, laughter and the ultimate wedding party.
On Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 September, Odyssey in the City is the featured event, with a weekend glendi style taking over Olympic Hall all day and night. Enjoy Greek food and sweets, music with international acts, and plenty of dancing and kefi.
During the school holidays, there are a plethora of activities to keep the kids entertained. Demeter Tsounis will run Meraki Music Workshops on Thursday 27 September. Magician George Stas will keep the kids entertained with a magic show like no other on October 2 from 10:30 am. Desma Kastanos will host an art and craft workshop teaching the little ones drawing, painting, sculpture and mixed media on Monday 24 September and Thursday 4 October. Urban Myth Theatre Company will host theatre workshops on Wednesday 26 September and Wednesday 3 October, teaching the children about the birthplace of theatre – Greece. The Pan Rhodian Society will give the budding chefs recipes handed down from their mothers in the Greek Sweets Workshop on Tuesday 25 September. And tying it all together is the big Kids-Disco-Theke – a night for the kids to let loose to top 40 tracks and the latest Greek music. The kids disco will take place on Thursday 4 October from 7:00 pm. Supervision will be provided. There will also be a Youth Talent Show for talented Greek Australians under the age of 25 who can sing, dance, do magic, are funny – whatever your talent, get in there and show it off.
The Odyssey Festival will also feature the Nick Manos Lecture Series, in honour of Nick Manos who was the President of the Greek Orthodox Community of SA from 1969-1973 and 1977-1985. There will be two lectures. The first will be titled Celebrating Eros in Disorder to be held on Wednesday 3 October at Olympic Hall at 7:00 pm and the second, The Battle of Marathon presented by Dr Andrea Katsaros on Wednesday 10 October, Olympic Hall at 7:00 pm. Both are a gold coin donation.
The Plateia will also feature short films from talented Greek Australian filmmakers and the big one – the tavli competition. Tavli might not be an Olympic sport, but to Greeks, a good game of backgammon brings out the competitive nature in us all.
The Odyssey Festival will close with a big music concert finale, A Musical Journey Through Greece, to be held on Saturday 13 October at Olympic Hall. Dedicated to the musical instruments that have shaped Greek music, this concert will be a chronological journey from Byzantium times until present day.
For a full program and to reserve tickets visit: /www.odysseyfestival.com.au/Odyssey_Festival_2012/