VIC

KALAMATA DANCE FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY

The Society of Kalamata 23rd March is hosting their annual dinner dance this weekend, Saturday 23 March to celebrate the historic 198th anniversary of the Independence of Kalamata, which took place on 23 March, 1821. On at the Malvern Town Hall (1251 High St, Malvern) from 7.00 pm-1.00 am, guests will be entertained by legendary DJ Peter B with a great variety of music, plenty of dancing, glendi and lots of kefi. For details on tickets, click here and message organisers. 

MELBOURNE REBETIKO FESTIVAL

The Melbourne Rebetiko Festival is back for another year, taking place at the Melbourne Recital Centre (31 Sturt St, Southbank) this Saturday 23 March from 3.00-11.30 pm. The exciting line-up features local and international artists, among them Rebetien. Direct from Greece, they will showcase their fresh rebetiko sound. To see the full program and for tickets, click here.

PAMMESSINIAN BROTHERHOOD PAPAFLESSAS 60TH ANNIVERSARY

This year marks a special milestone for the Pammessinian Brotherhood Papaflessas. This Saturday 23 March the Brotherhood will celebrate its 60 year anniversary at Merrimu Receptions (1300 Dandenong Rd, Chadstone) from 7.30 pm. Performing on the night will be Rythmos Band. Tickets $95.00, children 12 and under $55.00. For tickets, visit greekdance.com.au or call 0423 182 158.

POLYXENI PLAY ENTECHNA AT THE POST OFFICE
Polyxeni members Jenny Theologidis and Wayne Simmons performed Greek music together regularly in Melbourne for seven years until January, 2018 when Jenny resettled in the US with her family. They will reunite this Sunday 24 March at the Post Office (229-231 Sydney Rd, Coburg) with regular collaborator Adrian Close on double bass to present a program of contemporary Greek roots tunes. Expect to hear songs from the great composers Nikos Papazoglou, Thanasis Papakonstantinou and Pantelis Thallasinos, as well as some original Polyxeni compositions. On between 4.30-6.30 pm.

‘ECHO CHAMBERS: ART & ENDLESS REFLECTIONS’
Curated by James Lynch, ‘Echo Chambers: Art & Endless Reflections’ is an ambitious exhibition bringing together 16 contemporary Australian artists who work with mirrors, mirrored surfaces and reflections, among them Greek Australian artist and book designer Yanni Florence. A series of portraits captures people while they commute, through the darkened, dirty, badly scratched and opaque glass tram windows. On show now until 29 March across three exhibition venues: Deakin Art Gallery and Deakin University Library Gallery (both in Burwood); as well as Deakin University Downtown Gallery in Docklands.

MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is back this month from 27 March-21 April with hilarious shows taking place across the city. Among the comedians are a number of Greek origin, including locals George Dimarelos and Charisa Bossinakis, as well as the UK’s George Zacharopoulos. This year’s line-up also includes the Festival’s first ever Greek-language stand-up show direct from Greece: Lambros Fisfis & Michalis Mathioudakis with ‘Σταντ Απ Κόμεντι ιν Γκρίκ’. To see the full guide and to purchase tickets, click here.

THE EARLY GREEK PHILOSOPHERS & SOCRATES

The Early Greeks, like all ancient peoples, were interested in the world around them. For some reason their enquiries into why the world had the order it did, developed into something distinctive we now call philosophy. Through several generations, the philosophy of ancient Greece flowered and instituted waves of new thought, technology, mathematics, science and war. In an introductory session presented by Cullan Woods-Joyce, you will have the chance to explore the origins of Greek thought, examining the period called: Pre-Socratic Philosophy, and examine the unique person of Socrates. Taking place on Saturday 30 March at Kathleen Syme Library (251 Cardigan St, Carlton) from 1.00-3.00 pm, there will be a short presentation and a lot of time for discussion.

‘WILD WOGS 2’: MEGA COMEDY GALA
Attendees of ‘Wild Wogs 2’ will be immersed into the biggest ethnic comedy Gala ever over two nights in April. It will feature comedians George Kapiniaris, Joe Avati, Gab Rossi, James Liotta, Piero Viavattene along with special guest performers from Sydney Anthony Locascio and Bouzouki player Kostas Sakellaris. Catch the show on 12 & 13 April (Saturday show sold out) at Melrose Melbourne Conference & Reception Centre (2-8 Carrick Drive, Tullamarine) from 6.00-11.00 pm. For tickets, visit https://www.trybooking.com/book/sessions?eid=450328

THE ORIGINS OF THE KASTELLORIZIAN COSTUME

Next month the Kastellorizian Association of Victorian presents a talk on ‘The Origins of the Kastellorizian Costume’ by Geoffrey Conaghan. A researcher and custodian of traditional Kastellorizan costumes from the Askitis-Stavrianos family in Sydney, he is the custodian of the largest single collection (over 80 items) of Kastellorizian clothes, an intact wardrobe of his maternal great-grandmother Amirisa Hatsiagapitou Askitis. In past presentations and publications, he has enraptured audiences with his considerable knowledge and research into the origins of the textiles and fabrics, the evolution of the costume and influences on it by past empires. Still researching to this day, Conaghan is presently investigating the source of the French fabric found in Kastellorizian garments. His next presentation will take place on Sunday 14 April at KAV Clubrooms (250 Dorcas St, South Melbourne): afternoon tea from 1.30–2.30 pm, followed by the presentation at 2.45–4.30 pm. To RSVP contact Florence Livery on 9348 0751/ 0423 007 339 or at flivery@bigpond.com; or Christine Mastores-Davidson on 0414 822 234 or at christine.md@bigpond.com. Bring a plate along, and a donation for entry.

EFFIE IN ‘LOVE ME TINDER’
After a sold out national tour of ‘Star Wogs’ in 2018, and two successful national tours in 2016 & 2017 of her critically acclaimed one-woman show: ‘Effie the Virgin Bride’, Effie is back on stage with her new stage show ‘Love Me Tinder’ on Friday 24 May. Effie holds up a mirror to the complexities of finding love and keeping it, as only she can. The urge to swipe left or right or to scratch that seven-year or seven-month itch is hard to resist even with the greatest of willpower. Who isn’t on Tinder? How can we humans claim to be evolved and yet still have such animal urges? Is it possible to be smokin’ hot and hit upon every day and still stay faithful? Hello, if love is the answer then why are there so many questions? Is it love at first sight or love at first swipe? If I had you at hello then why can’t I get rid of you at goodbye? If love don’t cost a thing then why is divorce so expensive? On from 8.30-11.30 pm at Yarraville Live (135 Stephen St, Yarraville). For tickets, visit yarravillelive.com

 

NSW

‘GREEK-ROMIOI’
An exhibition featuring location and portrait photography by Yannis Dramitinos is now on until this Saturday 23 March at Kudos Gallery (6 Napier St, Paddington) as part of the Greek Festival of Sydney. His photos are shot in Istanbul and Halki Theological College (Turkey), Nicosia old town (Cyprus), and Sydney (Australia), exploring themes of Hellenic identity, transforming landscapes, and the juxtaposition of the secular and the religious, of youth and old age. Free to attend.

‘TROJAN WOMEN’
Written by Euripides and first produced in 415 BC during the Peloponnesian War, ‘The Trojan Women’ was the third tragedy of a trilogy dealing with the Trojan War. This year, Hellenic Art Theatre and The Greek Festival of Sydney are presenting a version of the Greek tragedy directed by Stavros Economidis. In the ruins of their burning city, Queen Hebuca (Ekavi) and the women of Troy still mourning the slaughter of their husbands and sons, await enslavement and exile. One of the greatest of all anti-war plays, it is a timeless mediation on the moments of individual choice that separate death and life, despair and hope, past and future. The play is on now until 7 April, and is being performed in Greek with English surtitles at 142 Addison Rd, Marrickville. To book tickets, click here.

PYX LAX BY IHO NYX
As part of the Greek Festival of Sydney program, Sydney band Iho Nyx will pay tribute to one of Greece’s most successful groups, Pyx Lax. Taking place on Sunday 7 April at Factory Theatre (105 Victoria Rd, Marrickville), they will perform hits by the beloved Greek rock band from the 1990’s. On from 7.00 pm. Tickets $30.00 (plus booking fee). To book, call (02) 9550 3666 or click here.

“SORRY”, WRONG BED

Mytilenian House (225 Canterbury Road, Canterbury) is hosting a hilarious Greek play intriguingly titled “Sorry”, Wrong Bed. It sees a couple pull up to a mysterious looking motel to rest after an exhausting drive. At this motel, nothing seems to work as it should and even the hotel’s manager has an eerie air about him. Frustration and exhaustion lead the couple into an all out fight. The presence of an eccentric maid further adds to the tensions whilst the arrival of another couple unleashes a strange chain of events with unexpected outcomes. What secrets are held behind the walls of this hotel and its strange occupants? On show now until 14 April. For tickets, click here.

REBETIEN

Rebetien is in Australia for the first time direct from Greece. The group of four musicians will perform songs mostly from the rebetiko genre, and their Greek traditional music repertoire, as well as compositions of their own. The band’s nostalgic sound is often subtly combined with the different, yet closely related, musical styles of various Eastern Mediterranean and Balkan musical traditions. Head to St George Auditorium Kogarah on Friday 29 March from 7.00-10.00 pm to see them perform and launch their CD. Tickets $30.00. To book, visit https://bit.ly/2W303MR

 

ACT

MEET & GREEK

To celebrate Greek Independence Day, join the ANU Greek Students Society (ANUGSS) on Monday 25 March. From 12 noon–2.00 pm on ANU Fellows Oval, there will be lots of food and music. Free to attend.

THE MARIOS PAPADEAS ENSEMBLE

Direct from Greece, master santouri player Marios Papadeas is heading to Australia once again to enchant audiences with his spellbinding melodies, woven effortlessly with such finesse. He will be joined by vocalist Pascal Latra and the multitalented Byron Triandafilides & Paddy Montgomery for three performances and two workshops at the National Folk Festival in Canberra from Thursday18-Monday 22 April. For tickets, visit https://www.folkfestival.org.au/tickets/

* If you know of any Greek events taking place across the country, including those organised by Greek community groups, please forward details to anastasia@neoskosmos.com.au