The hair was big and the passions were bigger, in an era at the intersection between East and West, where the tunes of Hadjidakis, Tsitsanis and Chiotis reverberated through the floors of the smoky kentra, the great divas of Greek music sang pain and joy stepping up from their chairs, claiming their space on the club floors.
That is where Artemis Ioannides aims to transport Melburnians, paying homage to her home city of Athens, while reimagining some of her favourite golden tunes with a jazz piano and her signature theatrical performance style.
Celebrating the spirit of iconic female performers like Tzeni Vanou, Mary Linda, Vicky Mosholiou, Melina Mercouri, Marika Ninou and many others, the Greek-Australian performer invites audiences to take a seat at the table, have a drink and reminisce.
The evening will take place at the newly refurbished Arcadia House in North Melbourne. The majestic historical building built in 1914 is also known as Loco Hall and is the home of the Panarcadian Association of Melbourne.
Accompanied on the grand piano by acclaimed musical director Andrew Patterson and joined by special guest performers, audiences will enjoy 90 minutes of this unique theatrical music experience unlike anything offered in Melbourne before. As part of the ticket price guests will be served cocktails on arrival and during the performance will enjoy drinks and meze at their table.
Born in Melbourne and raised in Athens, Artemis is fluent in both languages and has been performing in both Greek and English from a young age. Growing up in an artistic family (Artemis’ father is award winning composer and producer Tassos Ioannides), Artemis has a deep love for Greek music and is a proud ambassador for her culture in Australia.
Since 2015 she has been singing with various musical collaborators, most recently fronting Melbourne based Greek swing jazz band Cats and the Canary. This is Artemis’ first solo music venture, where she brings her theatrical background and her passion for music together in a genre bending jazz exploration of music from her homeland.
The actor and singer has previously worked with some of Australia’s biggest theatre companies and television networks, including Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne Theatre Company, Arts Centre, Red Stitch, ABC, Seven Network and Foxtel.
She is best known for her roles as Vicky Kosta in the multi award winning Wentworth, Ophelia in Malthouse Theatre’s immersive production Because The Night and her performance in multiple seasons of the sell out show Taxithi: An Australian Odyssey.
When: Friday 1 April 2022, 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm
Where: 570 Victoria St, North Melbourne, VIC 3051
Tickets: www.eventbrite.com/e/artemis-live-at-arcadia-house-tickets-291954974187