Award-winning Greek Australian actor Maria Mercedes will be touching on the iconic Melina Mercouri, bringing her captivating personality to life in a cabaret show.

Mercedes will perform a wide gamut of Mercuri’s repertoire, featuring songs based on her life, work, and passions.

Greek Goddess will see our favourite love and political songs, traditional Greek tunes as well as some of her legendary movie songs in Greek, English, and French accompanied by a trio of piano, guitar, and bouzouki.

The show:
In 1967, Greek actor Melina Mercouri appeared on Broadway in Illya Darling, the musical adapted from her international hit film Never On Sunday. During the show’s run, a military coup took place in her homeland. She instantly expressed her opposition to the ‘Regime Of The Colonels’ and was barred from returning to Greece. Greek Goddess imagines her performance at a rally to raise awareness of her country’s non-democratic government. Maria Mercedes takes on the role of Melina and along with her musicians, performs traditional Greek songs and themes from Mercouri’s movies interspersed with folk tales, excerpts from her stage roles, and stories from her colourful life.

Melina Mercouri:
Melina Mercouri, the Greek actor, singer, politician, and political activist shot to international fame for her performance in Never On Sunday. Following a glittering career on stage and screen, she became a member of the Hellenic Parliament and the first female Minister for Culture in Greece.

Maria Mercedes:
Music theatre star Maria Mercedes has appeared in Cats, Nine, Fame, Sunset Boulevard, The Rocky Horror Show, Zorba, Forbidden Broadway, The World Goes ‘Round, Gypsy, Chess, Chicago, and Love Never Dies. Greek Goddess is the third in a ‘Greek trilogy’ for Maria after her acclaimed performances in Master Class and Taxithi.

Terence O’Connell:
Terence has staged some 200 productions in theatres, concert halls, circus tents, cabaret rooms, and comedy clubs across Australia and internationally.
His recent projects include Empire (Spiegelworld international tour), Thrill Me: The Leopold & Loeb Story (Chapel Off Chapel), Reviewing The Situation: Phil Scott as Lionel Bart (Adelaide Cabaret Festival), Around The World In 80 Days (national tour), Carnival Of Lost Souls (Melba Spiegeltent) and Antarctica: A New Musical (Theatre Royal, Hobart).

Andrew Patterson:
Andrew is co-author of the hit musical Eurobeat. He was Musical Director for the premieres of Steve Vizard’s Last Man Standing and Jon English’s Paris. He has been a member of the music staff of numerous musicals including Rock Of Ages, King Kong, Legally Blonde, Wicked, and Blood Brothers. Andrew was instrumental in bringing the acclaimed Taxithi to 45 Downstairs and is composing a new work about the legendary Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.

When: Tuesday 27 June, 8.00 pm
Where: Kingston Arts Centre, Black Box Theatre, 979 Nepean Hwy, Moorabbin, VIC
Show duration: 80 minutes (no interval)
Seating: allocated
Tickets: Full$35 | Concession $30 | Group 6+ $25 | Sweet deal $25
For bookings and further information contact kingstonarts.com.au or phone (03) 9556 4440.