Another full house to start the end of year Hellenic Art Theatre season, with an original and powerful new play Nafplios. Debuting as a world premiere on Friday 17 November, Nafplios was written by Sydney-based playwright Helen Papafilipou, and brought to the stage by director Stavros Economidis.
The playwright told Neos Kosmos that she wrote the play to tell a story about a “relatively unknown aspect of the Trojan War; [that] would have remained unknown” if the Hellenic Art Theatre team had not brought it to life, taking the audience on a unique trip to Ithaca.
Performed in Modern Greek, with English surtitles, the audience are treated to strong performances learning about Nafplios and his revengeful journey from the Trojan War.
Actor Evelyn Tsavalas, who plays the role of Queen Penelope said that the playwright “has obviously done some serious research and has written this beautiful play that ties in most of the known stories from Homer’s Odyssey, including Agamemnon, Klytemnestra, Aigistos, Orestes, and of course the faithful Penelope who awaits for the arrival of her husband, King Odysseus.”
In the story, after the Hellenes’ victory at Troy, Nafplios and his son set sail on a journey of revenge, via Crete and Mycenae with their last port of call at Ithaca.
Nafplios tells a story that commences shortly after the end of the Trojan War when hundreds of Achaean ships are returning to the Greek kingdoms.
Meanwhile on Ithaca everyone is expecting Odysseus, when a mysterious seaman, Nafplios, arrives. He brings news of the whereabouts of the king, but in reality is plotting his revenge, a rabid revenge that started in Troy, wreaked havoc on the other Achaean palaces and must now be consummated in the palace of the ingenious Odysseus.
When: Weekends until 10 December, with evening performances at 8.00 pm and Sunday matinees at 5.00 pm
Where: The Greek Theatre, 142 Addison Rd, Marrickville, NSW
Tickets: $30 adults, $25 concession
To find out more go to hellenicarttheatre.com.au