Oedipus

stobi prize best collective play 2004 Macedonia

directed by: Corrina Manara
text: Sophocles
actors: Cas Enklaar, Daan van Rijssel, Joost Claes, Lemba de Miranda, Joris Lehr, Jurg Molenaar, Zara Toksöz, Viktorija Terzijeva (National Theatre Veles), Elona Golemi
dance: Ina Stockem, Jantine Kraayeveld, Daniëlle van de Ven
music: Wouter Messchendorp
costumes: Jantine Kraayeveld
light: Matthijs van Heerikhuize, Menno Vinke
production: Elsbeth Fraanje
photography: Bernhard Quade, Door Oomen, Elsbeth Fraanje
produced by: Corrina Manara, Ruud Lammers (n.g.o. Codarts and Coda Consultancy)
fund raising: Corrina Manara

The story of king Oedipus is about a man who loses everything he has. His lost of power brings him closer to who he really is. ‘Blind you will see your reality’, Teiresias the blind seer tells him. Oedipus goes to the limit in his search for the unbearable truth.

Oedipus tells us about a man who tries to get a grip on his life. The occidental man believes he can decide upon life and death in a society where birth control, artificial insemination and cloning are possible. This in contrast to the ancient Greeks, whose destiny was decided by the gods. What is the role of the destiny in our modern society?

For the performances of Oedipus in Albania, Slovenia and Macedonia I was looking for a direct way to speak to the audience trough their language. For the opening speech of the chorus I recorded voices in Dutch, Albanian, Slovenian and Macedonia. This opening speech of the chorus is the complaint of the people of Thebes about the pest, they ask king Oedipus for help. This opening chorus in different languages is like the complaint from all the different nation of Europe who all, whatever in which country they live are asking for understanding for their problems and longing for a better life.

locations: amphiheater Butrint Festival Albania , amphitheater Ohrid Festival Macedonia, amphitheater Stobi Macedonia, Trnfest Slovenia, Toneelschuur (link www.toneelschuur.nl), Stadsschouwburg Utrecht , Theater Frascati, Rozentheater, Theaterschool Arnhem, Theaterschool Amsterdam.

financed by:Fund for Amateur Art and Performing Arts, Thinking Forward, Pivara Skopje , the Netherlands Embassy in Skopje and Ljubljana, Phenixfoundation		 Image goes here