Elektra / Grand theatre / VIDE international theatre projects

Credits

directed by: Corrina Manara
text: Sofokles
electronic composition: Yannis Kyriakides
chorus: Ensemble Lapardha, Albania
produced by: Grand Theatre Groningen,Vide international theatre productions,
Buro Saai
actors: Hanneke Scholten, Annelies van der Bie,
Nard Verdonschot, Roos Hoogland
singers: Bardha Brahimaj, Nazif Çelaj, Feti Brahimaj,
Manush Brahimaj

scenography: Yael Assaf
costumes: Jantine Kraayeveld
light design: Gert Bakker
sound: Jannes Noorman
interpreter: Bledar Kondi
photography: Bernhard Quade, Janna Bathoorn, Nora Duijf
graphic design: Ehud Neuhaus
casting: Marc van Bree, Kemna Casting
fund raising: Corrina Manara

Music
The music of the chorus in is based on the traditional polyphonic music of Albania. These traditional songs are lamentations songs. The chorus of the Greek tragedy originally consists of music and dance. The only thing that is preserved from the chorus of the tragedies is the texts. In Sophocles’ tragedies the chorus acts as the sounding board of the action on scene. The chorus is always present and is the witness of the actions, reacting on it trough music.

When I heard the vocal Albanian lamentations for the first time it sounded for me as the chants of the chorus of the Greek tragedy could have sound in ancient times. The lamentations are vulnerable and strong in the same time. That is how I see the personage of Elektra weak and in the same time full of decisiveness. When I travelled trough Albania to hear the different polyphonic vocal groups, it brought me closer to the music which I will work with in Elektra. The singers of the polyphonic are mostly peasants. Their presence on stage is strong and like the ancients chorus in Athens formed by the citizens. A contrast to the pure vocal chants is formed by the sound of the the electro contemporary compositions of Yannis Kyriakides. It functions as a bridge between the ancient and the present.

Theme
The story of Elektra tells us about a woman who can not escape from the history of her family. The most important thing in Elektra’s life is the vengeance. She believes strongly in what she wants to achieve in her live and she is ready to give up everything to realise her dreams. She believes that she can realise the most impossible thing and she fights till the end till she reaches her target. Elektra is a story about the fate. How predestined is your live by the country where you are born, your family and the environment?

Tragedy
A Greek tragedy is an universal story. I search for the universal elements trough music and visual images. At the same time I am fascinated by the power of the language and the combination of different languages. My research is about working with different disciplines and different languages to tell an universal story.

Locations
Albania: amphitheater Butrint theater festival, Petro Marku theater Vlora
Macedonia: amphitheater Heraklea, Domna Kultura Ohrid festival, Kursumli-an Skopje Festival, amphitheater Stobi
The Netherlands: Grand theater Groningen, Lantaren-Venster Rotterdam, Frascati Amsterdam, Leidse schouwburg , Toneelschuur Haarlem

financed by: Fonds Amateurkunst en Podiumkunsten, Hivos ncdo Cultuurfonds, Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst, VSBfonds, European Cultural Foundation, Van Bijleveltstichting, de Nederlandse Ambassade in Albanië

The preparatory work in Albania is partly financed by: European Cultural Foundation, Step Beyond