Nikoletta Karra talks about the musical theater production “MARIKA, They Told Me – MARIKA, They Took Me Out,” which is being presented at the Embassy Theater, bringing to the stage two of the most iconic female figures in folk music: Marika Papagika and Marika Ninou.
The performance does not follow the format of a traditional biography. Instead, it draws on elements from the lives of the two singers and transforms them into a poetic, fictional dialogue where reality and fantasy coexist. Through speech, music, and song, the wildly romantic eras of the first half of the 20th century come to life, a time when folk songs shaped public consciousness and women were claiming their own space on stage and in life.
Nikoletta Karra discusses the unique role of the “daughter,” a figure who may or may not exist, serving as a bridge between the two Marikas and the audience. She refers to the power and immediacy of Odysseas Ioannou’s text, the music of Giorgos Andreou that runs throughout the entire performance, as well as the directorial vision of Asteris Peltekis, who transforms the play into a comprehensive musical-theatrical and visual experience.
The performance features original songs, as well as beloved songs from the repertoires of these two great performers, performed by an exceptional orchestra and remarkable female vocalists. This is a tribute to the women of folk music—to their memory, their voices, and the dignity with which they stood tall on stage.
