Stages Network – Athenian Theaters presents Eduardo de Filippo’s comedy “He Who Saves Himself Is Saved,” directed by Tamilla Koulieva and featuring a large cast of leading actors. It is a tender situational comedy brimming with spirit that highlights the warmth and humor of traveling theater troupes—that is, the famous “boukoukia”—the very roots of modern theater. Antonia Oikonomou, who is responsible for the choreography and movement in the production, speaks to the Stages Network camera and to Nikos Thrasyvoulos. The conversation began with the artist explaining how she approaches the production in relation to her own area of responsibility. She said she was greatly influenced by the director’s instructions regarding each actor’s role and the dynamism the production should possess. She emphasized that this play has a fast-paced rhythm, largely because several actors play dual roles. She also explained how she connects her own work with the play’s music. She also said that this play is a new experience for her, as it is her first time working in a comedy. Finally, she emphasized that a performance is a collective creation involving all the contributors; although each artist is independent, in the end, all the roles come together and are presented to the audience as a complete spectacle.
