As part of Stages Network’s Theatre Talks series, actor Ilias Valasis discusses the play “Wild Seed” by Yannis Tsirou, which has been running since October at the Mikro Horn Theater, directed by Sofia Karagianni.
The interview focuses on the role of Ilias Valasis, the challenges and intensity of the daily life of the character he portrays, as well as the ethical and social dimensions highlighted by the play. “The Wild Seed” depicts, with sharp language and heart-wrenching tenderness, a world that subjugates, categorizes, and excludes the weak. In a decaying provincial landscape, a single day is enough for a mechanism of suspicion, social exclusion, and moral condemnation to unfold, even before an accusation is made.
The play, 12 years after its premiere, remains sharp and timely, presenting a harsh and demanding world where social structure and human nature clash with the concept of justice. Sofia Karagianni’s directorial approach highlights the ritualistic nature and intensity of the events, with the actors moving through a space reminiscent of a dance from an ancient tragedy: punishment precedes the crime, and society imposes its own “catharsis.”
