* The performances have ended
at the Embassy Theater
Music Composition and Arrangement: George Andreou
Playwright: Odysseas Ioannou
Director: Asterios Peltekis
Performed by: Giota Nega, Korina Legaki
Narrator: Nikoletta Karra
The musical theater production “MARIKA—That’s What They Called Me, MARIKA—That’s What They Made Me” based on texts by Odysseas Ioannou, with music composed and orchestrated by Giorgos Andreou, and directed by the artistic director of the National Theater of Northern Greece, Asteris Peltekis, following a highly successful run at the Lazarist Monastery of the National Theater of Northern Greece last winter, it will also be presented in Athens, starting November 3 at the Embassy Theater for a limited run, in co-production with the National Theater of Northern Greece, every Monday and Tuesday.
The two important female figures—the two legendary Marikas of rebetiko music — Marika Papagika and Marika Ninou—will come together for a few performances at the Embassy Theater in Athens, to recount, perform, and bring to life events they experienced—as well as others they did not experience but that could have happened during those wildly romantic times when anything was possible.
It all happened back then, in the first half of the20th century, when the world suddenly changed and went from black-and-white — to color, when societies “opened” their windows to new ideas and new artistic standards, while at the same time giving rise to new and exciting social and artistic conditions and perspectives. The Greek female singers of our music fought for their private and public images, for women’s dignity, for their right to self-determination, “rose from their chairs and stood upright on stage” (it is said that Marika Ninou was the first to do so).
The director writes in his director’s note:“I was delighted to take on the direction of this challenging project, when I was honored by the proposal from these two great artists, and I am grateful that everyone involved in this production is giving their very best on stage.”
“Marika from Athens and Marika from America have never met. We’re going to fix that tonight. Tonight, Marika from Athens will find a daughter and a mother. Tonight, the two women will each tell their own story.”
Two Marikas. The “Saints” of our folk songs, mythical female figures—in a performance where the man “shines” through his absence—light up the stage and historic nightclubs in Greece and abroad, unraveling the thread of their story through narratives and beloved songs that have become part of our collective unconscious—Smirna songs, traditional songs, rebetika, folk songs, as well as original songs by Giorgos Andreou and Odysseas Ioannou.
Starting Monday, November 3, for a limited number of performances, at the Embassy Theater.
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Performance Dates & Times: Monday & Tuesday: 8:00 p.m.
Group Reservations Department: 2111026277 & 210 2117240 ext. 305 ( weekdays from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.) – email: [email protected]
