The Return of Ifigeneia by Yannis Ritsos

About the Project

After their successful collaboration with the monologue “LILITH?” of the season 2010-2011 Manolis Ionas and the Tatou Dede again joining artistic forces in one of the most important modern Greek texts: the Return of Iphigenia by Yannis Ritsos.

The pianist, dancer and actress Tatou Dede and director and actor Ionas Manolis highlight the sensitivity and sharpness of the poetry of Ritsos in a performance that marries poetry, dance and music in a modern approach with sensitivity, humor and acidity. A penetration in multiple aspects of female entity and a search on folic, social and political dimension of existence.
The return of Iphigenia written in 1972 belongs to the “Fourth Dimension” an evocative work of poet, including poems multiverse in the form of theatrical monologue and have drawn their inspiration from Greek mythology, written from 1956 to 1975.
At a critical time for Greece Ritsos is more topical than ever. Using feedstock ancient Greek tragedy speaks to modern Greece and its people carrying the weight on the essential existential anxieties about truth, about home, about their struggles and their importance. Issues that emerge in an extremely pressing social environment, political, economic and moral crisis, like Greece of today. At a time of anguish and oblivion Ritsos’s work emphasizes the unity of the Greek tragedy, and through the centuries, with the help of an explosive modern language.
Manolis Ionas has also worked in the past especially with the work of the great poet has represented Greece with the performances (Orestes, The Return of Iphigenia, Chrysothemis) in large outdoor festival.

Yannis Ritsos was born in Monemvasia on May 1, 1909. The first collection of poetry published in 1934 entitled “Tractor” and began to publish the radical column “Letters on the Front.” In the same year became a member of the Communist Party, which remained loyal until his death. He took an active part in the Resistance during the period 1948-1952 and was banished to different islands. After his release in August 1952 he went to Athens and joins the ECN. In 1956 he received the State Award for Best Poetry for “Moonlight Sonata.” In 1968 he was nominated for the Nobel Prize. In 1975 he received an honorary doctorate of the University of Thessaloniki and in 1977 he was awarded the Lenin Peace Prize. He published over one hundred compositions and poetry, nine novels, four plays and studies. Many translations, vignettes and other publications complete the work. He died in Athens on November 11, 1990.

The identity of the show:

Interpretation and piano playing by: Tatou Dede

Directed by: Manolis Ionas
Lighting: Eliza Alexandropoulou

Graphics: Christina Sifianou
Photo: Irene Steirou

Learn More at facebook.com/HEpistrofhthsIfigeneias