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The '''Epidaurus Festival''' ({{lang-el|Φεστιβάλ Επιδαύρου}}), also known as the '''Epidávria''' ({{lang-el|Επιδαύρια}}), is an ancient theatre festival<ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=https://www.tanea.gr/2016/04/15/lifearts/pros-amnimones/|first1=Kóstas|last1=Georgoussópoulos|title=Προς αμνήμονες|trans-title=To amnesiacs|date=2016-04-15|website=https://www.tanea.gr/|publisher=[[Ta Néa]]|language=el|accessdate=2024-03-05}}</ref> held every year during the summer months (Fridays and Saturdays in July and August) in the [[Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus|ancient theatre of Epidaurus]], on the [[Sanctuary of Asclepius, Epidaurus|archaeological site of the Asclepion]]. It is organised as part of the [[Athens-Epidaurus Festival]]. It includes performances of tragedies by [[Aeschylus]], [[Sophocles]] and [[Euripides]], as well as surviving comedies by [[Aristophanes]]. Some performances consist simply of revivals of ancient myths or contemporary plays written on the basis of ancient dramas.
== History ==
The festival takes place in the [[Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus|ancient theatre of Epidaurus]], which has a capacity of {{formatnum:10000}} and is renowned for its special acoustics<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lifo.gr/culture/theatro/pseires-stin-epidayro-prepei-na-hrisimopoioyntai-i-ohi|first1=Argyró|last1=Bozóni|title=«Ψείρες» στην Επίδαυρο: Πρέπει να χρησιμοποιούνται ή όχι;|trans-title=Microphones at Epidaurus: should they be used or not?|date=2023-07-25|website=https://www.lifo.gr/|publisher=[[LiFO]]|language=el|accessdate=2024-02-29}}</ref>{{,}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/gh352.jsp?obj_id=2374|first1=Ólga|last1=Psychogioú|title=Αρχαιολογικός χώρος Ασκληπιείου Επιδαύρου: Περιγραφή|trans-title=Archaeological site of the Asclepion of Epidaurus: Description|language=el|website=http://odysseus.culture.gr/|publisher=[[Ministry of Culture (Greece)|Ministry of Culture]]|accessdate=2024-02-29}}</ref>. It was founded in 1955, at the same time as the Athens Festival, thanks to the efforts of the then Minister of the Presidency and future Prime Minister, [[Geórgios Rállis]]<ref name=":2" />. During its first years of existence, the [[Greek Tourism Organisation]] was responsible for managing the Epidaurus Festival as well as the Athens Festival<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tourismmuseum.gr/eot/|title=Η συμβολή του Ε.Ο.Τ.|trans-title=The contribution of the Greek Tourism Organisation|website=https://tourismmuseum.gr/|publisher=Museum of Tourism|language=el|accessdate=2024-01-30}}</ref>.
It was officially inaugurated on [[19 June]] [[1955]] with a performance of [[Euripides]]' ''[[Hecuba (play)|Hecuba]]'' (directed by [[Aléxis Minotís]] with [[Katína Paxinoú]] in the role of the same name)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ertnews.gr/arxeio-afierwmata/festival-epidafrou-11-iouliou-1954/|title=Φεστιβάλ Επιδαύρου – 11 Ιουλίου 1954|trans-title=Epidaurus Festival - 11 July 1954|date=2016-07-11|website=https://www.ertnews.gr/|publisher=[[Ellinikí Radiofonía Tileórasi]]|language=el|accessdate=2023-09-15}}</ref>{{,}}<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.hellenicfestival.gr/site/company/history2.php|title=Φεστιβάλ Επιδαύρου|trans-title=Epidaurus Festival|language=el|website=http://www.hellenicfestival.gr/|publisher=Helenic Festival|date=2006-09-03|accessdate=2024-01-30|archive-date=2006-09-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060903043736/http://www.hellenicfestival.gr/site/company/history2.php}}</ref>{{,}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kathimerini.gr/resources/toolip/doc/2019/06/10/1956_10_2_a.pdf|title=Έναρξη Φεστιβάλ Επιδαύρου-Αθηνών|trans-title=Start of the Athens-Epidaurus Festival|language=el|last1=Kangelári|first1=Dió|website=https://www.kathimerini.gr/|publisher=[[I Kathimeriní]]|date=2019-06-10|accessdate=2024-01-30}}</ref> and devoted itself to performances of ancient tragedies and, from 1957, to performances of ancient comedies by the [[National Theatre of Greece|National Theatre]], where [[Aléxis Solomós]] revived the plays of [[Aristophanes]], starting with ''[[Lysistrata]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatre.uoa.gr/anthropino_dynamiko/epitimoi_didaktores/solomos_alexis/|title=Σολομός Αλέξης|trans-title=Solomós Aléxis|language=el|website=https://www.theatre.uoa.gr/|publisher=[[National and Kapodistrian University of Athens]]|accessdate=2024-02-16}}</ref>{{,}}<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=https://aefestival.gr/istoria/|title=Ιστορία|trans-title=History|language=el|website=https://aefestival.gr/|publisher=[[Athens-Epidaurus Festival]]|accessdate=2024-02-16}}</ref>. In 1959, [[Károlos Koun]]'s performance of [[Aristophanes]]' [[The Birds (play)|Birds]], with music by [[Mános Hadjidákis]] and sets and costumes by [[Yannis Tsarouchis]], aroused both public approval and opposition and was finally withdrawn following government intervention<ref name=":1" />{{,}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aefestival.gr/festival_events/theatro-texnis-karolos-koun-2008/|title=Αριστοφάνη, Όρνιθες|trans-title=Aristophanes's Birds|language=el|website=https://aefestival.gr/|publisher=[[Athens-Epidaurus Festival]]|accessdate=2024-02-16}}</ref>.
For some twenty years, the performances at Epidaurus were entrusted to the [[National Theatre of Greece|National Theatre]] and to actors such as Paxinoú, Minotís, Synodinoú, Aróni and Nézer<ref name=":0" />. In 1960 and 1961, [[Maria Callas]] appeared in Epidaurus in ''[[Norma (opera)|Norma]]'' by [[Vincenzo Bellini]] (1960) and ''[[Médée (Cherubini)|Medea]]'' by [[Luigi Cherubini]] (1961), respectively<ref name=":1" />. In 1965, the ''[[La damnation de Faust|Damnation of Faust]]'' by the [[Paris Opera]], directed and choreographed by [[Maurice Béjart]], and [[Giuseppe Verdi]]'s ''[[Requiem (Verdi)|Requiem]]'' by [[Herbert von Karajan]] and the [[Berlin Philharmonic|Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra]] were performed at the [[Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus|Theatre of Epidauros]]<ref name=":3" />{{,}}<ref name=":5">{{cite web|url=https://www.tovima.gr/2008/11/25/culture/exei-oria-i-epidayros/|title=Εχει όρια η Επίδαυρος;|trans-title=Are there limits to Epidaurus?|language=el|date=2008-11-25|website=https://www.tovima.gr/|publisher=[[To Víma]]|accessdate=2024-03-07}}</ref>. During the dictatorship, the festival stagnated and there was a general tendency towards introspection and withdrawal<ref name=":1" />.
During the [[Metapolítefsi]] period, and more specifically in 1975, companies from outside the National Theatre were allowed to perform on the stage of the Ancient Theatre for the first time, including the [[Károlos-Koun Art Theatre]] (''[[The Birds (play)|The Birds]]'') and the [[National Theatre of Northern Greece|State Theatre of Northern Greece]] (''[[Electra (Sophocles play)|Electra]]'')<ref name=":0" />{{,}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatro-technis.gr/το-θέατρο/ιστορία|title=Ιστορία|trans-title=History|language=el|website=https://www.theatro-technis.gr/|publisher=[[Károlos-Koun Art Theatre]]|accessdate=2024-02-09}}</ref>{{,}}<ref>{{cite book|chapter=Αδύναμη και αδύνατη συνέχεια: Η Μεταπολίτευση στο Εθνικό Θέατρο|trans-title=A weak and impossible continuity: Metapolítefsi in the National Theatre|language=el|url=https://www.academia.edu/38309758/Αδύναμη_και_αδύνατη_συνέχεια_Η_Μεταπολίτευση_στο_Εθνικό_Θέατρο|editor1-first=V.|editor1-last=Karamanolákis|editor2-first=I.|editor2-last=Nikolakópoulos|editor3-first=T.|editor3-last=Sakellarópoulos|title=Η Μεταπολίτευση ’74-75. Στιγμές μιας μετάβασης|publisher=Themélio Publishing|location=Athens|year=2016|first1=Spýros|last1=Kakouriótis|page=220-222}}</ref>. In 1980, the Amphi-Theatre of [[Spýros Evangelátos]] appeared at the festival with [[Menander]]'s ''[[Epitrepontes|Epitrépontes]]'', as did the [[Cyprus Theatrical Organisation]] with [[Euripides]]' [[The Suppliants (Euripides)|Suppliants]], directed by [[Níkos Charalámpous]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.theatre.uoa.gr/fileadmin/depts/theatre.uoa.gr/www/uploads/ereyna/synedria/12_PRAKTIKA_EVAGGELATOSOPT-1.pdf|title=«Σκηνή και Αμφιθέατρο» – Αφιέρωμα στον Σπύρο Α. Ευαγγελάτο|trans-title="Stage and Amphitheatre" - A tribute to Spýros A. Evangelátos|language=el|last1=Varzelióti|first1=Gogó|last2=Mavromoústakos|first2=Pláton|date=2018|website=https://www.theatre.uoa.gr/|publisher=[[National and Kapodistrian University of Athens]]|page=69-99}}</ref>{{,}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thoc.org.cy/el/about/history|title=Ιστορία|trans-title=History|language=el|website=https://www.thoc.org.cy/|publisher=[[Cyprus Theatrical Organisation]]|accessdate=2024-02-19}}</ref>.Two years later (1982), [[Peter Hall (director)|Peter Hall]] presented [[Aeschylus]]' [[Oresteia]] with the [[Royal National Theatre]], becoming the first foreign director to take part in the Epidaurus Festival<ref name=":3">{{cite web|url=https://www.tovima.gr/2008/11/24/culture/oi-ksenoi-stin-epidayro/|first1=Myrtó|last1=Lovérdou|title=Οι ξένοι στην Επίδαυρο|trans-title=Foreigners at Epidaurus|language=el|date=2008-11-24|website=https://www.tovima.gr/|publisher=[[To Víma]]|accessdate=2024-02-20}}</ref>{{,}}<ref name=":4">{{cite web|url=https://www.lifo.gr/culture/theatro/epidayros-ti-thymomaste-apo-pio-oraio-theatro-toy-kosmoy|first1=Argyró|last1=Bozóni|title=Επίδαυρος: Τι θυμάμαι από το πιο ωραίο θέατρο του κόσμου|trans-title=Epidaurus: what I remember of the most beautiful theatre in the world|language=el|publisher=[[LiFO]]|date=2023-07-07|website=https://www.lifo.gr/|accessdate=2024-02-20}}</ref>.
From its beginnings to the present day, the Epidaurus Festival has welcomed the greatest Greek directors and actors, as well as many other great artists, including [[Yiánnis Móralis]], [[Yannis Tsarouchis]], [[Giórgos Vakaló]], [[Mános Hadjidákis]], [[Míkis Theodorákis]], [[Giánnis Markópoulos]], [[Stávros Xarchákos]] and [[Iannis Xenakis]]<ref name=":2" />. There are also performances by leading foreign companies and collaborations with foreign directors, actors and other collaborators, including [[Peter Hall (director)|Peter Hall]], [[Peter Stein]], [[Tadashi Suzuki]], [[Luca Ronconi]], [[Valeri Fokine]], [[Thomas Ostermeier]], [[Pina Bausch]], [[Montserrat Caballé]], [[José Carreras]], [[Fiona Shaw]], [[Gérard Depardieu]] and [[Kevin Spacey]]<ref name=":2" />{{,}}<ref name=":3" />{{,}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kathimerini.gr/culture/363327/teleytaia-ypoklisi-tis-pina-mpaoys/|title=Τελευταία υπόκλιση της Πίνα Μπάους|trans-title=Pina Bausch's last salute|language=el|last1=Voúlgari|first1=Sándra|date=2009-07-05|website=https://www.kathimerini.gr/|publisher=[[I Kathimeriní]]|accessdate=2024-03-05}}</ref>{{,}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aefestival.gr/i-dekaetia-tou-giorgou-loukou-2/|first1=Tilémachos|last1=Anagnóstou|title=Η δεκαετία του Γιώργου Λούκου|trans-title=The decade of Giórgos Loúkos|language=el|date=2015-05-29|website=https://aefestival.gr/|publisher=[[Athens-Epidaurus Festival]]|accessdate=2024-03-05}}</ref>{{,}}<ref name=":5" />. Festival performances often become a point of wider discussion in the public sphere, generating acclaim or mixed reviews<ref name=":2" />{{,}}<ref name=":4" />.
Alongside the Epidaurus Festival, performances (initially solely musical and later theatrical) take place at the [[Theatre of Palaia Epidavros]]. The [[institution]] was launched on an experimental basis in 1995 with the "Musical July" ({{lang-el|Μουσικός Ιούλιος}}) and met with great success, leading to its consecration and integration within the [[Athens-Epidaurus Festival]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.in.gr/2000/07/07/culture/moysikos-ioylios-sti-mikri-epidayro/|title=Μουσικός Ιούλιος στη Μικρή Επίδαυρο|trans-title=Musical July at the Small Epidaurus|language=el|date=2000-07-07|website=https://www.in.gr/|publisher=[[in.gr]]|accessdate=2024-02-12}}</ref>{{,}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hellenicfestival.gr/site/company/history3.php|title=Φεστιβάλ Μικρού Θεάτρου Αρχαίας Επιδαύρου|trans-title=Festival of the Small Theatre of Palaia Epidavros|language=el|publisher=Helenic Festival S. A.|date=2006-06-17|website=http://www.hellenicfestival.gr/|accessdate=2024-03-05|archive-date=2006-06-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060617181442/http://www.hellenicfestival.gr/site/company/history3.php}}</ref>.
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Portal bar|History|Theatre|Greece}}
[[Category:Theatre festivals]]
[[Category:Festivals in Greece]]
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