The Alternative Stage of the Greek National Opera presents a new puppet theatre performance titled Mythos, a captivating phantasmagoria by the master of the genre, Yiorgos Karakantzas, in international co-production with the French company Anima Théâtre. Starting on 21 February and running for four unique performances until 23 February 2023, Mythos will take audiences on an enchanting journey through Greek mythology, offering them an escape from reality filled with stunning puppetry, atmospheric imagery, and wonderful music at the GNO Alternative Stage in the SNFCC. The production is made possible by a grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) [www.SNF.org] to enhance the Greek National Opera’s artistic outreach.

The director and artistic director of the Anima Théâtre company Yiorgos Karakantzas, who lives and works in Marseille, drew inspiration for his new piece Mythos from his childhood memories and the legendary narratives of the Iliad, Odyssey, and Greek mythology that his father used to read to him. The characters are reminiscent of the heroes, monsters, and deities featured in these ancient stories, aiming to rekindle the magic in the world surrounding them.

Mythos is aimed at ages 8 and up. Its action is set on a dystopian island, where a little girl is trying to find her way out of the labyrinth of her real life. The monsters she has to deal with in reality are much more nightmarish than the Gorgon. In this initiation journey, she must unravel Ariadne’s thread. On stage, dreams and reality merge through video projections and shadow interplays. The legends about the courage and persistence of these mythical figures inspire the central heroine, who is called upon to face the challenges and accomplish her own quest journey.

In his new work Mythos, Yiorgos Karakantzas dives into the past, his childhood, and the fantastical realm of Greek mythology, offering a captivating phantasmagoria based on stories from his personal and family life through the art of puppetry. Inspired by events and figures that have marked his life and that he always carries inside, he wishes to talk not only about them but also about certain defining moments of the 20^th century, such as his grandmother’s exile and his father’s experiences during the Occupation in World War II.

To create his new piece Mythos, Yiorgos Karakantzas delves deeper into his family’s history while drawing inspiration from Greek mythology, which he describes as “both a universal treasure and a personal and intimate experience”. To him, Greek mythology is connected to one person: his father. “Every night, when I went to bed, he would recount an episode from the Iliad, Odyssey or Hercules’ Labours… These stories were deeply rooted in him, and he enjoyed telling all of them. His childhood unfolded during the Second World War and the German Occupation, which left its marks on him. He was just ten years old then. Despite the challenges of that period, it was then that he discovered Greek mythology, thanks to his father, my grandfather Yiorgos. What stands out to me, what I remember, is the way in which my father narrated these stories from mythology and his childhood during the Occupation, as an adult: with equal passion”.

In his piece Mythos, Yiorgos Karakantzas collaborated with Panagiotis Evangelidis on dramaturgy, while Efimia Karakantzas served as a scientific advisor. He aimed to create a work of global dimensions, similar to his double bill Laterna (2022) and Rebetiko (2020), which explore the theme of power. This original performance focuses on humanity and the way in which it can be revealed amidst inhumane circumstances.

The piece Mythos is primarily about the “desire to escape from a harsh and oppressive reality, with our sights set on a path towards a future where hope enables us to face the challenges”, according to its creator. Yiorgos Karakantzas narrates an intimate, deeply personal story, drawing upon a universal mythology that makes everyday life more bearable. As he remarks, “Reinterpreting the world, merging myth with reality, and, as a result, giving birth to new worlds, is theatre’s core essence. Children, of course, accomplish this through the games they play daily. My goal here is to explore this vital force, the fact that creation is necessary for maintaining one’s humanity in dehumanizing situations (such as war, natural disasters, diseases, etc.). Some people born in war-stricken countries or living in refugee camps can only deal with their circumstances by escaping through stories…”.

Mythos’ premiere coincides with the twentieth anniversary of the Anima Théâtre company, established by Yiorgos Karakantzas and Claire Latarget in Marseille in 2004.

The Anima Théâtre company was founded in Marseille in 2004 by Yiorgos Karakantzas and Claire Latarget. Together, they have directed, performed, and written over fifteen productions in more than twenty years, utilizing the craft of puppetry. Some of the highlights of the company’s performances include Le Cabaret des âmes perdues, Mister H, Yeti, Yeti pas?, Ikare, Le Rêve de la Joconde, Mijaurées, Gojira, Entrelacs, Mécanique, Rebetiko, Engrenage, Laterna, and Mythos, etc. In addition to creating performances, Anima Théâtre aims to raise awareness of the art of puppetry through workshops, courses, events, and meetings. On the occasion of the company’s tenth anniversary,  Le Marché Noir des petites utopies was born in 2013 – a two-year festival of short puppet theatre performances inviting audiences to discover an art form that continually breaks new ground while keeping its traditions alive. Since 2020, Claire Latarget has been working independently, while Yiorgos Karakantzas remains the company’s sole artistic director. Anima Théâtre is a resident company at the cultural venue La Friche la Belle de Mai in Marseille.

The performances of Mythos will be fully accessible on the 22nd and 23th of February 2025, providing an inclusive audiovisual experience for all audiences in collaboration with ATLAS E.P. In this context, there will be designated seats for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing and use Greek Sign Language, places for those who rely on captions (CAPS) covering the entire audio channel, as well as seats for individuals who are blind or have limited access to the visual channel of communication and use the audio description (AD) service. Guide dogs for the visually impaired will also be permitted.

Audience members who wish to use the accessibility services are requested to purchase their tickets at the GNO Box Office, over the phone at 2130885700, or via email at boxoffice@nationalopera.gr. If you need assistance with your reservation, you can also contact ATLAS E.P. at 6993507553 or via email at askatlasep@gmail.com.

The full accessibility services for this production are funded by the Ministry of Culture, as part of the project“SUB.1.1.6 Attracting 65+ individuals and persons with disabilities to events of the Greek National Opera”. This project is implemented as part of the “Greece 2.0 – National Recovery and Resilience Plan” with funds from the European Union-NextGeneration EU.