Director Nikos Karathanos and songwriter Foivos Delivorias are concluding their nationwide Greek theatrical tour of Aristophanes' comedy Peace this September.
The production, which premiered at the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus in the Peloponnese before playing to packed open-air venues across Greece, will complete its final run before closing permanently. Thousands of theatergoers attended performances during the summer season.
Karathanos, who conceived and directed the show, collaborated with Delivorias on the adaptation, original text, and songs. Co-director Angelos Triantafyllou also contributed to the musical composition for the staging.
The creative team framed the production as an exuberant, comic, and political response to the destruction of conflict. They described the performance as a celebration of a lost rural world, incorporating music, collective performance, and elements of traditional shadow puppet theatre set against the backdrop of war.
Modern adaptation of an ancient comedy
The production draws on the ancient Greek play Peace, written by Aristophanes during a period of widespread exhaustion caused by the Peloponnesian War, the 5th-century BC conflict between Athens and Sparta. The original comedy was first performed at the City Dionysia festival in Athens, where it earned second prize in the theatrical competition.
Aristophanes wrote the play during a critical historical period shortly before the Peace of Nicias. The possibility of a ceasefire emerged following the deaths of Athenian general Cimon and Spartan general Brasidas at the Battle of Amphipolis. In the text, Aristophanes contrasted the violence and financial profits of military leaders with the fertility, romance, and shared prosperity associated with peacetime.
Scholars consider Peace one of the most optimistic and reconciliatory political comedies in the Aristophanic canon. While addressing the specific political climate of ancient Greece, the work highlights recurring themes of ongoing conflicts maintained for private gain at the expense of the general public. The modern staging focuses on the determination of ordinary citizens to demand peace despite threats, insecurity, and institutional opposition.
Production team and stage cast
The adaptation features text and songs written by Foivos Delivorias, with directional collaboration from Angelos Triantafyllou. Dramaturgy for the project was provided by associate dramaturg Eri Kyrgia, while Yiannis Asteris served as the consultant on the ancient Greek source text.
Promotional photography for the national tour was created by Elina Giounanli, and press office communications were managed by Maria Tsolaki.
The ensemble cast performing in the production includes Galini Chatzipaschali, Thanasis Alevras, Emily Koliandri, Yiannis Kotsifas, Panos Papadopoulos, Zeta Makrypoulia, and Vaso Kavalieratou. Creators Foivos Delivorias, Nikos Karathanos, and Angelos Triantafyllou also appear on stage alongside Yilmaz Housmen, Alkis Bakogiannis, Konstantinos Kontogeorgopoulos, Konstantinos Zografos, Yiannis Sampsalakis, Vasilis Papadopoulos, Spyros Bosgas, and Antonis Christou.
Live music throughout the performance is provided by an on-stage orchestra consisting of Andreas Polyzogopoulos, Thodoris Rellos, Yoel Soto, and Yiannis Angelopoulos, who performs under the stage name Jan Van De Engel.
Final September performance schedule
The final leg of the tour begins with two performances at the Melina Merkouri Vrachon Theatre in Vyronas on September 1 and September 2. The company then travels to the Pampeloponnisiako Stadium in Patras on September 3, followed by a show at the Veakeio Theatre in Piraeus on September 4.
In Athens, the production will run for two nights at the Municipal Theatre of Lycabettus on September 7 and September 8. Shows continue at the Alkazar Garden Theatre in Larissa on September 10, followed by two dates at the Forest Theatre in Thessaloniki on September 11 and September 12.
The tour returns to the capital region with performances at the Papagou Municipal Garden Theatre on September 14 and September 15, the Aliki Vougiouklaki Ntamari Theatre in Vrilissia on September 16, and the Alexis Minotis Municipal Theatre in Egaleo on September 17.
The final week includes stops at the Moschopodi Theatre in Thebes on September 19, the Petra Theatre in Petroupoli on September 21, and two shows at the Dimitris Kintis Municipal Theatre in Ilioupoli on September 22 and September 23. The final performance of the run takes place at the Katrakeio Theatre in Nikaia on September 26. Ticket presales for all tour stops are hosted on the ticketing platform more.com.
