Persona Theatre Company's new international project "Enter Hamlet", a modern-day revisiting of Shakespeare’s classic, has been invited to open the Verona Shakespeare Fringe Festival on August 22, 2022!
An overview of the project
Εnter Hamlet, written and directed by Avra Sidiropoulou, is a multimedia piece for one actor and his/her ghosts. The plot centers around an Everyman-Eveywoman Hamlet’s quest for peace and a sense of belonging, as he is recollecting the main events of his life, in constant dialogue with his past. The character moves from place to place –a train, a deserted city square, a ballroom—among others, where s/he meets with random people, variously identifying in them family members, friends, lovers and rivals, as s/he moves forward towards an inevitable end. The illusion of movement and progression is captured in a series of fleeting visual impressions, while Hamlet becomes a lens through which we experience the intensity of familial betrayal, insatiable sexual desire, self-sabotage, relentless introspection, and a refusal to let go. Hamlet morphs from one persona to the other, a victim and a victimizer. Building on the existentialist outlook of the original, the play contemporizes its perennially philosophical interrogations, clearly suggesting that where one sees an end, one should also trace beginnings.
This solo production by Athens-based Persona Theatre Company in collaboration with the artistic team of Irish company RFSAT brings one actor (Elena Pellone) right at the middle of the stage, enclosed in his past memories as represented by screens, projecting key moments and mental landscapes of the character’s life. These places –remembered, imagined and anticipated—are gradually taking over and Hamlet is swept into this world of ghosts, finally embraced in an act of (intermedial) catharsis.
The project is highly innovative in its use of multimedia to highlight the theme of Shakespeare's play, a battle with others and oneself. Enter Hamlet is a contemporary existential tale, which revises the dramatic canon by using the "Everyman/Everywoman" Hamlet in dialogue with a series of mediated ghosts from his past and present, beautifully vocalized by French composer/artist Muriel Louveau, with music composed by Vanias Apergis. The evocative writing mixes poetry and vernacular, while the performance creates a mental scape through startling projections designed by Emmanouela Vogiatzaki-Krukowski.
The Verona Shakespeare Fringe Festival is ideal for this kind of experimental work! Αfter the huge success of our multimedia Phaedra I- in London, we're developing more as an international group of artists and this is why we need people's support, especially in times like these, when the pandemic has struck theatre the hardest.
More about Enter Hamlet and the festival, can be found here: Enter Hamlet & VERONA SHAKESPEARE FRINGE FESTIVAL 2022
About Persona
Persona Theater Company was founded in Athens in 2004. It is made of artists working internationally in the theatre, dance, music, visual and digital arts. Our philosophy is one of inclusion and diversity and our artistic vision is to create theatre events, where different forms of art and media can interweave freely. We have been honored to present our work in different parts of the world, including the United States, the UK, Turkey, Italy and Iran. Over the years, our projects have been supported by the European Union, the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, The Hellenic Culture Organization, The Onassis Foundation and the J. Costopoulos Foundation.
More about us, can be found here: Persona , Team , Skana- Music
Support
We have already secured some funds that amount to €2,600 [€2,000 from VSFF and € 600 from Persona’s funds] that will cover some of the costs. More specifically:
Set /video /Costumes and production costs =€800
Equipment transfer =€200
Accommodation expenses in Verona (2 days X 6 persons) =€980
Artists fees ( €100 each X 6 persons) =€600
Total: € 2,580
Support we need
With your support, our goal is to raise €4700 to cover:
Airfare Athens-Verona (5 persons) = €1250
Airfare London-Verona (1 person) =€250
Vocal records = €200
Basic subsistence (3 days X 6 persons) =€1080
Artists fees (€150 each*7)=1050
Rental of rehearsal space (1 month) in Athens =€300
Other expenses = €600
Our Perks
Get to know the secrets of theatre and travel together with us to Verona for the Shakespeare Fringe Festival ’22.
Other ways you can help
If you are unable to donate at this time, but would still like to support the project and help us reach our goal you could:
Thank you so much for your time and for helping us to make ENTER HAMLET happen!
Avra, Elena, Muriel, Vanias, Emmanouela, Julia, Katia and the entire Persona team.
