"Ornithes" by Aristophanes in Sainopouleio

After "Perses" and "Prometheus Bound", Aris Biniaris tackles for the first time the ancient comedy "Ornithes" by Aristophanes.

Although the plot is fictional in this supreme comedy, the theme is fundamental and essential: the "Chickens-Ornithes" present a new beginning, which must be made outside human society, away from saturation, decadence and corruption.

Odysseas Papaspiliopoulos and Giorgos Chrysostomou in the roles of Peisthetairos and Evelpides, together with a host of excellent actors: Michalis Valasoglou, Stelios Iakovides, Thanasis Isidorou, Tasos Korkos, Kostas Koronaios, Sofia Kouloras, Augustinos Koumoulos, Errikos Miliaris, Marios Panagiotou, Kyriakos Salis, Alexia Sapranidou, Konstantina Takalou, Irini Tsellou, will try to establish their own ideal state in the ethers far from people.

The case

Two friends, Peisthetairos and Evelpides, are disappointed by the living conditions in their city and are looking for a new place where they can live in peace and joy. Their contact with the world of birds will give them the idea of ​​establishing a new state in the ethers, between earth and sky.

While the construction of the city is in progress, uninvited visitors from the human world arrive, claiming arbitrary powers and privileges, while emissaries of the gods of Olympus protest in dismay at the questioning of divine sovereignty as the new city prevents the fumes from the sacrifices from reach the sky

Will Peisthetairos and Evelpides, with the help of the birds, manage to complete the building of Nefelokokygia? How easy will it be to realise their own utopia?

The show

Aris Biniaris' direction utilises the element of ritual to highlight the allegorical extensions of the Aristophanic work. At the same time, the music and movement place the human condition, transformation and the restoration of worldly justice at the centre of the performance.

With human civilisation having reached a liminal moment, the flight of birds resembles a rite of initiation and reconnection of man with the natural world and with the unprecedented power that arises from this relationship.

In co-production with the Athens Epidaurus Festival