SOCRATES NOW | ΣΩΚΡΑΤΗΣ ΤΩΡΑ

EllinikoTheatro,
in collaboration with the University of Athens Museum
proudly present:

SOCRATES NOW | ΣΩΚΡΑΤΗΣ ΤΩΡΑ

SUMMER 2012 PERFORMANCES

After over 250 performances in 14 countries, Plato’s timeless classic The Apology of Socrates returns home, offering a unique open-air ‘edutainment’ experience to international visitors of Athens.

Take a seat in the court of ancient Athens as Socrates goes on trial for his life. Hear the philosopher face his accusers with his trademark wit, cutting logic, and the courage of his ideals. Consider his arguments on virtue, justice, politics, corruption, civic duty, love of life and hope in death, and draw your own judgment. Enjoy the post-performance opportunity to discuss with the actor the ramifications of your verdict.

Think. Question. Change.

The Apology of Socrates is a 90 minute solo performance which captures the essence of Socratic ethics in an accessible and engaging manner. The play features a delightful and quite humorous dramatization of the famous philosopher’s defense and his rebuttals to a guilty verdict and sentence to death. In the Apology, reported to us by Socrates’ student, Plato, the wise man of Athens firmly defends himself – rather than apologizing in the contemporary sense – against politically motivated accusations of not believing in the gods of the state, and of corrupting the Athenian youth. Yannis Simonides channels the eccentric yet magnetic personality of Socrates and offers a profoundly social, political, but above all human work which captivates the audience with the humor, immediacy and simplicity of its theatrical rendition.

The Apology of Socrates was produced by the Greek Theatre of New York in 2004 and has since been performed to great acclaim at the United Nations, the Athens Ancient Agora, the NBC Today Show, and in over 200 theatres, festivals, schools, universities and libraries across the US, Canada, Uruguay, Mexico, Greece, Cyprus, France, Luxembourg, Turkey, Ukraine, Bulgaria, the United Emirates and the UK. Leading universities including Yale, Columbia, Cornell, Michigan, Cambridge, Oxford and Edinburgh have combined the performance with interactive seminars on Socratic ethics and how they apply to our world today, led by Yannis Simonides.

Τhe 14 performances at the University of Athens Museum will be presented in English, in order to offer a multidimensional cultural experience to foreign audiences visiting Athens. Each performance will be followed by a 30-minute Q&A session on the immediate relevance of Socratic thought to the Greek and world crisis.

Actor:        Emmy Award Winner Yannis Simonides
Director:     Broadway Veteran Loukas N. Skipitaris
Costume:     Oscar and Tony Award Winner: Theoni Vahliotes Aldredge
Production:     EllinikoTheatro

Info:
Tel. +306976104700 (18.00-21.00)
Email. info@@ellinikotheatro.org
Website. www.ellinikotheatro.org
Book your seat via www.ticketservices.gr

INTERNATIONAL REVIEWS

A multi-talented actor has set himself the decidedly idiosyncratic mission of providing the transcendent dramatic power of the ancient philosopher.
American Theatre, USA

Yannis Simonides is thrilling audiences in the UAE and around the world
Gulf News, Dubai

A superhuman effort on the part of the actor in a splendid coordination of text, movement and speech.
Luxembourger Wort, Luxembourg

Yannis Simonides fascinates Bulgaria! A real storm of applause for his inspiring performance
Sofia Times, Bulgaria

Restless, humorous, brilliant and fascinating!
Odyssey Magazine, USA