THE IMPRESARIO FROM SMYRNA
by Carlo Goldoni

THE MAIN STAGE – THE ZILLER BUILDING

THE IMPRESARIO FROM SMYRNA

by Carlo Goldoni

Directed by Vasilis Papavasiliou

From 26 October 2023

The Goldonian wit of The impresario from Smyrna, written in 1757, shows that we will never run out of material for a hilarious comedy of manners. The wealthy merchant Ali intends to introduce opera to Smyrna and turns to two agents to help him organise his company. Ali is attracted to three sopranos, but their constant squabbling over who will be the troupeΆs prima donna and the ridiculous demands of everyone involved make him regret his decision.

Through this simple premise, Goldoni takes us behind the scenes at the opera, boldly focussing on the artists' vain pretensions and arrogant outbursts, but also giving us a glimpse of their fragile romanticism, showing how they are consumed by the lifestyle they mythologise. It is precisely this dizzying back-and-forth between lofty ambition and pettiness that has inspired Vasilis Papavasiliou to return to the great reformer of Italian comedy, offering his own vision of the camaraderie of the theatre.

Production team
Translation: Louisa Mitsakou
Production text: Louisa Mitsakou & Vasilis Papavasiliou
Director: Vasilis Papavasiliou  
Associate director: Nikoleta Filosoglou
Sets & costumes: Angelos Mentis
Choreography: Fokas Evagelinos
Music: Giorgos Dousos
Lighting: Lefteris Pavlopoulos
Dramaturg: Erie Kyrgia
First directing assistant: Evi Nakou
Second directing assistant: Panos Apostolopoulos
Design assistant: Alegia Papageorgiou

Cast (in alphabetical order):
Antonis Antoniadis, Panos Apostolopoulos, Spyros Bibilas, Stratos Christou, Eva Fraktopoulou, Taxiarhis Hanos, Smaragda Kakkinou, Alexis Kotsopoulos, Daphne Lamprogianni, Laertis Malkotsis, Ioanna Mavrea, Alexandros Mylonas, Agoritsa Oikonomou, Panagiotis Panagopoulos, Themis Panou, Katerina Plexida, Periklis Siountas, Vassia Zacharopoulou, Aliki Zaharopoulou

PRODUCTION SPONSOR