PINOCCHIO
Adapted from Carlo Collodi's story
by Chris Cooper

PINOCCHIO
Adapted from Carlo Collodi's story
by Chris Cooper

Directed by Vassilis Mavrogeorgiou

THE ELENI PAPADAKI STAGE AT THE REX THEATRE
From 18 November 2023

A magic box full of surprises and unexpected gifts opens at the Children's Stage of the National Theatre of Greece. Vassilis Mavrogeorgiou directs Carlo Collodi's much-loved tale of Pinocchio in a modern version by Chris Cooper, and takes us on a great adventure where everything changes and everything is possible!
 
The enchanting story that has been a part of childhood for generations relates the adventures of a wooden puppet, Pinocchio. The Fox and the Cat persuade him to give up school, assuring him that if he follows them a carefree life full of adventure awaits him. But nothing will be as he was promised, and Pinocchio will be forced to go through countless ordeals, resist temptation, change, grow stronger, and properly grow up before he can find his father Geppetto again.
 
Although written towards the end of the 19th century (1883), the tragicomic adventures of Pinocchio seem more relevant than ever. Living a harsh existence at a time when everything is changing quickly and with decisive inevitability raises a number of questions. "How does a child become part of modern society? How can they follow the adult template? Which parts of their innocence must they lose in order to survive?", points out the director of the production. With a large cast of talented young actors and the dreamlike music of Nikos Kipourgos, Vassilis Mavrogeorgiou creates a playful staging in order to talk about some extremely serious issues.
 
In the world of Pinocchio, nothing is as it seems: a log of wood turns into a puppet, a brightly lit amusement park transforms into the dark belly of a dangerous whale, and a mischievous puppet becomes a real human boy. In a world that is constantly changing and ceaselessly mutating, just like Thalia Melissa's set, the only thing that remains constant is faith in ourselves and the power of friendship... because we all have a blue cricket nearby to protect us and help us to make our dreams come true... even the elusive ones.
 
Production team
Translation, Lyrics: Julia Diamantopoulou
Director: Vassilis Mavrogeorgiou
Music: Nikos Kipourgos
Set design: Thalia Melissa
Costume design: Vasiliki Syrma
Movement: Paris Mantopoulos
Lighting: Stella Kaltsou
Music coach: Melina Peonidou
Fight choreography: Thanos Dermatis
Dramaturg: Maria Karananou
Directing assistant: Vasiliki Asikoglou
Set design assistant: Elli Papadaki
Costume design assistant: Marina Koulouri
Hair design: Konstantinos Koliousis
Makeup design: Olga Faleichyk

Cast (in alphabetical order):
Giorgos Vourdamis, Antonis Gritsis, Christos Dalkyriadis, Michalis Kilakos, Io Latsoukaki, Emmanouela Magoni, Vasilis Darmas, Titos Pinakas, Dimitra Stavrou, Andromachi Foundoulidou

On-stage musician: Giorgos Fountoukos
 
Photographs: Karol Jarek
Video: Panagiotis Andrianos