Akilas Karazisis is reading excerpts
from Nikos Gabriel Pentzikis's
“Architecture of a Dissolute Life”

The SNFCC readers' theater series, entitled PARABASES/READINGS, is returning to the core of stage reading this year, drawing inspiration from Cavafy's verse, "Voices, loved and idealized."

Seven theater protagonists, seven "idealized voices," comprise two-people theater companies (in collaboration with young stage directors, renowned Greek composers and/or on-stage musicians) and attempt live theatrical readings of literary texts (short stories, novels, prose), all of them landmark works of Greek literature. In this way, the series utilizes the dramaturgy of the Readings that were recorded and presented by the SNFCC during 2020-2021, attracting great interest from the public.

The texts selection was compiled in collaboration with poet Nikos A. Panagiotopoulos (December 1945 - July 2023), to whose memory the series is dedicated.

Sunday, March 10, 18.00 | LIGHTHOUSE

Akilas Karazisis is reading excerpts from Nikos Gabriel Pentzikis's Architecture of a Dissolute Life.
Actor, On-stage Musician: Iason Aly

Nikos Gabriel Pentzikis (1908-1993) is a unique voice in Greek literature. He belongs to the group of writers known as the "School of Thessaloniki," one of the most important literary schools in modern Greek literature. George Seferis, in his Essays, wrote a notable essay about Pentzikis's work The novel of Mrs. Ersi (1966). In addition, Pentzikis was also an important painter.

His literary works alternate between reality and fantasy. He was interested in the architecture of the text, and used innovative techniques, such as interior monologue and associative writing. He was greatly influenced by Stéphane Mallarmé, James Joyce, and Byzantine chroniclers.

The Architecture of a Dissolute Life, first published in 1963, is a trailblazing work, an overture to contemporary writing, in which Pentzikis merges tradition (ancient, Byzantine and demotic) and modernity.

The excerpts from the Architecture of a Dissolute Life have been selected and are being read by Akilas Karazisis, who has repeatedly engaged with the work of Pentzikis, both in his Selfie: the city in the background (National Theatre, 2019) and in The stories of Mr. Nikos (BIOS, 2012). Karazisis recalls the time when he met N. G. Pentzikis as follows: "I remember him on an excursion to Metamorfosi in Chalkidiki; he was sitting and gazing the sea from above and afar... I have inside my head the image of a gentleman looking at the world."

The stage reading will also include Nikos Gabriel Pentzikis's text Walk on the beach.

Simultaneous interpretation into the Greek Sign Language will be available.

The reading takes place with permission granted by copyright holder, Mr. Gabriel Nikolaou Pentzikis.

PARABASES/READINGS program

Nikos Kouris teams up with Mario Banushi and reads Viral Pneumonia, the only short story Zisimos Lorentzatos ever attempted to write. | October 29, 2023

Iro Bezou collaborates with Danai Spilioti and reads two pieces of prose by Photis Kontoglou: Conan the God and His Monastery, the So-Called "Submergence" and Hosanna! | November 12, 2023

Maria Skoula teams up with Kornilios Selamsis and reads the short story The Detective by Dimitris Hatzis. | December 10, 2023

Amalia Moutousi collaborates with Emmanouil Kontos and reads Moonstruck by Alexandros Papadiamantis. | January 28, 2024

Christos Loulis reads excerpts from Erotokritos by Vitsentzos Kornaros. | February 25, 2024

Akilas Karazisis teams up with Iason Aly and reads excerpts from the Architecture of a Dissolute Life, Nikos Gabriel Pentzikis's trailblazing work. | March 10, 2024

Anna Kokkinou collaborates with Nikos Veliotis and reads Moskov Selim, the most remarkable short story of Georgios Vizyinos. | April 28, 2024

This event comes under a grant by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF). Alongside the majority of its events, which are free thanks to a series of SNF grants, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center also organizes a number of events with affordable tickets, thus enriching its income sources and securing its long-term financial integrity.