Alarme | Madách Nemzetközi Színházi Találkozó

Alarme 16

Stage composition based on the correspondence between Queen Elisabeth A’ and Mary Queen of Scots

Attis Theatre – Athens, Greece

Director: Theodoros Terzopoulos

Performed in Greek with Hungarian and English subtitles.

55 minutes, without breaks.

Alarme, the first part of the trilogy continued by Amor and Encore, explores a historical and influential fatal conflict: the struggle between Queen Elizabeth A’ and Mary Stewart Queen of Scots for the throne that ended with the decapitation of Mary Stewart. Alarme reveals the conflict between the two women based on fragments of their “official” correspondence. Their relationship is fueled by love, hate, violence and the desire over power which can drive them to any length. Beside the two women, the stage is claimed by a third person, a narrator, an impoverished civilian, who observes and sarcastically comments the anguish and battle of the two Queens.

The conflict between the two queens, Maria Stewart and Queen Elisabeth has the elements and dimensions of the conflict between the feminine and the masculine. What prevails is the Eroticism. In the matter of fact, this conflict is even more intense and premature than the battle between a man and a woman, since in this case the female activates within herself her male elements and an extreme aggressiveness and becomes relentless. The extreme aggressiveness suggests an extreme eroticism, since eroticism is the other face of aggressiveness.

A constant desire for fusion lies behind the fatal conflict of the two women. They are both attracted and intimidated at the same time by this fusion, since it means the abolition of their individuality. The two women fight each other and invoke violence, in order to defend and protect themselves against the desire for fusion; their constant battle and rivalry suggests an absolute love that intimidates them more than the hatred and the violence. This dynamism, that remains unsaid to the end, drives them to the total destruction.

Alarme premiered in Athens on 2010 and was presented in Attis Theatre for three seasons, subsequently followed by tours in international festivals; it was greatly appreciated by the audience and praised by the critics- especially by Michael Billington, the eminent and demanding critic of Guardian.

Színészek / Actors:

Sophia Hill, Anastasios Dimas, Aglaia Pappa

Díszlettervező / Stage designer: Theodoros Terzopoulos
Jelmeztervező / Costume designer: Loukia
Zeneszerző / Composer: Panagiotis Velianitis

Gobbi Hilda Stage

Theodoros Terzopoulos

Theodoros Terzopoulos was born in Makrygialos village. He founded Attis Theatre Company in Delphi in 1985.

He has directed ancient tragedies, opera and the most leading modern plays in Greece and in famous theatres worldwide. Over 37 years he has presented more than 2200 performances worldwide. His approach to the classic Greek tragedy is part of the curriculum in Theatre Academies and Departments of Classical Studies. He leads many workshops, lectures about his method, and is an Emeritus professor in Academies and Universities. Since 2013 he has held the annual international summer workshop “The Return of Dionysus - The Method of Theodoros Terzopoulos” for young artists. He has received many international Theatre Awards. Books on his acting method and Attis Theatre, including The Return of Dionysus in which he explains his method, have been published in many languages.

He has been artistic director of theatre institutions, such as:
Director of the Drama School of the State Theatre of Northern Greece (1981-1983), Artistic Director of the International Meetings on Ancient Drama in Delphi (1985 – 1988, 1995 – 2004), Founding member of the International Institute of Mediterranean Theatre (since 1990), Founder and Chairman of the International Committee of Theatre Olympics (since 1995), Founder and Artistic Director of the International Meetings of Ancient Drama in Sikyon Municipality (since 2005).

Photo: Johanna Weber

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