A Theatrical Play in Athens' Center

It was some time ago when our teacher in Athens gave the teachers course students a task – as part of regular events that take place at the center,
to make a sort theatrical play for the public in the new center of Athens. None of us had any previous experience in writing or acting as a way to pass
a Gnostic message to people who would watch it, the message of ‘Exploring…’ and facing life from the Gnostic point of view. ‘Exploring …’ was also the title of the play.

So, Venia, a student of the teachers course in Athens – with a few guidelines from the teacher, wrote a scenario and everything started!
We distributed the roles and began to get ready. We only had two weeks in front of us for rehearsals and other preparations. 

To say a few words for the story, it is about a young lady, Fannie, who seems to be much concerned soon after she has achieved a promotion at work.
That was the main objective of her life and she was working hard for a long time to make it. She thought that it was the only thing could make her feel full.
But now she can see that nothing has really changed and she still continues to be the same miserable as before. A night Fannie is meeting a wise Owl in a dream
which tells her that there is a secret path leading to real happiness. Fannie decides to seek for that path and during her journey a plenty of strange situations appear… 
She didn’t know it yet, but her life had already started to change…

Many students helped to bring it to an end. Kalliopi made the costumes, Semeli painted the scenes, Christos designed the invitations and
Giannis V, Igor and Giorgos made the place to look like a small theater.

The team played the roles consisted of: Leonidas, Venia, Labros, Alexandros E, Maria, Giannis V and Alexandros A as a narrator.

From the very first moment we found that playing a role it’s quite a difficult task since it is very easy to get identified with your role.
During the process everyone learned how can pretend a range of emotions such as anger or fear without being identified with them. 

Here are some photos from the rehearsals and preparations. 

Fannie (Venia) is meeting Timos (Labros) on her way and they often seem not to get along well with each other…

Fannie, Timos and the Wise Owl ( Leonidas).

Semeli painting one of the scenes…

Giannis V making the curtains and transforming the place into…

… a theater!

Two weeks later everything was ready. Enjoy some photos from the play night…

Some minutes before the beginning…

…and the play begins!

The Pseudo-wise man (Giannis V) is trying to persuade Fannie to stay with him.

The sick Horse is asking Fannie and Timos to sacrifice their thoughts so that it can be healed.

Antelope (Maria,) one of the Great Beings, is helping the two young people to overcome a huge obstacle
on the way to the Secret Path: Pride 

The Wise Owl is giving them precious teachings.

Me (on the left) introducing the amateur theater group at the end of the play.

The students also had the chance to play it two more times, one in the UK Retreat and another in Athens’ center for the students from overseas
who had come for the Greek Retreat. Hence, we had made English subtitles for them.

The video of the play is going to be uploaded on the site in English subtitles soon, so you can have the chance to watch it, if you would like.

Thanks to all the students for the efforts they made and I hope the strength we all took from this play to be with us for a long time.