As Above So Below
Premiere date
'As Above So Below' is conceived as a collective and experiential ritual aimed at awakening our cellular memory. Through contemporary performing arts, we are invited to reconnect with our ancient future, evoking the Mystery and activating our primordial cultural consciousness through Logos, Melos, and Orchesis.
The intuitive narrative weaves together myths and historical figures, revealing the intrinsic human desire to create and recreate, even in the face of destruction.
This world order, the same for all, no god made or any man, but it always was and is and will be an ever-living fire, kindling by measure and going out by measure.
Heraclitus of Ephesus / On Nature 5th century B.C.
The show unfolds with the portrayal of the refugees of Smyrna, symbolised by a mother and her children (played by Savina Yannatou and children from Lemnos), encountering the Mystical Cabeiri (represented by Maria Papageorgiou, Thanasis Efthymiadis, Apostolia Papadamaki, and the dancers). The Cabeiri carry the remembrance of the rebirth of humanity's spirit through the Sacred Fire of Hephaestus—an enduring reminder that Greek Culture is perpetually reborn from its ashes.
Director and choreographer Apostolia Papadamaki embarked on an artistic journey to explore timeless and indivisible concepts that activate the forces of Greek culture, encompassing survival, rebirth, and progress, expressed through the lens of time and light.
'As Above So Below' invites audiences to contemplate how the destructive fire experienced by the refugees of Smyrna is transformed into the sacred fire of the mystical Cabeiri. It serves as a remembrance of the Greek civilisation, which is perpetually reborn from its ashes.
The performance showcased an original musical composition by Trifon Koutsourelis, and an original text by Panos Gkiokas, accompanied by Valentina Tamiolaki's lighting design, enhancing the immersive experience for the audience. Renowned performers Savina Yannatou and Maria Papageorgiou, along with actor Thanassis Efthymiadis and six professional dancers, collaborated to immerse the audience in a ritualistic exploration of Greek cultural history—from its inception to destruction to eventual rebirth.
As Above So Below is performed by ten performers: Savina Yannatou, Thanassis Efthymiadis, Maria Papageorgiou, Apostolia Papadamaki, Spyros Christakis, Plotinos Eliades, Konstantina Liontou, Maria Papakonstantinou, Natasha Sarantopoulou, Antonis Strouzas.
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Credits
Direction/Choreography: Apostolia Papadamaki
Original Music Composition: Trifon Koutsourelis
Dramaturgy: Panagiotis Gkiokas
Costume design: Ifigeneia Daoudaki
Lighting design: Valentina Tamiolaki
Performers
Savina Yannatou: Refugee Mother / Great Mother - Axieros
Maria Papageorgiou: Axiocersa / Cabeirus
Thanassis Efthymiadis: Axiocersus / Cabeirus
Apostolia Papadamaki: Cadmilus - Hermes / Cabeirus
Dancers / Cabeiroi: Spyros Christakis, Plotinos Eliades, Konstantina Liontou, Maria
Papakonstantinou, Natasha Sarantopoulou, Antonis Strouzas
Assistant Choreographer: Konstantina Liontou
Scientific partners: Dr Pavlos Triantafyllidis, archaeologist and supervisor at the Ephorate of Antiquities of Lesbos, and Malamo Mari, Archaeologist
Production: MENTOR / Panagiotis Gkiokas, Virginia Vassilakou, Yannis Pappas
Marketing & Communication: MENTOR
Press Office: Nicole Votsi
Photography, Graphic & Visual Designer: Areion Stefanidis
Video documentation: Pandelis Ladas
Special thanks to
Eleni Koulizaki for teaching pronunciation and prosody of Ancient Greek Language and Dr. Athina Despoina Potari for contributing to the selection of Ancient Greek texts.
Children volunteer performers: Sophia Fotiadou, Nadia Gkouva, Iassonas Kallianis, Myrto Karanika, Fotini Katti, Georgia Mavraki, Nikolaos Mavrakis, Polymnia Pomoni, Chryssi Vavatsika
Adult volunteer performers: Chryssoula Archontidou, Elli Chalkidou, Victoria Giannaki, Maria Gkiorgkine, Makis Kallianis, Jenny Karapiperi, Eleni Kontelli, Eleni Koustoulidi, Vaya Mastroyannopoulou, Chryssanthi Michlizoglou, Irene Mylona, George Palios, Christianna Skiada, Eleni Tzivaki, Serafim Vavatsikas, Andreas Vitoratos, Ioanna Vlachogianni,Elina Zambouni.
Media sponsors: ERT N. Aegean, Culture Now, Theatermag, Enallaktikos
The performance was part of the 2022 “All of Greece, one Culture” program by the Ministry of Culture. It was implemented in collaboration with the Ephorate of Antiquities of Lesbos and the Greek National Tourism Organisation.