PRAXIS 9: The Time of Crises

Following the success of last year’s staging of the largest Festival of Contemporary Greek Theatre in the UK, Praxis is proud to stage its 9th production, PRAXIS 9: The Time of Crises, at the Simpkins Lee Theatre, Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, on Sunday, May 19th, from 12 noon to 8:30 pm.

As humans journey through life, fulfilling their purposes, they encounter various crises, many of which are intertwined with the necessary stages of maturation. However, within the ever-changing reality, these crises cause fluctuations and deviations from a smooth progression. The future of humanity lies in the balance, with possibilities ranging from dystopian societies to brave new worlds. How do our heroes navigate personal crises amidst the insatiable demands of modern life? Despite scientific and technological progress, have we become better at understanding human needs?

Let’s think about war. It often brings forth dark instincts, yet some maintain an unwavering adherence to moral codes of conduct, even towards the enemy. How can individuals maintain their integrity in such extreme circumstances? How do they find hope in the middle of the storm?

Last year, the idea of a Festival of Contemporary Greek Theatre came to life, successfully taking place in Oxford, the hometown of Praxis group, and then in London as a collaboration of Praxis and Theatre Lab Company with the Hellenic Centre.

This year, Praxis will bring you many captivating stories that explore personal and societal struggles in our modern times of multiple crises. The PRAXIS 9 festival will present nine contemporary plays performed as rehearsed Greek readings with English surtitles, directed by Anastasia Revi.

The opening of the festival will include greetings and a mini tribute to the remarkable 10-year journey of Praxis Oxford. Each play will be introduced by its author through a two-minute video speech, followed by dialogue with the audience in the presence of the participating authors. Short breaks will be available for drinks and snacks (available for purchase), for socialising, and for purchasing books from the authors. All proceeds, except for the bookstore, go towards production costs.

The 9 plays are as follows:

12.30 - 2:30 pm: Session A

ALL IS FINE (ΟΛΑ ΠΑΝΕ ΚΑΛΑ) by Eugenia Maragou (existential comedy)
In an institution/experimental space, two people come face to face with their existential crisis in a comic-tragic way, guided by the carer in their daily lives.
THE RAFT OF THE MEDUSA (Η ΣΧΕΔΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΜΕΔΟΥΣΑΣ) by Theodoros Espiritou (poetic denunciation). An exploration of the crisis of a tragedy. A shipwreck with a double meaning of individual and mass destruction.
BOUND (ΔΕΣΜΩΤΗΣ) by Natassa Sideri (social drama)
How the economic crisis leads to a crisis of values, morals and relationships.

2:30 - 3:00 pm: Interval 1

3:00 - 5:00 pm: Session B

THE GREAT MISSION (Η ΜΕΓΑΛΗ ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΗ) by Irene Sofianou (dystopian drama)
The shocking dystopian image of a society in an environmental crisis.
ES KOCHT by Mihalis Darnakis and Maria Laftsidou (monologue)
The crisis of preparation of suicide.
THE LEECH (Η ΒΔΕΛΛΑ) by Irene Dermitzaki (black comedy)
The merciless work crisis in an office today.

5:00 - 5:30 pm: Interval 2

5:30 - 8 pm: Session C

YOU, SOW. NOT GUILTY (ΓΟΥΡΟΥΝΑ. ΑΘΩΟΣ) by Jenny Dagla (confessions of the subconcious). The crisis of the dilemmas of moral or legal law through two simple everyday characters.
IT BROKE (ΕΣΠΑΣΕ) by Stelios Hatziadamidis (internal dialogues)
The crisis of adulthood
HOSTING (ΤΟ ΦΙΛΕΜΑ) by Manos Kounougakis (theatrical documentary)
In the crisis of life and death, where does humanity stand?

7:45 pm Epilogue

A few words for the theatre group and the director:

Praxis ("Action") was established in 2013 as the Oxford University Greek Society Drama Company, with a vision to introduce contemporary Greek plays performed in their original language to an English-speaking audience by providing surtitles, and is proud of being the first ever to do so in Oxford. Since its debut in May 2014, the satirical Internal Affairs by Marios Pontikas, Praxis is now presenting its ninth production following the Praxis 8 festival in June 2023.

Anastasia Revi is the Artistic Director of the award-winning Theatre Lab Company. She has collaborated with Praxis as a director and workshop facilitator since 2015. She has promoted contemporary Greek theatre in the UK since 1999, including productions of Greek plays and play-reading festivals. Theatre Lab Company has published two volumes of contemporary Greek plays in London.Recent credits include: Emmeline (UK tour, 2023 and The Cockpit, London, 2021) and Don Juan (The Vaults, 2022, Hoxton Hall, London, 2018). Anastasia received the Best Director’s Award of Greece for Shakespeare’s Macbeth (National Theatre of Northern Greece, 2016) and EXALIPTRON Award for Theatre (Athens, 2016). She was nominated for the Greek International Women Awards (London, 2017) and the Woman of the Year Award of Greece (Athens, 2017). Her training includes a degree in English and American Literature (Aristotle University, Greece), 3-year Classical Acting (Drama School, National Theatre of Northern Greece), London Theatre Conservatory, École Philippe Gaulier and workshops with masters of theatre including Simon McBurney, Augusto Boal, Ozzie Rogriguez, Tage Larsen, Rufus Norris.

Host or Publisher Praxis