Trailer Apethanto

Apethanto

“APEΘANTO” is a multimedia theatrical production based on the Greek folk ballad "The Dead Brother", combining acting, contemporary movement and music with new media, cinema, and painting.

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Plot Summary

We learn the story of Areti through the narration of her daughter from the future: Areti is the youngest and only daughter in a family with nine sons. Orphaned from her father, her mother and brothers protect her like the apple of their eye and keep her hidden from the world.

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When she reaches "marriageable age", foreign investors arrive—one of whom, through a business collaboration with her brother Konstantis, asks for her hand in marriage.

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Areti refuses, but Konstantis persuades their mother and brothers by emphasizing the economic benefits of such a “transaction” abroad. Thus, the marriage of convenience takes place, with the mother extracting a promise from Konstantis to return Areti to her side if ever she calls upon him.

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When death strikes Areti’s family home and all her brothers perish, the mother is left alone and summons Konstantis from the grave to fulfill his duty.

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Konstantis rises from the dead as a vampire to find Areti, who now lives a happy, wealthy life. Having nearly forgotten her former self and origins, she agrees to return. But as they journey back to her childhood home, Areti gradually remembers her past—and realizes Konstantis is now undead. She decides to put an end to it all.

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The play ends with Areti and her mother left alone, now holding the reins of their own lives. But how will they choose to continue?

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Director’s Note

“APEΘANTO” means “undead”—a being without a soul, surviving only by drinking blood. The title is symbolic, inspired by the plot of The Dead Brother, the first Greek narrative that introduces the notion of the vampire.

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The original folk ballad is heard in its entirety within the performance. The rest of the script is sharp, laced with irony, black comedy, and intertextual references.

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Together with the writing team, we approached the myth with a particular focus on the figures of the mother and daughter. The original ballad reflects an era in which a woman’s place was considered inferior to a man’s. Inspired by the myth, we asked: what about today? Has anything truly changed? Has a transition to a new era taken place?

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By reinterpreting the myth, we aimed to highlight the timeless and universal nature of women's marginalized role in society, as still evident in the story.

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The performance also addresses modern political dead-ends, the stagnation following the pandemic, and the role of the political system in it all. The “undead” is the system itself—a vampire draining us dry. Have we truly entered a new age? If not, will we try to?

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Production Credits

Written by: Fotis Dousos, Ioanna Lioutsia, Alexandros Raptis
Directed by: Alexandros Raptis
Dramaturgy: Dimitris Kalakidis
Assistant Director: Christina Bakastathi
Set & Costume Design: Katerina Chatzopoulou
Movement: Mika Stefanaki, Alexandros Raptis
Choreography: Mika Stefanaki
Music:Yorgos Dousos
Video & Visual Composition: Vasilis Selimas
Video Mapping & Lighting Design: Apostolis Koutsianikoulis
Photography: Dora Kalakidou
Production Assistant: Eva Samouilidou
Communications: Georgia Zoumpa

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Cast (in alphabetical order): Eleni Efthymiou (video), Andromachi Makridou, Giorgos Sofikitis, Danai Tikou

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Production: Hippo Theatre Group

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The performance was financially supported by the Greek Minstry of Culture.