OXFORD UNIVERSITY GREEK SOCIETY PRESENTS OXFORD’S FIRST MODERN GREEK PLAY
The ninety-minute play, performed in Greek with English surtitles, will be directed by Manos Tsotras.
“Pantazis? Tomorrow, sir. We’re closed now. We’re on strike. Tomorrow.”
A typical confrontation between our unseen protagonist, Pantazis, and the Greek bureaucracy.
Meanwhile, at the taverna, all worries are forgotten…
Written in 1979, Internal Affairs is a comic and vitriolic satire of the lifestyle of modern Greeks. 35 years later, this play remains as timely as ever, resonating with the current economic and political crisis afflicting the country. Taking the form of a series of sketches, it presents a collage of Greek society, exaggerating its pathologies and at times shocking prejudices. A society in decline. This deeply humanitarian play addresses issues relevant to modern societies beyond the borders of Greece.
With the current crisis, the internal affairs of Greece have frequently featured on the British news. By putting on this play, Greeks in Oxford are telling their own story, providing interesting and surprising insights. They are making their own news. Yet the play is not simply about Greece. It holds a mirror to all of us, reflecting our own reactions back with a greater intensity.
This new initiative of the Oxford University Greek Society will be the first time that a contemporary Greek play is presented in Oxford.
Director Manos Tsotras said:
“Internal Affairs touches upon the reasons why Greek society faces its current crisis, a crisis not only economic but also moral, intellectual and cultural. It is a satirical comedy with elements of drama that aims to make the audience think and reflect upon our modern lifestyle. The play underlines the impact of TV, advertisements and marketing in shaping our needs and role models. It is representative of the way Greeks express and enjoy themselves with friends, their domestic affairs, the role of women, how the public sector operates, and the influence of the church. My vision behind putting on this play is to disseminate the Greek spirit, learning from the negative, and taking inspiration from the positive.”
Marios Pontikas, born in Mytilene in 1942, is a Greek playwright, novelist and lyricist. His plays have been performed with great success at all of the important stages in Greece. He has also adapted Greek prose for television. In 2005 he became a member of the Scriptwriters’ Guild of Greece.
Manos Tsotras both directs and has adapted the play. A graduate of Athens Drama School, where he first directed and acted in Internal Affairs. He has professionally directed five plays in Athens and London, including Wealth by Aristophanes. This play was translated and adapted for the English-speaking audience for the very first time, and sold out in London. He has written plays himself, such as Al Batiri Tsuz, performed in Athens in 2008. He has written episodes for various popular Greek TV series and as an actor has experience ranging from ancient Greek drama to modern Greek comedies both in theatre and TV.
Internal Affairs is at the Michael Pilch Studio, Jowett Walk, Oxford, 14th-17th May. Tickets are priced £6 (£5 concessions).
For further information, images or interviews, please contact OUGS greek.society@studentclubs.ox.ac.uk.
Details:
Internal Affairs
By Marios Pontikas
Directed and adapted by Manos Tsotras
In Greek with English surtitles
14th-17th May, 2014
Michael Pilch Studio, Jowett Walk, Oxford, OX1 3TL
Wednesday-Saturday 8pm; Saturday matinée 2:30pm
Age guidance 12+
Tickets £6, £5 concessions
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