Internationally acclaimed soprano Sonia Theodoridou and the multi-talented actress Valeria Kouroupi come together on the stage of the Michalis Kakogiannis Foundation in In the Shadow of Men. A tender and deeply emotional confession, a touching exploration of our collective memory, brought to life through the sounds of Smyrna, Pontus, and exile.

Pavlos Emmanouilidis directs Tania Charokopou’s play, which masterfully balances nostalgia for what has been lost with hope for the future.

ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE

The story of the Hellenism of Smyrna, Pontus, and the Greek diaspora comes alive through the narration of a woman and the songs born from homeland, time, and pain.

Her experiences are those of displacement, lost homelands, lost lives, and exile.

When everything has been lost, all that remains is her determination to survive, her strength to be reborn, her persistence not to forget… and a photograph.

She finds comfort in the presence of another, younger woman who wishes to listen and learn. To her, she confides her memories and her enduring hope for something brighter yet to come. To her, she passes on the photograph… or perhaps she already has.

In the Shadow of Men is a powerful true story that, through the strength of the human soul and the songs of exile and separation, deeply moves audiences regardless of where they come from. The performance will premiere on November 4th and 5th at the theatre of the Michalis Kakogiannis Foundation.

TEXT

Tania Charokopou

DIRECTION

Pavlos Emmanouilidis

MOVEMENT – CHOREOGRAPHY

Maya Politaki

SET & COSTUME DESIGN

M-PAUL

STARRING

Sonia Theodoridou
Valeria Kouroupi
Pavlos Emmanouilidis

PIANO

Alexandros Makris

Director’s Note

When two extraordinary women, blessed with magical voices and exceptional acting talent, come together within a unique text accompanied by unforgettable music, the director’s work becomes a pleasure, rehearsals become joy, and the performance turns into a story you want to be part of again and again.

Memories — engraved deep within us — awaken and remind us what it means to be human in the shadow of men.

How to step out of the shadows.

And how to remain Human.