CAVAFY: Poet of the City is a solo piece based on the life and work of Alexandrine poet Constantine P. Cavafy (1863-1933).
The work intends to bring to life a man who is considered to be one of the most important poets of the 20th century. By paying homage to the theatricality of Cavafy’s voice and gesture, his private universe, and public persona, Simonides attempts to arrive at the moments of the poet’s inspiration, to peer at the workings of his lifelong struggle with adversity and of his ultimate liberation, and to sculpt these findings on stage in a manner that may shock the audience into a recognition of humanity’s possible redemption through the power of love, art, irony and the pleasures of learning.
The performance is accompanied by music of the time and by images of Alexandria and of Cavafy’s life.
Written, directed and performed by: Yannis Simonides
Set /costume /images: Anna Vichos
Projections /stage management: Elena P. Ntosa
English translation: Edmund Keeley & Yannis Simonides
Produced by: I.S.Theater in Luxembourg, & Theatro 104, Athens