Interview
Interview with George Kissandakis
George Kissandrakis is currently participating in three theatrical performances which are a must see for theatre lovers. We met in Byron and discussed "The Conference on Iran" by Ivan Viripayev, and "To you who hear me" by Loula Anagnostakis, both directed by Christos Theodorides. He spoke to me about the particularities of each play, the theatre and the political substance it must have, while at the same time he did not fail to mention with admiration the very modern writing of Lula Anagnostaki, wondering at the end whether our voices are heard today.
What will one hear at this conference?
It begins as a conference on the current situation in Iran with the violation of human rights. But at its core we will hear 9 different speakers with different views and perspectives on life. We will hear things about God, about man, about his nature, about whether we have choices in life... all views different from each other but all informed and with arguments about the existence of man in the universe.
What is it that Viripayev is looking for in his works?
He seeks instructions for use in life. Trying to understand what are those parameters that define our existence, our life and our interaction ontologically... in general what Viripayev proposes in his works is that the only thing that matters is love. Because things are so much bigger than us only with love will we find the answers we seek.
Philosophy, science, conservative non-conservative thinking, religion ultimately what takes precedence over all of these?
What prevails is what I mentioned before, love. The aspect of feeling and sensing the other. As the viewer will see the author has written each speech so well structured that it is actually hard to say that one wins over the other. Each speaker will say something else. He has written the opinions very well researched, even the ones you don't agree with, and the speakers so human that you find yourself agreeing with things a character says that you don't agree with on the whole. But in the end the words of the Iranian poet prevail, who says that above all we must love each other.
Does theatre nowadays have to be political and have a reason?
Theatre can't help but be political wherever you look at it. Theatre in relation to the events happening in the world cannot be detached. Reality cannot overtake us and we are left behind. In any case, when you put on a play it has to have a connection to society and what is happening in the world. Only then will you also connect with the audience and they will feel that it really concerns them, they will become part of the performance and not just come to see a performance.
Is the voice of Lula Anagnostaki missing these days?
I got to know Lula Anagnostaki through the Orchestra and the performance "Antonio or the Message" that we did in 2021 and now "To you who listen to me" First of all, we are talking about an amazing writer and one of the greatest in Europe who had nothing to envy from other great European writers. Anagnostaki was writing about what was happening in the present. You can make the connection to what you're living. She knew how to use language and I think that's missing in today's theatrical writing production. Her writing was understandable and straightforward without any pretension which takes courage to do.
What is it that characterizes the characters in the show?
What characterizes the heroes is also what the show says they are the "losers of the earth". They are the people who the system itself has decided a place for them in the background and they are fighting for their views to be heard, fighting to find companionship, in short, fighting for their right to exist.
Nowadays do you think our voices are being heard?
That I don't know. On the one hand I think our voices are easier to be heard through social-media but I wonder to whom they are actually heard. There used to be groups on the internet and it was easier for people to get together in a space, in a square to discuss and claim things. Now social-media has gone more towards the ego. Towards one's image and oneself. It has lost the connection we have been divided into units. We are certainly seeing events like the Tempe rally where so many people came down and protested and that is promising. But will we be heard? Will all this have any effect? Is this enough to bring about real reform in the judiciary?
Would you like to talk to me about the role of music and kinesiology in Christos' performances?
The way Christos and Xenia work the components of speech, movement and music are integral parts of the performance and must be in harmony but not just with a form. Everything is there because it makes sense to be. Nothing will be done because the music is beautiful at this point or because we need to challenge and move the audience here. It's all about the show saying what it wants to say.