The Persians at NY City Canter

The National Theatre of Greece performs Aeschylus' The Persians, translated by Nikoletta Frindzila, at New York�s City Center from 16 - 20 Sep 2006.

The Persians is set in the Persian capital of Susa, among the very enemies against whom the Greeks had fought for more than 11 years. It opens with the despotic Queen Atossa and The Chorus, who represent Persian nobles and the king�s advisors, awaiting news of the king�s campaign against the Greeks. The Queen tells The Chorus of frightening premonitions she has had about the impending campaign, which consequently have everyone anxious and troubled. Out of fear and desperation, Queen Atossa attempts to appease the gods with immolations, and in the successive scenes, the defeat and ruin of Persian forces ensue.

The Persians is directed by Lydia Koniordou, who stars as Queen Atossa. The cast also features Yannis Kranas (Darius); Christos Loulis (King Xerxes), Sampson Fytros, Yorgos Gallos, Dimitris Kanellos, Phaidon Kastris, Panagiotis Klinis, Apostolis Pelakanos, Takis Sakellariou and Yorgos Stamos (messengers).

The ensemble features Chrysanthi Avloniti, Yorgos Dousis, Manolis Dragatsis, Yorgos Frindzilas, Alexandros Kalpakidis, Stephanos Kosmidis, Yannis Kotsifas, Katerina Liontaki, Vassilis Margetis, Elena Marsidou, Dimitris Mosxonas, Dinos Pontikopoulos, Takis Sakellariou, Vassilis Spiropoulos, Elena Topalidou, Yorgis Tsampourakis and Vassilis Zaifidis.

Set and costume design is by Lili Kendaka, with lighting by Lefteris Pavlopoulos.

The Persians will be performed in Greek with English supertitles.