The Oracles of Water
Premiere: 31st July 2023, Archeological site of Delphi, Fokis, Greece
' I am a child of Earth and starry Heaven,
But descended from Heaven, I am parched with thirst and dying: quickly, give me
the cool water flowing from Memory’s lake. '
The Gold Tablet / Orphic inscription, Thessaly, 4th century BC
The 'The Oracles of Water' is an interactive and participatory site-specific event that links climate change and the global water crisis with the mythology and worship of Apollo at Delphi. A young environmental scientist, after a foreboding dream of all water sources drying up, visits Delphi seeking an oracle from Apollo about the future of water. From the vast Delphic landscape and the Omphalos of the Earth, the Pythia, Mnemosyne, and the Muses deliver a global message about water. This performance weaves together themes of global warming and water pollution, connecting Science, Philosophy, Mythology, and Performing Arts.
The performance consists of two parts. The first part takes place at 6.30-7.30am, at sunrise, at the Temple of Athena Pronaia, and the second part at 20.00-21.10 at the archaeological site of Delphi and the Temple of Apollo a major part of the Panhellenic religious sanctuary located in Central Greece at Delphi.6th century B.C.E, The tholos is part of the Delphi UNESCO World Heritage Site.
An amazing artistic team contributed to making The Oracles Of Water a memorable performance, with an original music score by Trifon Koutsourelis, texts by Panos Gkiokas, lighting design by Valentina Tamiolaki and sculptures / costumes by visual artist Yiannis Brouzos.
The Oracles Of Water is performed by 12 performers:
Dimitris Gotsopoulos, Maria Papageorgiou, Apostolia Papadamaki, Mary Giannoula, Maria Penelope Kasidokosta, Christianna Katsimprakis, Konstantina Liontou, Evini Pantelaki, Maria Papakonstantinou, Iliana Paraskevopoulou, Natasha Sarantopoulou, Dafni Stathatou.
Credits
Direction, choreography: Apostolia Papadamaki
Original music: Trifon Koutsourelis
Dramaturgy: Apostolia Papadamaki, Panagiotis Giokas
Original text writing, lyrics: Panagiotis Giokas
Lighting: Valentina Tamiolaki
Sculptures / Props: Ioannis Brouzos
Head of photography, graphic/visual designer: Areion Stefanidis
Camera / Dimitris Sidirokastritis
On Stage:
Researcher/Archaeologist: Dimitris Gotsopoulos
Pythia-The Oracle Woman:Maria Papageorgiou
Mnemosyne: Apostolia Papadamaki
The 9 Muses: Mary Giannoula / Euterpe, Maria Penelope Kasidokosta / Cleo, Christianna Katsimprakis / Calliope, Konstantina Liontou / Erato, Evini Pantelaki / Urania, Maria Papakonstantinou / Terpsichore, Iliana Paraskevopoulou / Polyhymnia, Natasha Sarantopoulou / Melpomene, Dafni Stathatou / Thaleia
Musicians on stage: Violin / Migen Selmani, Cello / Lefki Kolovou, Harp / Sissy Makropoulou, Electronics / Trifon Koutsourelis
Assistant Director: George Palios
Assistant Choreographer: Konstantina Liontou
Scientific collaborators:
Marilena Tsakoumaki, Dr. Archaeologist
Alexandra Silvestrou (Sustainability Consultant - MSc in Sustainable Development)
Eleni Koulizaki (Teaching pronunciation and prosody of the Ancient Greek Language)
Production Management: MENTOR / Panagiotis Gkiokas, Virginia Vassilakou, Yiannis Pappas
Communication & Promotion: MENTOR
Press Office: Nicole Votsi
Production of dancers' dresses: Victoria Giannaki
Volunteer coordination: Dimitra Tsenesidou
Volunteers: Paraskevi Bakis, Alia Kontelli, Claudia Lopez, Luisa Mayhew, Iris Meyer, Electra Oikonomidou, Isidora Papagiannakos, Maritina Papagiannakos, Vasiliki Papali, Mariana dos Reis, Vasiliki SamartziIoanna Sylaidopoulou, Eleftheria Tourkantoni, Eleni Tsoumbou, Christina Zambas.
The performance is implemented within the framework of the 2023 program “All of Greece, One Culture" by the Ministry of Culture.
Εxclusive sponsor: AQUA Carpatica
With the support of the Greek National Tourism Organisation and in collaboration with the Ephorate of Antiquities of Phocis.
We would also like to give special thanks to Vorres Museum, Holy Ginger, Forca Divina Foundation and to every individual who supported the performance.