A Universal Troup Athens Dramatic Company: Tours and Performance (1887-1935)

Authors: O. Papazafeiropoulou

Abstract:

The “Athens Dramatic Company” was one of the longest-running and most widely traveled troupes in the history of modern Greek theatre. The theatre company had been established since 1887 and the following: Euthychios Vonaseras, Eleni Kotopoulis, etc., like the founder of the troupe Theodoros Pofantis, referred to the distribution of the works presented in Patras: The Price of a Crime, The Niece of her Uncle, Agathopoulos, Amphitryon, The Two Sergeants, Lawyer and Actors, The Crusaders, The Daughter of Pantopolos, He Will Kill Himself, Macbeth, The Two Orphans, The Auction, Pistis Hope and Mercy, Love Attempt, The Crusaders, The lady is in Loutra, Markos Votsaris. In 1921 after peregrinations in Cyprus, Constantinople, Romania, Crete, Thessaloniki, Volos, Smyrna, the “Athens Dramatic Company” toured in Africa, where the Greek communities flourished. In 1923, the collaborations of troupe’s members and the repertoire varied several times, such as in Johannesburg, from where they traveled via Cape Town to Australia, where they presented the works: Dikaioma o Eros, Enochos, Psychokori, Kolokotronis. Atimoi, Voskopoula, Golfo, etc., while they impressed with the tragedy Oedipus Tyrannus, which was watched by Australians. Alongside the “Athens Dramatic Company” was also touring with “Vrysoula Pantopoulou Troupe” and most of the members of the two troupes went to America, uniting their formation. In 1927 the old leader of “Athens Dramatic Company” (Theodoros Pofantis) decided to re-establish his troupe, but after unpleasant adventures, he passed away. In the year 1934, the Greek Dramatic Troupe of Athens revived with works including: The Man of the Day, A Dying Heart, A Dream Was and Gone, An Inspection, The Two Sergeants, The Mother, the Father-in-Law and the Non-existent Son-in-law, before finally expiring in 1935, after nearly 40 years of historical passage. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate how, through adverse global conditions, two early professional theater troupes managed to not only survive wandering around the world, but also evolve and shape their theatrical art by adapting to the demands of their audience. At the same time, through the presentation of their repertoire and their movements, the interest of Greek expatriates in Africa, Australia and America for the Greek theater is also indicated.

Keywords: Athens, dramatic plays, Theatre company, universal tour, troupe.

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