Athens Epidaurus Festival 2024

The Athens-Epidaurus Festival, the country’s leading cultural organization and one of the oldest festivals in Europe, is an integral part of Greek summer. With 93 productions stretching over 85 days, and with the participation of around 2,500 performers, this year’s Festival brings together acclaimed Greek and international artists in a plethora of concerts, dance shows, screenings, talks, parties and much more.

Thematically, this year’s events revolve around the challenges faced by modern societies, the need for democracy, justice and inclusion, as well as the necessity for civic participation. Of course, ancient Greek drama could not fail to be a major part of the program in the Ancient Theater of Epidaurus. Works that stand out are Timofey Kulyabin’s masterful rendition of Euripides’ Iphigenia in Aulis, Simon Stone’s Medea, Theodoros Terzopoulos’ adaptation of the Oresteia in a single play, as well as Tiago Rodrigues’ (Comédie Française) No Hecuba, which interweaves the tragedy of the Trojan Queen Hecuba with that of a modern-day actress and mother in a demand for justice. Other notable performances include Aristophanes’ The Birds and Aeschylus’ The Suppliant Maidens, which boasts an impressive chorus of 50 young women and songs by Marina Satti.

In the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, this year’s events open with Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca, which is followed by classical music concerts, dreamy compositions by Anohni and a unique event dedicated to the 30 years since the publication of Loreena McKennitt’s emblematic The Mask and Mirror. Fans of contemporary dance should not miss Exit Above, which has been highly praised by critics throughout Europe, while rock music enthusiasts will have a unique chance to enjoy a live concert by none other than Sting.

Last but not least, the multifaceted program comprises events ranging from African dance shows (choreographed by Serge Aimé Coulibaly) to a hip-hop Urban Dance Contest.

For more information on the dates and detailed program, you can visit the festival’s official website.