"Promethiade" comes to Essen

From 23 July to 7 August 2010, as part of RUHR.2010 European Capital of Culture renowned contemporary artists from Greece, Turkey and Germany stage their interpretation of Prometheus at the Zollverein World Heritage Site in Essen.

In three productions they investigate the antique myth surrounding the liberator and cultural benefactor Prometheus regarding its contemporary relevance. Initially at the Athens Festival (7 to 15 July 2010), subsequently in Istanbul (18 to 28 July 2010), and finally in Essen (23 July to 7 August 2010). The productions of PROMETHIADE are Theodoros Terzopoulos' staging "Prometheus Bound" with the spectacular stage design by Jannis Kou-nellis, the provocative play "How to Forget in 10 Steps (Anti-Prometheus)" by the Turkish artist Şahika Tekand and the "Prometheus in Athens" project by Rimini Protokoll from Berlin.

Prometheus is part of the worldwide myth and marks the start of a shared European culture: he created mankind and brought them fire. In Greek mythology, Prometheus created the human race from clay, nurtured their reason and knowledge and – against Zeus' will – returned fire. For this act of rebellion he was severely punished. From antiquity to modern times, Prometheus has inspired generations of poets, musicians and artists, lives on in Europe's national cultures and creates common grounds as well as contrasts.

DATES
The three productions of the PROMETHIADE Festival will be staged in Athens, Istanbul and Essen. Dates and venues at Zollverein World Heritage Site are:

 

TEKANDHOW TO FORGET IN 10 STEPS

(ANTI-PROMETHEUS)

in German and Turkish

23, 24 and 25 July 2010 | 7:30 p.m. | Essen | Zollverein Hall 5

Admission: 22 Euro (reduced 11 Euro)

 

RIMINI PROTOKOLL

PROMETHEUS IN ATHENS

in Greek and German

31 July 2010 | 7:30 p.m. | film and presentation | Essen | Zollverein Hall 5

Admission: 20 Euro (reduced 10 Euro)

 

TERZOPOULOS / KOUNELLIS
PROMETHEUS BOUND

in German, Turkish and Greek

5, 6 and 7 August 2010 | 9:30 p.m. | Essen | Zollverein, Track Boulevard

Admission: 26 Euro (reduced 13 Euro)

 

HOW TO FORGET IN 10 STEPS (ANTI-PROMETHEUS)

23 TO 25 JULY 2010 | 7:30 P.M.

The bilingual production makes life a play with meaningless rules that must be obeyed by the protagonists – middle-class people stricken by the fear of loosing their position – so that they maintain their status as "players". For  How to Forget in 10 Steps, Tekand worked with the ensemble Studio Oyuncuları (The Studio Players) she founded in 1990, which has already dealt with other antique material: Where is Oedipus? (2002), Oedipus in Exile (2004), and Eurydice's Cry (2006) by Şahika Tekand.

 

PROMETHEUS IN ATHENS

31 JULY 2010 | 7:30 P.M.

There is hardly a news programme, which does not include the word "tragic"; especially in spring 2010, puns presenting tragedy, Greece and its capital Athens in a close relationship became more frequent. What do Athenians know and think about myths like that of "Prometheus" today? The artists' collective Rimini Protokoll pursued this question together with 100 Athenians. Prometheus in Athens is staged open air in the Greek capital, in the city's centre at the foot of the Acropolis, at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, only a stone's throw from the antique ruins of the Dionysus Theatre, for which the "Prometheus" trilogy was created originally. In Essen, a film will be shown, which documents this experimental design to explore the effects ancient tragedy has on contemporary life. Helgard Haug and Daniel Wetzel from Rimini Protokoll as well as selected actors performing at the premiere in Athens will present this project by Rimini Protokoll with 100 Athenians.

 

PROMETHEUS BOUND

5 TO 7 AUGUST 2010 | 9:30 P.M.

Theodoros Terzopoulos, previously actor and companion of Heiner Müller, today one of the most significant contemporary directors in Europe, staged Aeschylus’ tragedy “Prometheus Bound” with Greek, German and Turkish actors. My means of his unique working method, in which speech, knowledge and power develop from physical action, Terzopoulos penetrates into the spiritual depth of the antique play. A native language actor plays the lead role at each of the three venues; in Essen it will be Götz Argus.The internationally renowned artist Jannis Kounellis develops each stage set in Athens, Istanbul and Essen as a spectacular site-specific installation.

 

PROMETHIADE is a joint project by Stiftung Zollverein, Essen, Istanbul2010, AthensFestival, Athens, and European Capital of Culture RUHR.2010, sponsored by the FederalGovernment Commissioner for Culture and the Media on the basis of a decision by Deutscher Bundestag as well as Freunde Zollverein. The project is realised under the auspiceof the Minister for Intergenerational Affairs, Family, Women and Integration of the State of North-Rhine-Westphalia. Stiftung Zollverein made it their task to preserve the Zollverein World Heritage Site, support culture and promote Zollverein’s development into an international culture and economic location.

 

Media contacts:

Stiftung Zollverein

Stephanie Reuter

Phone: +49 201 83 03 623

E-mail: stephanie.reuter@zollverein.de

 

RUHR.2010 GmbH

Katharina Jarzombek

Phone: +49 201 888 2049

E-mail: katharina.jarzombek@ruhr2010.de