AEF2023: Oedipus at Colonus

It’s that time of the year again, when Athenians start planning their summer holidays around the programme of the Athens Epidaurus Festival. The leading performing arts festival in Greece, and one of the oldest in Europe, returns between June 1st and August 26th for its 68th edition with a rich programme of events. As always, the main venues are the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the industrial complex of Pireos 260 and the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus. Click here for our festival picks or head over to the official website for the full programme.

Oedipus at Colonus, the last surviving play by Sophocles, follows the mythical King of Thebes during the last stages of his life. Exiled from Thebes, Oedipus arrives in Colonus as a blind beggar and gains the protection of Theseus, King of Athens. Upon his arrival, he has to face an old prophecy by god Apollo that spells both his demise and vindication. Concepts such as justice and injustice, as well as one’s acceptance and refusal of their fate, are underlined in this play of the great ancient Greek tragedian, and are poetically unfolded on stage by director Giorgos Skevas.