AEF2023: The Wasps

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.

Unconventional director Lena Kitsopoulou makes her debut at the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus this season, and does so with a very fitting play. She takes on The Wasps by Aristophanes, a poignant comedy that addresses the political landscape of the Golden Age of Athens (5th century BCE), and the obsession of Athenians in resolving their conflicts in court. No matter how explicitly clear the Father of Comedy made it look back then, conveying his sarcastic commentary in today’s reality is no easy task, even for the witty pen of Kitsopoulou.