Rimas Tuminas will present the premiere of "Oedipus the King" in the Greek city of Epidaurus at the Hellenic Festival

MOSCOW. Rehearsals of the play “Oedipus Rex” were started by Rimas Tuminas, artistic director of the Vakhtangov Theater, back in May. The director was preparing two versions of the production at the same time - one was intended to be shown on the usual stage of the theater, and the second version of the production was prepared for the theater to participate in the Hellenic Festival, held in Greece.

The tragedy "King Oedipus" became a joint project of the National Theater of Greece with the theater. Vakhtangov, therefore, both Russian and Greek artists became participants in the play. The director entrusted the role of Tsar Oedipus to Viktor Dobronravov, an actor of the Vakhtangov Theater. In the role of Jocasta - the mother and wife of King Oedipus, the audience will see Lyudmila Maksakova.

As expected, according to the traditions of the Greek tragedy, a choir will be present on the stage, consisting of artists from the Greek National Theater. Rimas Tuminas, in his thoughts, notes that there is constant debate about the role of the choir in the Greek ancient school.

No one is able to determine exactly what it is intended for - some consider the choir to be an accompanying voice, a witness to the events, and according to others, the choir is an adviser or a mourner. The director’s creative luggage already has experience in addressing the tragedy of Sophocles.

Almost twenty years ago, Tuminas directed Oedipus the King in the Vilnius National Drama. He considers his new directorial work more sincere, having more theatricality. The final rehearsals are underway, and on July 29 the first spectators will see the performance. The performance will go on in two languages at the same time - Russian and Greek. The premiere will take place in Epidaurus, where the largest of the Greek ancient amphitheaters has been preserved. In its space can accommodate 14 thousand spectators.

From the beginning of the season, Oedipus the King will appear in the repertoire of the Vakhtangov Theater.

Ludmila Trautmane © Gallerix.ru