Shadow Theatre in Greece

Duration
December 2015 – June 2016
Timetable
Tuesday-Thursday 10.00 am – 2.00 pm, Friday 10.00 am – 6.00 pm, Saturday - Sunday 10.00 am – 2.00 pm
In collaboration with the Centre of Byzantine, Modern Greek and Cypriot Studies in Granada and the University of Granada.

 

From December 2015 until June 2016, the National Historical Museum (Old Parliament Building, Stadiou 13) presents the exhibition " Shadow Theatre in Greece", in collaboration with the Centre of Byzantine, Modern Greek and Cypriot Studies of the University of Granada.

The exhibition on the part of the Centre is held within the framework of the program Archive/Database of Greek Shadow Play www.centrodeestudiosbnch.com/gr/teatro) which is implemented with the generous support of the "Stavros Niarchos" Foundation and the "World in Harmony” Foundation.

Visitors will have the opportunity through a large number of exhibits, almost 1000, coming from private collections and institutions, to form a complete picture of the Greek Shadow Theatre.In the exhibition, we can see: 1) The historic journey from the Far East to modern Greece, 2) Its characteristics: a) Techniques, the play’s structure, figures,b) Dramaturgy: traditional works (comedies), historical drama (ancient drama , Byzantium, national struggles), social drama, paramythodrama (fairy tale drama) and3) the effects on the cultural life of modern Greece: theater, cinema, visual arts, caricature, miniature, pottery, stamps, lottery tickets, matchboxes and other ephemeral objects.

Among the exhibits a special place is held by 200 figures and sceneries of Greek Shadow Theatre that mainly show scenes from popular works.Also, items crafted by recognized artists, including Panagiotis Michopoulos (1915-1985), Sotiris Spatharis (1892-1973), Evgenios Spatharis (1924-2009), Antonis Mollas (1875-1948), Dimitris Mollas (1917-1987), Georgios Charidimos (1924-1996), Abraham Antonakos (1921-1998), Spyros Karabalis (1924-1992), Spyros Kouzaros, Konstantinos Koutsoumplis, Thanasis Dedousaros, Giannis Hatzis and Michalis Chatzakis.

The galleries of Hadjikyriakos-Ghika and Yiannis Tsarouchis of the Benaki Museum and the archives of the Pan-Hellenic Association of Shadow Players, the Association of Friends of Giannis Skarimbas and the Folk Art Museum, have also provided exhibits relevant to the topic of the exhibition from the field of Literature and the Arts, from artists such as: Giannis Skarimpas, Yiannis Tsarouchis, Giorgos Sikeliotis, Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghika,Alekos Fassianos, Minos Argirakis, Giannis Migadis, Bost, Andreas Taxiarchopoulos, Mpampis Angelou, Anna Benaki, C. Tsouris, A. Leventis, K. Kougioumtzis.

Particularly attractive for children are the translucent berde canvas screens animated with scenes from popular plays of shadow theatre, starring Karagiozis, the usual protagonist.

Contributors: The exhibition was organized by the Historical and Ethnological Society of Greece-National Historical Museum and the Centre of Byzantine, Modern Greek and Cypriot Studies of the University of Granada, under the direction of the Professor of the Centre, Moschos Morfakidis, and the coordination of Dr. Panagiota Papadopoulou.

The exhibition was curated by Michalis Chatzakis, Panagiotis Mazarakis (leaders of the project), Giorgos Chatzakis (artistic director), and Sofia Michopoulou. From the National Historical Museum: Iphigenia Vogiatzi (coordination), Konstantinos Tsourmas (construction supervision), Markos Koutsoulaftis (lighting), Nikos Hatzis and Kostas Gousios (technical support).

The exhibits belong to the collections of: Michalis Chatzakis, Panagiotis Mazarakis, Sophia Michopoulou, Michalis Ieronymides, Dimitris Phanaras, Eleni Alexaki, Thanasis Spyropoulos, the Spatharis family, Yiannis Hatzis, Iris Kritikou and Aikaterini Mystakidou and Institutions.

Video

Media

OPENING HOURS NHM (Athens)
September - June
Tuesday - Friday: 09.00-16.00
Saturday - Sunday: 10.00-16.00
July - August
Tuesday - Sunday: 10.00-16.00
Admission until: 15.30
TICKET PRICES
Permanent exhibition: general admission 10 €, reduced 5 €
Temporary exhibitions: general admission 10 €, reduced 5 €
Combined admission: general 15 €, reduced 8 €
Free admission: 2nd Sunday of the month (November-February), March 25, May 18, October 28
MUSEUM SHOP
Opening hours Tuesday- Sunday 09:00-16:00