Rock + Thread + Heart =

Alternative Stage Founding Donor

Major Sponsor of the Greek National Opera

The Greek National Opera launches a collaboration with the Municipal and Regional Theatre of Kavala, aiming to strengthen its network of partnerships with organizations across Greece and support new artistic creations. As part of this partnership and a new, joint initiative, the four new productions from this year’s 68th Philippi Festival will travel to Athens, hosted by the GNO, from 12 to 16 September 2025. These productions were all commissioned from emerging artists by the Festival, which is organized by the Municipal and Regional Theatre of Kavala.

Three of these performances – (Tree)², The Infallibility of One (1) DaisY, Rock + Thread + Heart = – will be held at the Stavros Niarchos Hall Backstage at the SNFCC on the 12^th, 13^th, and 14^th of September, bringing the audience in direct contact with site-specific works. The fourth production – (All)^ν those things we leave behind < for a tomorrow that will never come… – will take place at sea on the 15^th and 16^th of September, along the Piraeus – Egina route, transforming the ship into a stage and turning the journey into a memorable experience.

Inspired by the life and work of Chronis Missios – a literary figure and member of the Greek Resistance from Kavala to whom this year’s Festival is dedicated – and guided by the paradoxical equation of generosity 8-3=11, the performances will engage in open dialogue with the institution’s theme, connecting speech, music, and performance to the surrounding space and the audience.

Rock + Thread + Heart =
A scenic, dreamlike fantasy conversing with the mythical and natural landscape of Mount Pangaion, blending elements of modern dance, theatre, and performance.

This performance draws on the collective imaginary surrounding Mount Pangaion, which comprises the Dionysian tradition, landscape transformations, and local customs such as “Arapides” and “Babo.” The elements create the atmospheric setting in which the scenic language unfolds – a language inspired by their essence, yet free to recount both old and new stories.

Using movement, gestures, speech, and images as tools, two performers and a female chorus create a new stage mythology, where human and non-human elements co-exist. Soundscapes, based on onsite recordings from Mount Pangaion and traditional local rhythms, surround and interweave the action. Inspired by Rosy Braindotti’s thinking, this work moves away from human-centrism and envisions a world where human and non-human beings equally coexist. At the same time, it thematically connects to Chronis Mission’s universe, drawing on his ideas about the power of collective memory and the need to reconnect with the natural environment.

*Heartfelt thanks are extended to Irida Nikolaou for her valuable help with the dramaturgy, to Konstantinos Chaldeos for his important contribution to the creation of the set, and to the musicians Sokratis Votskos, Alex Louloudis, Giorgos Sechlidis, and Dimitris Apostolidis for their participation in the recording of the performance’s music.

Brief biographical notes

Michalis Angelidis
Artist based in Berlin, originally from Greece, working across performance, direction, dramaturgy, and writing in the field of performing arts. Rooted in visual arts, theatre and dance, his interdisciplinary approach blends visual, physical, and textual elements, along with storytelling and theoretical exploration to produce his works. His studies in Visual Arts formed a strong visual sensibility in his performances. While at his MA Solo / Dance / Authorship (So.D.A.) studies at HZT/UdK Berlin, his focus centred on the relationship between language and movement, embodiment, and the crafting of atmospheres. During this period, he became more engaged with critical theory and developed a keen interest in dramaturgy.

Nikos Sotirelis
Architect, curator and sound artist. His work explores sound as a spatial and emotional medium, connecting science, technology and artistic experimentation. He focuses on acoustic ecology, sonic activism and film music, using sound as a psychogeographic tool to deepen understanding of memory and place. He is a member of CENSE (Central-European Network for Sonic Ecologies) and has collaborated with organisations such as the Institute of Fisheries Research (INALE), TBA21 Academy and Ocean-Archive.org, creating works based on underwater hydrophone recordings. He has also worked with the Third Programme (ERT), artistic institutions and theatre groups, developing multimedia works and interdisciplinary installations. He is the founder of nekubi art space, the independent label Nekubi Tapes, and co-founder of Biom Editions. His works have been released in Italy, Japan, the USA, and Germany.

Aphrodite Psychouli
She is studying at the Athens School of Fine Arts, where she practices with soft sculptures and textiles. At the same time, she works as a set and costume designer. She began her practice in special constructions and props at Lapis Lazuli by Euripides Laskaridis (Onassis Stegi). She has worked as assistant set and costume designer in Connection Error (Athens Epidaurus Festival), After the Party (Youth Stage of the National Theatre of Greece, directed by Yolanda Markopoulou), and Pandora by Wichi (Experimental Stage of the National Theatre of Greece). She has also worked as set and costume designer and special construction fabricator in ΜΝΗΜΟCΥΝΟ by the Stomachi group (Theatro Kallirois), in the short film Amaranti by Anthi Daoutaki and in Carnage by Makis Semertzidis (Plyfa).

Dimitris Galanakis
Born in Kavala in 1996. He studied Theatre and Acting at the School of Drama at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He has collaborated with several local companies in Thessaloniki (Rest in Beat, Monks Theatre Group, Bloom Theatre Group) as well as with the National Theatre of Northern Greece, Municipal and Regional Theatre of Kavala and Neos Kosmos Theatre. He has also participated in the 31st Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theatre and Venice Open Stage. At the same time, he is involved with contemporary dance and performance art. He appeared at the Ertflix series Aparaitito Fos.