Syracuse in Sicily is Home of the Greek Tragedy from May 10 through June 24, 2007
The Greek Theater in Syracuse (Sicily), UNESCO World Heritage Site, will stage the classic productions of The Trachinie by Sophocles and Eracles by Euripides from May 10 through June 24, 2007. Thanks to the Instituto Italiano per il Dramma Antico (INDA), this spectacular setting has been turning into a real ancient action every other year for 43 years now. It is like experiencing theater as ancient Greeks did more than 2000 year ago!I studied ancient Greek literature and grammar as a teenager. Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides were a burden to read and I certainly preferred the comic characters of Aristophanes. Even though I was a good student, translating those ancient lines was not a pleasure and I still remember the fear I had of my unfriendly and unsympathetic professor of Greek literature. The school used to take us on a bus trip to Syracuse to see live what we were learning from the books. I remember that it was fun and everybody from my class used to get involved with the performances at some degree. The experience was magic and emotional.
If you are in Sicily during that time of the year, I strongly suggest a stop in Syracuse. Even if the performances are going to be in Italian, it does not really matter: the sheer enjoyment of taking being part of such an old tradition will make the visit worthwhile. Tickets start at € 24 (currency converter).
General information:
Archeological Site of Syracuse (Unesco World Heritage Site)
Address: Via Rizzo/Via Paradiso, Syracuse
Tel.: (0931) 662 06
To buy tickets
INDA di Palazzo Greco
Corso Matteotti 29, Siracusa
Phone: (+39) 0931 - 48 72 48
Fax: (+39) 0931 - 48 72 49
http://www.indafondazione.org/
Online Tickets
Hello Tickets
Viva Ticket
Best Places to Stay While in Syracuse
Hotel des Etrangers et Miramare
Address: Passeggio Adorno, 109
6100 Siracusa
Tel.: (0931) 62 671
Grand Hotel Villa Politi
Address: Villa M. Politi, 2
Syracuse
Tel.: (0931) 41 21 21
Fax: (0931) 360 61
From Wikipedia
The Trachiniae Summary
The Trachiniae or The Women of Trachis (Greek: Τραχίνιαι) is a play by Sophocles, notable mainly for the unsympathetic portrayal of Heracles. As in the play Ajax, Sophocles has cast a well known hero in a negative light.
Heracles Summary
Heraclae is a play by Euripides (c. 416 BCE). While Heracles is in the underworld obtaining Cerberus for one of his labors, his father Amphitryon, wife Megara, and children are sentenced to death in Thebes, Greece by Lycus. Heracles arrives in time to save them, however the goddesses Iris and Madness (personified) cause him to kill his wife and children in a frenzy. It is the second of two surviving plays by Euripides where the family of Heracles are suppliants (the first being Heracleidae). It was first performed at the Great Dionysia festival and did not win any prize.
