Fragments from the lost works of the ancient Athenian playwright Euripides have been brought to life in a new theatrical production titled Fragments: Euripides. Directed by Efthemis Theou, the performance was inspired by the 2022 discovery of a papyrus containing parts of Euripides' lost plays Polyidus and Ino, unearthed during an archaeological excavation in Philadelphia, Egypt, approximately 100 kilometers outside Cairo, according to Kathimerini.
Presented by the Greek National Theatre in collaboration with the cultural organization Diazoma, and supported by the Greek Ministry of Culture and local authorities, the performance merges the realms of theatre and archaeology. In the orchestra pits of the ancient theaters where the production will tour, an improvised excavation site is set up. Five performers, acting as archaeologists equipped with small spades, brushes, sieves, and triangles, engage in a ritualistic excavation under the sun, searching for the papyri of Euripides buried within the soil.
On stage, a paradoxical, existential excavation unfolds, where the findings are not vessels or architectural remains but theatrical lines and words of ancient actors, broken into small pieces. Through this innovative approach, snapshots of ancient performances and details of daily life in the theaters emerge, bridging the gap between past and present.
The performance incorporates over 1,000 lines from Euripides' works, including passages from the recently discovered fragments. Audiences will hear a single scene, a few scattered lines, or even a single word from plays largely unknown to the public. These lines, written on pieces of papyrus buried in the soil of Egypt or sporadically included in other texts, are given new life through this production.
Accompanied by the original music of Cornelius Selamsis, the performance presents a narrative and musical composition at the intersection of theatre and archaeology. The scenic space is designed by Loukas Bakas, with costumes by Pavlos Thanopoulos. Movement direction is by Nicoletta Xenariou, and video by Grigoris Panopoulos.
Director Theou, who has spent 15 years exploring the intersection of theatre and archaeology, is delving into what he describes as "a hybrid genre that tries to bring theater closer to archaeology." The performance is "an intensely musical and narrative negotiation of the material," aiming to provide "a unique, delicate, tender, and poetic connection between the ancient theaters and texts."
The performers—Giorgos Kritharas, Ilektri Nikolouzou, Katerina Papandreou, Giorgos Syrmas, and Theou—embody both archaeologists and actors, blurring the lines between excavation and performance. The assistant director is Vasiliki Sourri, with assistant set designer Vangelis Xenodohidis, and dramaturgy by Eva Saraga. Photographs are by Karol Jarek.
Fragments: Euripides will be hosted in natural light during afternoons in July, August, and September at various ancient theaters, including Milos, Eretria, Thasos, Mytilene, Lemnos, Karthaia (Kea), Trachones (Alimos), Zea (Piraeus), and the small island of Agios Efstratios.
Previous performances by Theou have developed within research programs at archaeological sites, including the Neolithic settlement of Koutroulou Magoula, the Bronze Age building in the Caves of Gavdos, and the prehistoric settlement of Koimisi in Thirasia. His work represents a fusion of performance methods and archaeological material, offering new perspectives and employing archaeological methods to provide new tools—such as excavation and anthropological research—to site-specific theatre.
The preparation of this article relied on a news-analysis system.