The "Other" Home

En dynamei theatre Ensemble, Onassis Cultural Centre 2016, 51st Dimitria Festival of Thessaloniki

The "Other" Home is the second part of En Dynamei Theatre Ensemble's Trilogy, titled The normal "Other".

What role does imagination play in the real world? How can it shape personal and public space? What is a ‘home’? Is a person with disabilities free to mould the environment in which they live? Is the welfare system equipped to cater for individual needs and desires? And who’s there to answer the anguished question every parent asks: “What will happen to my child when I am gone?”.

Following on from The fan man or how to dress an elephant, this new production from the ever-restless En Dynamei company is directed once again by the charismatic Eleni Efthymiou and explores the concept of space as a reflection of personal identity. Situated in the grey zone between conceptual and documentary theatre, the work of the En Dynamei company, which consists of people with and without disabilities, is rooted in personal stories about disability collected from its members.

Following on from The fan man or how to dress an elephant, this new production from the En Dynamei Theatre Ensemble explores the concept of space as a reflection of personal identity. Situated in the grey zone between conceptual and documentary theatre, the work of the En Dynamei Theatre Ensemble, which consists of people with and without disabilities, is rooted in personal stories about disability collected from its members.

Using this authentic material as its starting point, En Dynamei express without hang-ups, but with sensitivity and unexpected humour, the angst and unconfessed secrets of people who know what it’s like to be labelled ‘the Other’. The ‘Other’ Home is the end results of months of research carried out by means of special workshops set up especially for the purpose and via questionnaires, group improvisations and interviews with people who find themselves in the difficult situation of living, without wanting to, outside the structure and protection of the family (in old people’s homes, asylums, orphanages and other residential institutions). The production brings together society—the ‘big house’ in which we all live—and the ‘other’ home which society provides for vulnerable social groups, as well as the hopes, dreams, fears and expectations of En Dynamei’s members. Different views of a reality which usually remains hidden from sight are brought to light with a view to bridging the gap dividing us from the Other beside us. View more: http://www.sgt.gr/eng/SPG1474/?

Artistic Director of EN Dynamei Theatre Ensemble: Eleni Dimopoulou

Direction and Music: Eleni Efthymiou

Assistant to the Director: Sofia Antoniou

Assistant to the Set Designer: Zoi Tzika

Assistant to the Costume Designer: Sofia Patsinakidou

Sewing: Paraskevi Orfanidou

Projection mapping: Spiros Koudounas

Animation: Tatiana Eikosidyou

Director of Photography (video): Mihalis Giagkounidis,

Iordanis Theodosiadis, Vasilis Christodoulou

Assistant to the Sound Designer: Giorgos Cholopoulos

Artistic collaboration: Aggeliki Mousiou

Musicians at the Recording:

Traianos Albanoudis (double bass),

Dimitrios Polizoidis (cello ),

Periklis Vrahnos (violin),

Sergios Dimopoulos (accordion),

Maria Milaraki (piano),

Minas Tsavdaris-Vallianos (clarinet),

Stelios Tsairidis (trumpet),

Vasilis Voudouris (guitar)

Original composition for "I want by myself",

"Loss" and

"I want to be able to want-Dance" by Odysseas Gkallios

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF EN Artistic Director of "En Dynamei"

Ensemble: Eleni Dimopoulou

Production: Onassis Cultural Centre-Athens

DIRECTORS NOTE

Four walls. And inside, us.

At first we observed our homes. After we visited the houses of our friends, we noticed how they live, what is the rhythm of their life within their personal space. In the end, we visited the "Other" homes, the homes that others have reserved for us, with rules that others imply on us, homes where we will be forced to stay someday. Homes with these familiar rules that still promote a monotonous uniformity.

How people, while fighting to be different from each other, we finally do everything to be like others...

We wanted to change our daily lives. We started by changing our own homes.

We rebuilt our place, we looked it with a new perspective we saw the reflection of ourself on our home. We believed in our charging and we changed.

And we also dreamed of a world around us that can also change..

PERFORMERS

Clio Antonopoulou, Vaso Asikoglou, Maria Dachlithra, Eleftheria Drakoulidou, Margarita Kainada, Anna Kalincheva, Anastasia Kariofilli, Evaggelia Kariofilli, Maria Koltsida, Vagelis Kosmidis, Ilias Kougioumtzis, Giota Kouitzoglou, Nikos Kyparissis, Aggelos Konstantinou, Loxandra Lucas, Dimitris Lyras, Dimitris Mexis, Thanos Nanasis, Michalis Dolopoulos, Dinos Papageorgiou, Vassilis Petrou, Zoi Tzika, Alexandros Hatsios

ARTISTS

Concept: Eleni Dimopoulou

Direction & Music: Eleni Efthymiou

Research & Text Writing: Eleni Efthymiou & “En Dynamei” company

Dramaturgy: Sophia Eftichiadou

Set Design: Richard Anthony

Costumes: Lora Anna Loukas

Lighting Design: Sakis Birbilis

Choreography & Movement Coach: Melpo Vasilikou, Vittoria Kotsalou

Visual Enviroment & Video: Dimitris Zachos

Sound Design & Orchestration: Odysseas Gkallios

Line Production: Kostas Iordanou