STOCKHOLM – The premiere of the play Alkestis, written and directed by Elli Papakonstantinou, a special commission from Dramaten, the Royal Swedish Dramatic Theater in co-production with the Royal Stockholm Opera, took place on December 2 in Stockholm and has impressed the public and critics. The play is a radical reading of the work of Euripides by the Greek director who, in recent years, has made a name for herself in the international theatrical firmament.

The first has been described as the last mainstream event before the implementation of the new restrictive measures due to the pandemic. The stakes were high since, for the first time in the history of the institution, a Greek director was awarded a commission for a modern work. The show also marked the first official collaboration between the Royal Opera and the Royal Swedish Theater.

The play, which is now part of the Theater’s permanent repertoire, was covered by most of the Swedish media. Critics have noted the intense interest of the Swedes in ancient and modern Greek drama. Note that the new artistic director Andersson aims to increase international collaborations and seeks to present Alkestis in Greece.

The Royal Dramatic Theater, known as the Dramaten, is Sweden’s national stage. It was founded in May 1788 by King Gustav III. Today, Dramaten presents plays on six stages in three different buildings and guarantees variety and flexibility – exactly what you would expect from a national theater.

Elli Papakonstantinou is known for the immersive theatrical experiences she creates by involving the community and opening a dialogue with new technologies, politics and the great narratives of our time. In recent years, she has also charted a remarkable artistic journey abroad. His works include Oedipus: Sex with Mum was Blinding which had its world premiere at BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) in New York in September 2019. Its international accolades include the Fulbright Art Prize 2018-9 and the Music Theater NOW Award 2018- 19 (for La Grotte). The world premiere of The Kindly Ones took place at the Mauthausen camp in Austria. Her digital works Traces of Antigone (by Christina Ouzounidis), Aède of the Ocean and Land and Hotel AntiOedipus have been presented in festivals and organizations around the world, including the important IRCAM / Center Georges Pompidou in Paris and the Festival Romaeuropa 2020 in Italy, receiving rave reviews and a nomination for the 2020-2021 Italian Critics’ Award.

The official Alkestis trailer is available online: https://vimeo.com/654048802.