Galery

1

None of these things have happened. So far, politicians have "caressed" the ears of citizens, they have not punished anyone. They have helped the citizens to obtain financing based on false data. For example, they had one field and took grants for fifty, distributed them among themselves, whether in an actual or fictitious way. Because when I give grants for fifty fields and you have one acre, the next day you will give me your vote. In this case, we exchange things, but many times, the exchange was in terms of money. All these years, we were mixed up with this. That is why Theodoros Pangalos employed the great phrase "We ate the money together." It was useful because after the anger and nerves, we sat down and analyzed it. I think we should thank him for saying this.

So, I think it will be difficult to deal with the social crisis. The Greek must be trained. What I will say is tragic because people are suffering and I am suffering with them, because I am part of the people, rather than of the establishment. If people have financial difficulties, they will not come to the theatre. Then, I will not be able to show my art, I will not be able to send my message and my own vision for a better world. But under these conditions and because I have to be a bit more profound as an artist, I think the more this crisis continues, the more things will come to light and people will realize them. This is preciesly what will help the people.

What do you expect from the elections?

I expect a multiparty government with strong participation of more progressive powers. A government that will not agree with everything and its members at least will confront each other. Because when everyone agrees with everything, this means the feast is in full swing. This is the lesson history teaches us.

Of course, everyone wants an independent government, because it is very convenient. We, however, because we have spent our last coin and our pants are torn in the seat, we expect someone out there to think about us. We cannot entrust our last hope to anyone except the small parties, because both major parties have shown so far that they do not think about us. I am not politically engaged, I have never been a member of any party, although I have been invited to run. It is just to be able to speak as I do now.

To which theatrical play do you compare the current situation in Greece?

To a work, which I would like a playwright to write and entitle "The Greek mess." It is like the idiomatic expression "the guardrail of a "b...." (a slang expression meaning a crowd or a noisy dispute, a wrangle necessarily in the sense of discomfort – author’s note).

Do you know why I call my country a "b..ch" which is pretty cynical? It is because already in antiquity, there was a light as a sign of the existence of a house. This house was very tolerant. People went there, did what they did and left.

How would you comment on the attacks on artists? Last year, the actor Stelios Mainas was attacked and theatre director Stathis Livatninos was attacked ten days ago.

Two strangers attacked Stelios Mainas in order to rob him. Stathis Livatinos was attacked by discontented citizens, angry at the fourth power, i.e. the media. Because in some cases, people think they are unprotected and betrayed by them.

Could such an action be justified?

No, it could not. Violence leads to violence. There is no reason to get there. There are many ways that are more effective. Throwing yoghurt, as a general expression of these actions and fighting are absolutely unacceptable. Yes, people are discontented and sometimes completely out of control. But let me say something: Often those at whom yoghurt is thrown are those who are at the bottom of the list. We must produce tons of yoghurt for many others, who are much more higher up on the list and who are to blame for this situation. This in case we choose this method of response, without it meaning that it is my choice. I say this to somehow bring people, who resort to these methods, to their reason.

The play "Next door prisoner" is on for three weeks in Thessaloniki and then, it will go on a little tour around Greece. It is a work I want all Greeks to see, as it affects all these issues in an elegant way, with much humour and suggestions on how to deal with anger. I.e. how to deal with throwing yoghurt. And we can deal with it with optimism and hope. At one point, the character says, "If you do not take your own life into your own hands, someone else will take it and predestine it." Let us put an end to whining and misery. Let us understand what is happening and make a new beginning, but not on the base of bad habits of the past. Let us start with new habits, new awareness and new strength and optimism, because the crisis, whether economic or social, is primarily psychological. What we must make more powerful is our spirituality. This is what theatre always does. It deals with the human soul. We people of theatre believe that if filled with love, health and optimism, man can handle the greatest possible disaster. This is the message of our play, with lots of laughter and I would say excitement. Since many viewers leave the theatre with tears in their eyes.