Following its successful run in Athens and Kythira, the play «Be careful not to get caught in Paleochora at night: a Kythirian experience» returns again in Kythira, for a new run of performances in August 2026.
August 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, and 27, 2026
Kastrisianika, Square
Based on the podcast series of stories about the myths and legends of Kythira, which It's already available on Spotify And following the production’s run in Athens and Kythira, the play once again offers even more audience members the chance to experience a A Mysterious Journey to the Island and his metaphysical world.
This unique immersive sound performance takes place at the total darkness, where the eyes «remain silent» and the narrative unfolds like a ritual, cloaked in three-dimensional soundscapes representing the eerie passage of ghosts, the enchanted song of the fairies, the gallops and eerie cries in the ravines, the crying of unbaptized babies in the valleys and the deafening noise of the «xenola», the battalion of elves and demons that marches at night, a legend created by the echo left in the collective unconscious by the raid of the pirate Barbarossa.
The director Eliza Soroga was inspired by this unconventional approach to Kythirian legends and beliefs, drawing on the potential of 3D audio recording technology (binaural recording). The recordings are accompanied by original soundscapes captured at the legendary site of Kythira itself (specifically for this project) and compositions by the internationally renowned sound artist and electronic music composer Jeph Vanger.
At the heart of the performance, the sensational performance of the protagonist Sophia Seirli, who passed away suddenly while the project was underway. Her voice will live on, now inextricably linked to the island’s intangible cultural heritage.
The project «Beware lest thou be darkened in Paleochora» is a sonic journey into the world of the legends of Tsirigos, bringing the past into the future, while keeping the elements of its cultural identity unchanged. A new way of telling stories, listening to places and remembering those who have passed and left their imprint.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
KASTRISIANIKA, SQUARE – KYTHIRA
August 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, and 27, 2026
Performances: 8:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m., and 10:00 p.m.
Tickets: 13 euros.
Reservations:
https://www.more.com/gr-el/tickets/theater/prosekse-min-nyxtotheis-eis-tin-palaioxora-mia-kythiraiki-empeiria
Reservations by phone: +30 693 321 7661
Limited number of tickets (30 per performance).
INFORMATION
The performance is audio-only—it does not contain images—and will take place at total darkness focusing on the auditory nature of the work without the distractions of the visual environment. At the entrance, you will be given closed-back earbuds and sleep masks. The project contains three-dimensional soundscapes i.e., sounds derived from three-dimensional recordings that reproduce the conditions of human three-dimensional hearing.
The performance is suitable for ages 16 and older.
The action is implemented by providing the patronage and financial support of the Ministry of Culture – Directorate of Modern Cultural and Intangible Cultural Heritage.
In cooperation with the Kythira Foundation for Culture & Development (KIPA)
With the support of the Kythira Association of Athens.
IDENTITY OF ACTION
ARTISTIC TEAM
Eliza Soroga: Concept / Screenplay / Direction
Jeph Vanger: Sound Design / Music
LEADING ROLES
Sofia Seirli, Elessa Karabela, Konstantinos Kontoleon
RESEARCH TEAM
Despoina Damianou, Assistant Professor at Democritus University of Thrace.
Eleni Harou-Koronaiou, Philologist, former Principal of the Kythira High School, former Curator of the Venetian Archives, Historian – Researcher – Former Head of the Kythira Local Archives.
The script was created based on the original narratives of: Eleni Charou, Konstantinos Kontoleon, Penelope Vlanti, Manolis Dapontes, Kosmas Megalokonomou, Giorgos Kominos, Manolis Kasimatis, and Panagiotis Protopsaltis.
PROJECT ADVISOR / CONTACT: Stamatina Stratigou
GRAPHIC DESIGN: Maria Siormba
SOUND RECORDING: Panagiotis Kyriakopoulos, Dimitris Koukouvannis
DESIGN / MANUFACTURE OF SLEEP MASKS (ARGALEIOS): Alexandra Bissa
PRODUCTION: Unclassified Actions AMKE
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT: Stavroula Dioudi
DIGITAL MARKETING: Vicky Katsavoulia
ARTISTIC TEAM
The performing arts artist and director Eliza Soroga is a graduate of the Cultural Studies (University of Athens) and Performance Making (Goldsmiths University of London) master's programs. Her work deals with representations of the «unfamiliar» and the transformation of everyday life into performing arts.
She won first prize for contemporary art at the 11th Arte Laguna Prize International Competition in Venice in the Performance & Video Art category (March 2017) with her work ‘Women in Agony’. For her entire body of work, she was awarded by ARTWORKS in the 3rd Artist Support Program of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (2020–2021).
In 2018, she presented the performance «Roots» at the Athens and Epidaurus Festival. Her works and performances have been supported by ERT, the Ministry of Culture and Sports, the Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design, ZAO EXPO’22, Zao Miyagi in Japan, Arts Council England, the Municipality of Athens, and others.
She has presented her work at the V&A Museum (London), Royal Scottish Academy of Art and Architecture (Edinburgh), 3331 Arts Chiyoda (Tokyo), Battersea Arts Centre (London), National Museum of Contemporary Art (EMST), EYE Film Institute (Netherlands), Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival (France), and many others.
Her video art and documentaries have received awards at international festivals. She is a visiting professor at universities in London, Porto, and Ankara, and has published numerous essays.
Ο Jeph Vanger (Jeff Vanger) (born in 1989 in Athens) is a sound artist and electronic music composer, whose work straddles the line between the performing arts and sound installations.
Jeph's work has been supported by ARTWORKS (Stavros Niarchos Foundation), Arts Council England, and Help Musicians UK. He was also Composer in Residence at EMS Elektronmusikstudion in Stockholm in May 2021. He studied Sound Arts at the University of Brighton from 2015 to 2018.
As a composer, he has collaborated with choreographers, dance groups, theater directors, and musicians such as Chara Kotsali, Kandy Karra, Christos Papadopoulos, Netherlands DansTheater, Mario Banousi, Savina Yannatou, Martha Passakopoulou & Aris Papadopoulos, Giorgos Koutlis, Aris Biniaris, Anastasia Valsamaki, and others. Some of his own works and collaborations have been presented at institutions, theaters, and organizations in China, the United Kingdom, France, and Greece, such as Tate Modern, Beijing Today Art Museum, Greek National Opera, Sadler’s Wells, Athens Concert Hall, Onassis Cultural Center, Athens and Epidaurus Festival, etc.
