Contractions (2016)

Contractions Mike Bartlett, directed by Pemi Zouni Emma

I fell in love with the theatrical play Contractions from the first time I read it, in 2010, the year that I had just graduated from drama school. From that moment on, I promised to myself that I would do this project at any cost. The fulfillment of that promise came in 2015 when I decided to take over the entire production and also play one of the two main roles, Emma.

The experience I gained was thrilling. I learned so much: production, finances, organization, human resources, management, marketing etc and I also improved my acting because in a 2 person project the weight that falls on each is tough to handle and the level of performance and public attention is certainly large.

The show won the appraisal of both audience and critics. We had interviews, reviews were written, we went on the radio and on TV shows. When you love something and you focus on it with such dedication I believe that you are sure to succeed in the end. Thanks to: all who watched our performance, everyone who worked with us in any field, the whole creative team and of course, my teacher and friend, Pemi Zouni.

In October 2015, the UK’s Mike Bartlett’s “Contractions” play is presented on the central stage of Alkmini Theater. Starring Angeliki Pardalidou, who is also the producer, and Anastasia Harididou. At their side Pemi Zouni, who directed and taught the roles, proving her support to these young talented artists.

The award-winning author writes “Contractions” in 2008 wondering “What kind of society have we got?“. He describes the process of the utter crushing of human affairs. Angeliki Pardalidou plays Emma, the dynamic employee of a multinational corporation, and Anastasia Haritidou, the unnamed, impersonal manager.

Who the writer is

The award-winning Mike Bartlett (1980-) has been honored three times with the Lawrence Olivier Award, has won the Old Vic New Voices Award and the Writer’s Guild Tinniswood and Imison, and has been nominated for his entire work for Bafta. His works are constantly featured at the National and Royal Theater of England, as well as being translated and presented around the world. “Contractions” premiered at the Royal Court Theater in London in 2008

Summary

In the near future, in the office of a multinational company, there works the manager and her new, freelance employee Emma. The environment is quiet and friendly. “Security” and “justice” are a demand and the rules of communication dictate courtesy and precision that sometimes end up being humorous…

Through fourteen images and a few months’ time, concepts such as “Human Rights”, “Freedom” and “Choice” will become a nightmare for both women. In a very near future (or is it already present?) these concepts will become relentless leading to disaster.

DIRECTION: Pemi Zouni

ACTORS: Angeliki Pardalidou (Emma), Anastasia Haritidou (Manager)

TRANSLATION: Christos Nikolopoulos.

SCENES – COSTUMES: Ioanna Timotheadou.

MUSIC: Konstantinos Pagiatis

LIGHTING DESIGN: Vasilis Klotsotiras.

PHOTOS: Nikoletta Giannouli

TRAILER DIRECTOR: Antonis Sotiropoulos

POSTER DESIGN: Alexandros Venieris

MARKETING: Angeliki Pardalidou, Semina Digeni,Angie Nomikou

HAIRDRESSES: Konstantinos Savvakis

MAKEUP ARTIST: Penny Lykoudi

DIRECTOR ASSISTANT: Sissi Ignatidou

PRODUCTION: Angeliki Pardalidou, Mangola Productions

Alkmini Theater info@theatro.gr

Official Facebook PAGE

“Something new! The program of the performance was not printed, it was given in a memory stick”