We watched the theatrical performance "Sisyphus – flesh and earth" [performance with Fanis Katehos, directed by Donald Kitt] as part of the 13th Handmade & Recycled Theater Festival – Osmosis, at the Rectifier Theater in Gazi. Review/Article by Dimitris Fileles, FractalArt.gr

The premise:

Who is Sisyphus? Is he the one who dares to disobey divine laws and resist natural law by disrupting order? Is he the one who wickedly demands a share of cosmic power by any means? Is he the one who is punished exemplary because of Hubris, so that no mortal will repeat his cunning venture? Or is he the man who refuses to accept that his fate is predetermined and accepts no limits in the effort to overturn it? Is he the rebellious man who seeks to break the bonds of humiliating everyday life, despising the inexorable coming of death? Is he the symbolic man who puts aside metaphysical anxieties and seeks freedom by all means in every moment of his life?

Donald Kitt's Sisyphus is, first of all, real, flesh and blood.

Donald Kitt's Sisyphus is, first of all, real, flesh and blood. He is an entity that lives in realistic time and space, endures adversity with strength, is strengthened by every negative load, by every "rock" that he is forced to move, difficulties harden his will, and every physical and mental pain gives him the impetus to reach the top, that is, to the realization of his freedom.

Donald Kitt's Sisyphus is the modern man who lives seemingly free (even unpunished), while in reality he is imprisoned, walled in by social conventions, which not only deprive him of freedom of expression, but threaten at every moment to crush him between the gears of stereotypes, to plunge him into the despair of the futility of every effort, to make him a lifelong slave to a distorted image of reality, to convince him that there is no other way but submission. The modern Sisyphus struggles to overthrow social myths, to find a way out into the light, to live as a human being, fighting the battle for freedom to the end. And even if natural time deprives him of achieving his goal, he will know that at least he did not give up, did not retreat, did not bow his head. Because his gaze is permanently fixed on the top!

The performance as a whole:

Donald Kitt and Fanis Katechos share a common vision and clearly collaborate flawlessly down to the last detail, offering the audience an unprecedented sense of identification with the suffering hero. They limit speech to a minimum and through every movement they convey the emotion to the audience with strong vibrations. The exciting live sound of Tasos Photiou harmoniously complements both the physical shiver and the volatile emotional world of Sisyphus. Katerina Diakomopoulou and Iris Tsagri are the invisible figures of the team effort and we must give credit to each in her field; quiet but extremely creative.

Fanis Katehos is interpretively captivating ....

The performance:

Fanis Katehos is interpretively captivating. He embodies the modern hero with disarming persuasiveness, "exhausting" the acting limits. He is fully in harmony physically and mentally with the surrounding space and at the same time exemplary cut off from everything around him. His inner world is transformed into a source of my pulse overflowing from every part of his body. He emits waves that vibrate the hall so much that the audience becomes emotionally attached to him. He fills the stage with his torrential presence, captivates the gaze and gives food for thought during, but especially after the end of the performance. In conclusion, we enjoyed an original artistic venture that was crowned with absolute success.

Translated from Greek by Google translate.

Credits:
Director: Donald Kitt
Concept, interpretation: Fanis Katehos
Music composition, Saxophone, Live electronics: Tasos Fotiou
Dramaturgy consultant: Katerina Diakomopoulou
Costumes and assistant director: Iris Tsagri
Photography: Yannis Poulimenos
Poster design: Leda Manolaki
Make-up artist: Emmanuela Katehou
Contact: Giota Dimitriadi
Production: Fabrica Athens-Polyhydrastic Art Group

Information: Friday, 26 September 2025 at 9:00 PM, Rectifié Theater, 119 Konstantinoupoleos St., Gazi

Link to Source: www.fractalart.gr

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