Rimas Tuminas aims staging “Oedipus the King” at the ancient amphitheatre Epidaurus in Greece. This is a cooperative project between the Vakhtangov Theatre and the National Theatre of Greece, one of the events of the cross-cultural year between Russia and Greece, 2016.

The initiator of the project is Stathis Livathinos, the artistic director of the National Theatre of Greece. He is leading the prestigious annual Athens Epidaurus Festival. A synthesis of the classic tragedy and of the Russian tradition of psychological performance is a fascinating opportunity for the Vakhtangov Theatre.

The show suggests a bilingual form: the Vakhtangov Theatre actors perform the leading parts and Greek actors perform the ancient Chorus.

April, 13 was held the first rehearsal of “Oedipus the King” at the Vakhtangov Theatre. The creative team of the performance includes set designer Adomas Jacovskis, composer Faustas Latenas, choreographer Angelica Cholina, costume designer Maxim Obrezkov.

The actors, participating in discussions and rehearsals: Liudmila Maksakova, Aleksei Guskov, Evgeny Knyazev, Lidia Velezhova, Viktor Dobronravov, Evgeny Kosyrev, Eldar Tramov, Vitalys Semenovs, Maksim Sevrinovsky and others.

Rehearsals are scheduled till the end of May in Moscow. Then there will be a period of rehearsals in Athens. And finally the first night of “Oedipus the King” is expected in the end of July during the Athens Epidaurus Festival.

“Oedipus the King” is to be shown in Athens. A European tour is possible. The results shall influence its part in the repertoire of the Vakhtangov Theatre.