My Beloved Family

Written by Penny Fylaktaki

Directed by Anastasia Revi

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A theatre company that enjoyed glory and fame years ago, has now fallen into disgrace. Can theatre magic help them? About this event A comedy performed in Greek with English Subtitles The company members, Jean the director, Adrianne, his former love and always lead actress, Evanthoula with avant-garde drama training, Vladimir, a veteran street theatre artist, Ifigeneia who specializes in physical theatre and Vivi, a young, naïve actress and Jean’s latest love conquest, risk losing their theatre. The Church wants to close them down because of ‘their obscene spectacles in recent years’; the Teachers Board wants them out because they have not staged a children’s performance for over ten years; and the Italian Mafia wants back the money they lent them last month, or else they will burn the theatre down - with them inside. In a desperate attempt to save their theatre and their lives, the company promises to stage three productions: a children’s play for the Teachers Board, a religious drama for the nuns of the local convent and a cabaret musical for Mafia’s 75-year anniversary. In frenzy, the theatre group starts rehearsing on all three productions, but an unbelievable coincidence brings about a huge misunderstanding: on the opening night of the children’s play, the theatre hall is full not only of children, but also of Mafia members and nuns, all of whom believe it’s the opening night of their own performance! What will the actors do? The impossible, of course: before the eyes of their mixed audience, they will improvise and stage a performance that will successfully blend all three plays and satisfy their diverse audience!

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Simpkins Lee Theatre, Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, 22-25 May, 2022.