The life of Galileo

by Bertolt Brecht

REX THEATRE- KOTOPOULI STAGE

The doctrinal beliefs of the theocratic 16th century are threatened by a new scientific discovery. The great Italian astronomer, mathematician and physicist, Galileo, confirms the theory of Copernicus, proving that the Earth revolves around the Sun and is not the centre of the universe. This radical departure from accepted theory leads Galileo to be brought before the Inquisition. The founder of modern science renounces his theory, and continues his prolific intellectual activity under house arrest for the rest of his life.

At a time marked by a world war and the atomic bomb, the great German dramatist uses the story of Galileo to comment on the enduring responsibility of scientists who capitulate to dangerous and mindless authority, willingly or unwillingly handing over their knowledge, with catastrophic consequences.

Suhrkamp editions copyright:
Bertolt Brecht, Leben des Galilei, in: ders., Werke. Große kommentierte Berliner und Frankfurter Ausgabe, Band 5: Stücke 5.
© Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag 1988.

First performance: 05/12/2015
Last performance: 31/01/2016

• Music composed by Hanns Eisler
• Translated and adapted by Koralia Sotiriadou
• Directed by Vangelis Theodoropoulos
• Set designed by Elli Papageorgakopoulou
• Costumes designed by Claire Bracewell
• Music arranged by Nikos Kyporgos
• Lyrics translated by Pandelis Boukalas
• Movement Angeliki Stellatou
• Video Pantelis Makkas
• Lighting Sakis Birbilis
• Music coach Melina Peonidou
• Assistant director Assistant director
• Assistant set designers Myrto Lamprou, Sofia Vaso
• Assistant costume designer Maria Mylona

Cast:

• Galileo Christos Stergioglou
• Andrea Stavros Svigos
• Mrs Sarti Mary Saousopoulou
• Ludovico, First Astronomer Dimitris Passas
• Curator, Fat Prelate, Vanni, Guard Dimitris Degaitis
• Sagredo, Second Scholar, Clavius, Gaffone Giorgos Makris
• First Advisor, Mathematician, Very Thin Monk,An Individual, Coachman Stratos Christou
• Second Advisor, Philosopher, Monk, Singer, High Official, Peasant Dimitris Antoniou
• Third Advisor, Cardinal Inquisitor Giorgos Biniaris
• Virginia Amalia Arseni
• Doge, Chamberlain, Very Old Cardinal Kostas Galanakis
• Cosimo de Medici, Second Monk, Second Secretary, Boy Vasilis Magouliotis
• Court Lady, Second Woman, Singer Elita Kounadi
• Court Lady, First Woman, Girl Vasia Christou
• Federzoni, Monk, First Secretary Thodoris Skyftoulis
• Scholar, Cardinal Bellarmin, Secretary Giannis Klinis
• Second Astronomer, Cardinal Barberini, Pope Konstantinos Giannakopoulos
• Young monk Pantelis Dentakis

Photos by: Bertolt Brecht © Gerda Goedhart/Suhrkamp Verlag.