The Love of the Nightingale
by Timberlake Wertenbaker

The Love of the Nightingale
by Timberlake Wertenbaker

Kallirrois Theatre

8 - 11 June 2026 | 21:15

Kallirrois Theatre and Parousia Acting Craft Present The Love of the Nightingale by Timberlake Wertenbaker

Kallirrois Theatre and Parousia Acting Craft present a new production of The Love of the Nightingale by Timberlake Wertenbaker, directed by Molly Caliger, running June 8, 9, 10, 11 starting at 9:15 p.m. in Athens. The production is in English.

Drawing from the ancient Greek myth of Philomela and Procne, The Love of the Nightingale explores power, violence, desire, silence, and transformation through Wertenbaker's poetic and deeply contemporary text. First staged by the Royal Shakespeare Company, the play remains a haunting meditation on the consequences of human passion and the struggle to reclaim one's voice.

Minimalist sets and staging are paired with original musical accompaniment by young Athenian composer Michail Stavropoulos, creating an atmosphere of ancient yet timeless tension.

The story follows Procne and Philomela, daughters of the Athenian king Pandion, after Athens secures victory in war with the aid of the Thracian king Tereus. In gratitude, Pandion offers his eldest daughter Procne in marriage to Tereus, and the couple depart for Thrace. Years later, longing to reunite with her sister, Procne sends Tereus to Athens to bring Philomela to her home. But during the journey back, Tereus becomes consumed by desire for the younger sister and commits a brutal act of violence that irrevocably alters all their lives.

Director Molly Caliger seeks to move beyond a purely feminist interpretation of the myth, instead drawing attention to the profound complexity of all the characters - and, by extension, of human nature itself. Rather than dividing humanity into simplistic categories of good and evil, the production explores people as multi-dimensional beings: each containing both a spark of the divine and the flaws that lead them astray.

Through its stripped-back aesthetic and emotionally charged performances, this production invites audiences to encounter the ancient myth not as a distant tale, but as a timeless reflection on self-expression, desire, violence, accountability, and grace.

Cast: Marlene Faye, Eva Vasileiadou, Elias Savva, Marcia Zerva, Nikistratos Palantzas, Konstantinos Kladis, Eleni Apalla, Demetra Panagiotou, Elektra Maffeo Makri, Courtney Martin, Elisabeth Sigalas.

Produced by: Kallirrois Theatre
Director: Molly Caliger
Original Music: Michail Stavropoulos;
Lyricist: Molly Caliger
Props/sets: Courtney Martin; Elias Savva
Make-up: Konstantina Ganiatsa
Photography: Panagiotis E. Lastinellis