Modern Greek Drama and Theatre in the Crisis Period: Mnemonic Flashback of the past as a Defense Mechanism in the Present

Abstract

:At the beginning of the 21st Century, Modern Greek Dramaturgy had already entered the Postmodernism phase, closely adhering to the trends of international theatre. The economic and cultural crisis that set in after the first decade brought an end to almost every innovative attempt. Obsolete types and forms, subjects and stories/plots, are recycled and updated. The Past reappears in exactly the same way it used to be depicted in 20th or even 19th century literary texts and successful comedies of the Greek cinema of the 50’s-60’s are almost completely prevailing. It is not, however, the first time this phenomenon is observed in the Modern Greek Theatre. A similar one appears in the Interwar period (1922-1940), when, for political, social and economic reasons reality becomes very negative for Greek playwrights. The recent and distant Past appears to have a redemptive effect, thus offering an alibi and a way-out deprived by the Present.This is the subject of our announcement, based on the notions and the function of theatrical memory and the multiple roles by which History is joining Theatre.