The Barber of Seville

A children’s theatre performance, “The Barber of Seville” text adapted and directed by Carmen Rouggeri.  

It was a theatrical play by Beumarchai which became well-known when Gioachino Rossini, a great Italian composer, decided to turn it into an OPERA.

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE is not a fairytale. It is, however, a theatrical play which consists of all the ingredients for a perfect Musical Fairytale. In other words, it includes magic and realism, humour, and a very interesting plot. My idea was to transform this opera into a theatrical play for children, with songs based on the beautiful melodies of Rossini, so that the children can hear classical music sounds, which are vital for the cultivation of their musical sense and sensitivity. The play, which has been adapted very cautiously and carefully, retains the most melodic parts of the opera and transforms the arias and the phonetic ensembles into songs, thus creating a beautiful theatrical image. All the above elements are joined together by a narration, theatrical dialogues, dancing sets and colourful period costumes, all factors that do not allow the children’s interest to fade.

A Few Words About The Play
It all began in Prado, a small town in Spain, many, many years ago, when Rosina, a cute girl from Seville, had gone to visit her aunt. Barely did she step through the threshold, when she came across Count Almaviva, who happened to be passing by. And that was it! A single look between a boy and a girl, and the love story of our plot had already been born. A few days later, Almaviva sends a matchmaker to old man Bartolo, the guardian of Rosina, to ask for her hand in marriage. But he refuses to give it! Then the Count decides to find her by himself, and with the help of Figaro, the famous barber of Seville….

Script – Direction:  Carmen Rouggeri
Sets – Costumes: Christina Couloumbi
Staging – choreographies – lighting: Petros Gallias
Adaptation – Orchestration: Ambrosios Blachopoulos, Redona Cola
Verses & melodies’ selection:  Αndreas Kouloumbis
Voice Coaches: Andreas Kouloumbis, Mina Delaporta
Assistant Director:  Katerina Georgaki
Assistant Costumier: Erika Lambrou
Production Office Supervisor: Katerina Banasaki
Artwork: Loukas Melas
Production Coordinator: Antonis Koizas 

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF PERFORMERS:
Varthalitis Antonis, Georgaki Katerina, Davaki Veronica, Nicolaou Yiannis, Papadakis Antonis, Stavrakoudes Nikos, Tsitsou Panayiota, Hondroyiannis Angelos 

Carmen Rouggeri (Curriculum Vitae) 
She studied classical singing at the Athens Hellinikon Odeon and theatre at the Academy of Theatre and Art of the Piraeus Association, from where she graduated with honours. She specialized in opera at the University of Perugia. As an actress, she has participated in performances of the National Lyric Opera Theatre, of the National Theatre and of the Free Theatre. She participated in many tv series, interpreting characteristic parts. In 1985 she put together the theatre group “Ragpickers” in which she directs, writing herself the plays they stage. Her writing work includes over 50 theatre plays and opera adaptations for children, a 6-episode tv series and five opera translations. In 1993 she founded the Children’sTheatre of the National Theatre and in 1996 the Children’s Theatre of the National Lyric Opera Theatre. From 1997 until 2006 her plays and operas were performed at the Herod Atticus Odeon. At 1996 she created a theatre workshop for children, which is housed at the theatres she collaborates with.
She lived for 4 years in Nicosia, where she graduated from the Phaneromeni Elementary School of the Phaneromeni All-Girls’ School. 

Duration: 90΄ 
4+
Tickets: €10 / € 8 Rialto supporters / € 5 students, soldiers, senior citizens

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