“Dance with Me, Father” – with Giorgos Armenis and Katerina Antoniadou
Kalymnos – Open Theater of Chora
Friday, July 18, 21:15
A father with dementia and his hysterical daughter struggle to communicate. Each, caught in their own emotional turmoil, seeks personal redemption. Will they succeed?
The play is written by Katerina Antoniadou, directed by Giorgos Armenis, who also stars as the father, with Antoniadou in the role of the daughter.
SOURCE: AchaiaNews.gr
Interview by: Efi Karounia
Giorgos Armenis:
“The script is by Katerina. I liked it from the first reading. We staged the play, and it truly felt like a miracle — we premiered and toured many cities. The audience response has been tremendous. It’s a truly beautiful piece. And I say that with full awareness — I’ve been in theatre for so many years that I can’t lie. Viewers always leave the theatre carrying something like a talisman, a wish. Theatre always teaches. I believe this play succeeds in that to a large degree.”
Katerina Antoniadou:
“I’ve written other plays, but this was the first I pushed forward — I didn’t keep it in a drawer. Maybe I believed in it more. Giorgos Armenis liked it too. I gave it to him to read, and he said: ‘We’re staging this.’ The writing felt more mature than my earlier work.”
Why choose dementia as the basis for a play?
Giorgos Armenis:
“My character — the father — has dementia, but in the end, they find connection. This reaches the audience, who always give us a strong round of applause. I don’t know why, but I’m crazy about this play. I love playing a man with dementia. At some point, there’s a deeply moving twist. Also, there’s humor. It’s not a tragedy — it’s not all darkness. My stage daughter treats me like a toy!”
Katerina Antoniadou:
“Dementia wasn’t a conscious choice. I wanted to tell a story about two people who fail to communicate. Dementia was the obstacle. If it weren’t dementia, it would’ve been something else. I’m not sure what triggered the theme — maybe something in my subconscious I haven’t yet discovered. The core idea was miscommunication between two people.”
Why do you think we struggle so much with communication today?
Giorgos Armenis:
“Dementia and Alzheimer’s are widespread — that’s scientifically proven. But beyond that, we no longer recognize or acknowledge the person next to us.”
Katerina Antoniadou:
“Communication is difficult because we haven’t learned how to connect with ourselves. We project. We see ourselves in the other. That’s what happens with the two characters. The daughter is also ‘sick’ — she’s mentally unwell. She can’t communicate with herself. That’s why communication is hard in general — we haven’t learned how to connect with our inner world.”
Does everyday life make its way onto the stage?
Katerina Antoniadou:
“Absolutely. And the audience confirms it. After the performance, many say they ‘saw’ parts of their own lives. The play touches on loneliness, fear, and deeper personal struggles.”
Teacher and student on stage…
Giorgos Armenis:
“For me, it’s a joy. I love working with Katerina — she’s a wonderful human being. There’s so much love in the performance. But unfortunately, I still have dementia…”
Katerina Antoniadou:
“I feel great working with Giorgos. I’ve known him for years. We’ve worked together since my drama school days. He knows me and how to handle me. I understand what he wants even before he says it. Of course, there are some… tensions, but it all works out in the end.”
Violence as a trait of our society and daily life…
Giorgos Armenis:
“I feel very angry about what we’re living through. Even more so when I see elderly people resorting to violence.”
Katerina Antoniadou:
“For things to change, it must begin within us — with the work we do on ourselves. We blame our partner, our child, even our dog, but really we’re angry at ourselves.”
Mr. Armenis, you have leftist roots. How would you describe the state of the Left today?
Giorgos Armenis:
“A patchwork. Ineffective.”
Ms. Antoniadou, as someone younger?
Katerina Antoniadou:
“I can’t speak about the Left or the Right. What I know is that whoever comes to power ends up wrecking our little Greece. They don’t love their country — no matter what political shade they belong to.”
