“DANCE ME FATHER”

On Wednesday 16 July, at 21:15, Patmion hosts a special theatrical performance entitled “Dance me Father”, a play written by Katerina Antoniadou and directed by the acclaimed actor and director Giorgos Armenis.

The play deals with the difficult relationship between a father who suffers from dementia and his daughter, who is fully committed to his care, leaving her own life behind. On a day of exacerbation of his illness, he does not acknowledge her and denies every aspect of reality: his children, his job, even his inability to care for himself. The daughter, caught up in her own mental deterioration, gradually loses touch with reality, and goes so far as to question her father’s own illness, accusing him of putting on an act.

The communication between them seems like a lost cause. Words are not enough, understanding is lacking, and both characters struggle with themselves as much as with each other. The father’s dementia and the daughter’s hysteria coexist in a delirious dance of sensations, where the past triggers painful memories and the roles of victim and perpetrator are constantly confused. The play moves between the tragic and the grotesque, with moments of humour and tears of laughter illuminating the darker side of human contact. With no moralizing, no ultimate redemption, “Dance me Father” documents with rawness and tenderness the decay of memory, the endurance of love and the limits of the parent-child relationship. It is a play that offers no easy answers, but opens up an emotional space for the viewer to confront their own experiences and dead ends.

The general admission for the performance is 17 euros, while a reduced ticket of 15 euros is provided for students, unemployed and disabled persons. Pre-sale is available at Xerolas and Koukoumavla bookstores, while reservations can be made by phone at 2311 219978 and 6936 915422. The event takes place under the auspices of the Municipality of Patmos and brings to the stage two performances of intense emotional charge, by George Armenis and Katerina Antoniadou, who play the two leading roles. A play that speaks about the invisible weight of everyday life, loss and the attempt to connect – even when all seems lost.