Electra

Sun 25 Oct, 7:00pm | The Astor Theatre – Closing Night Gala

Directed by Dimitri Tarlow | 100 mins, no interval | MA15+ | Greek with English subtitles

Widely regarded as one of the greatest masterpieces of ancient Greek drama, Sophocles’ Electra plunges into the darkest chapter of the cursed House of Atreus: the fierce vengeance of Agamemnon’s children for his murder. Electra is no mere victim of fate – she is a force of her own making, torn between the burning need for justice and the destructive cost of violence.

From Epidaurus to the big screen

Dimitri Tarlow’s Electra premiered at the ancient theatre of Epidaurus in 2025, then toured Greece and Cyprus. For the 2025–26 season, Tarlow rebuilt it for the intimate indoor stage of Athens’ Poreia Theatre, where it played as Electra Indoors.

That is the version you’ll see on Sunday: filmed in performance by Melpo and presented on the big screen at The Astor, in Greek with English subtitles.

Inside the dark cabaret

Tarlow transports the tragedy into a noir ‘dark cabaret’ – the remnants of a celebration that ended violently. Paris Mexis’ set turns the palace of Clytemnestra and Aegisthus into a place of decadent, artificial luxury, evoking the turbulent interwar years.

Fotis Siotas’ jazz-tinged score is played live on stage, Alekos Anastasiou’s lighting shifts through smoky colour, and the chorus becomes a troupe of fallen cabaret ‘heroines’ watching from the shadows.

The cast

Loukia Michalopoulou returns to the role of Electra with what critics called overwhelming intensity, opposite Aglaia Pappa’s commanding Clytemnestra.

Electra Loukia Michalopoulou
Clytemnestra Aglaia Pappa
Orestes Konstantinos Zografos
Aegisthus Dimitri Tarlow
Chrysothemis Grigoria Metheniti
Pedagogue Konstantinos Avarikiotis
Pylades Periklis Siountas

Translation by Giorgos Chimonas | Music by Fotis Siotas | Sets & costumes by Paris Mexis

What the critics said

“An excellent re-approach to Sophocles’ classic work… Don’t miss it.”
– News24/7

“A performance that is not afraid to move tragedy ‘inside’.”
– allaboutarts

“A contemporary, stylised directorial approach and a noir aesthetic.”
– monopoli.gr

“Aglaia Pappa’s Clytemnestra is outstanding.”
– Athinorama

Watch the trailer

Get a taste of Tarlow’s noir Electra before Sunday – then lock in your seat for the Closing Night Gala.