EROS, In The Midst of Life There Is Death has been redesigned from scratch in the weeks following the Russian invasion. We speak from a place of loss, fear, pain and war.

The piece gives space to personal documented testimonies from the Ukrainian team following the first moments of the invasion while on a fictional level, a man visits the dead philosophers and poets of the “Symposium” who want him to regain his lost hope for humanity. Could art and personal testimonies restore the faith in humanity at the worst of times?

In November 2021, the ODC Ensemble and Elli Papakonstantinou began collaborating with NOVA OPERA – a group of young Ukrainian artists exploring new ways to develop music theatre. In March, the Greek artists were to relocate to Kyiv – planned for exactly one week after the invasion – in anticipation of the international premiere at O. Further performances were scheduled across Ukraine and Europe. The Greek team is dedicated to bringing the Ukrainians to Athens where they will be safe, away from danger, able to continue their artistic work and prepare for the international premiere.

“O. has enabled the world premiere of an almost impossible creation by Greek and Ukrainian artists as the war rages.” – Guy Coolen (artistiek directeur O.)