Greek Theatre of Syracuse reopens with Oresteia and Nitsch poster controversy

After a pandemic-forced closure in 2020, the Greek Theatre of Syracuse resumes its dramatic season on July 3, 2021, with a limited capacity of 3,000 seats (down from 9,000). The season features Davide Livermore's fusion of the second and third acts of Aeschylus' Oresteia (Choephori and Eumenides) starring Laura Marinoni as Clytemnestra, Giuseppe Sartori as Orestes, and Anna Della Rosa as Electra. From July 4, Carlus Padrissa of La Fura dels Baus directs Euripides' Bacchae with Lucia Lavia as Dionysus. A third production, Aristophanes' Clouds directed by Antonio Calenda, opens August 21 with Nando Paone, Stefano Santospago, and Antonello Fassari. The season poster by Hermann Nitsch, depicting a white coat radiating light, has sparked debate; festival superintendent Antonio Calbi calls it a symbol of resurrection and a tribute to COVID-19 victims. An exhibition titled 'Orestea atto secondo' curated by Marina Valensise accompanies the season, featuring historical photographs by Angelo Maltese from the 1921 staging of Choephori. The 2020 season had inverted stage and auditorium for socially distanced monologues by Lella Costa, Luigi Lo Cascio, Isabella Ragonese, and Lunetta Savino.