A neon restaurant sign in a Tirana suburb sheds light to the history of a family. An unexpected incident under the light of this sign has a crucial effect on Mario’s life. Years later, now an adult, director Mario Banushi, who had been traveling from Greece to Albania for years to meet his family and return to the family taverna, now carries that same sign from Tirana to Athens, placing it at the center of the world he creates on stage. Through a performance, he welcomes his memories and nostalgia in order to confront the absence of his father who recently passed away; the cook and taverna owner who used to welcome customers every night.
As the performance unfolds, the sign unfurls a series of emotions, a melody of unspoken sentiments, fragments and memories, the poetry of things left unsaid. It embodies a profound farewell to the father, the secrets of the taverna custodian, and a warm embrace of adulthood, amidst the existential riddles that accompany the passage of years.
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Conceived and directed by Μario Βanushi
Cast: Savina Yannatou, Chryssi Vidalaki, Katerina Kristo, Mario Banushi, Eftychia Stefanou
Set & Costume design: Sotiris Melanos
Lighting design: Eliza Alexandropoulou
Tour lighting design: Marietta Pavlaki
Original music: Jeph Vanger
Vocals improvisation: Savina Yannatou
Dramaturgy collaboration: Aspasia-Maria Alexiou
Assistant director: Sofia Antoniou
Assistant to the costume designer: Vassiana Skopetea
Technical Director: Giorgos Antonopoulos
Tour Management: TooFarEast – Nikos Mavrakis
Line Production: TooFarEast – Aristidis Kreatsoulas
Photography: Nassia Stouraiti, Theofilos Tsimas
Produced by the Athens Epidaurus Festival 2023
In collaboration with Theatro sti Sala
Trigger warning: Full Body Nudity
Running time: 1h 15 min (no intermission)
Nonverbal performance