Greek Shadow Theatre

If you would compare our topic of today with television or YouTube, probably you would think it is slow and boring. But I am sure, as soon as you would have a closer look behind the screen, you would find it very fascinating. Let's talk about the tradition of the Greek shadow theatre.

Original the shadow theatre is an Asian kind of art. But during the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century it was coming also to Greece following the example of the Turkish Karadjoz theatre. Dimitrios Sardounis alias Mimaros is known as the founder of the modern Greek shadow theatre. Especially in the period from 1915 to 1950 the shadow theatre with its famous figure Karagiozis was very popular in Greece. It was a time full of  wars and social restlessness. Karagiozis was a symbol of the poor people who tried to protest against the social unfairness without success. Later Karagiozis got his own TV programme which was famous till the end of the 20th century. By using the figure of Karagiozis the film-makers talked about educational topics like Greek mythology or Science. Also, today Karagiozis is still popular even through his fame became less.

Karagiozis is a poor, hunchbacked man. His right arm is overlong, which shows that he is a thief. He walks barefoot and wears mended cloth. He has a loose tongue and his interests are sleeping and eating. Karagiozis has no job and lives together with his wife Aglaia and their three sons in a miserable hut in a big city on the opposite site of the palace of the sultan.

There are to different kinds of plays. Heroic plays are based on traditions or historical situation out of the time of the Ottoman Empire. There, Karagiozis is the assistant of a famous person like Alexander the Great and helps them. In the comedies Karagiozis tries to get money for his family mostly in a cheeky way. Karagiozis is presented as the classical Greek who has no chance in a corrupt social system and is an example for the opposition against a superior opponent.

Another character in the plays is for example Chatziavatis, a friend of Karagiozis and a serious and subordinate man. He informs Karagiozia about new jobs, deals with him or is a victim of his frauds.

The puppet figures are made out of flat silhouettes out of thin, scraped and coloured animal skin or cardboard. They are between 10 and 40 centimetre tall and full of details like expressive eyes. Because of their joints are connected with cords, the figures can make funny dislocations. The puppeteer moves them with sticks. He can play up to three figures at the same time and imitate their voices. Today you can find the figures in different museums for example in the municipality art gallery in Chios.

If you are now interested in finding out more about this spacial kind of theatre, you should search for performances in your country. I am sure, you will enjoy it.