The UCSB Department of Theater and Dance presents HELEN by Euripides

The UCSB Department of Theater and Dance, thanks to the Argropoulos Endowment in Hellenic studies, brings forward a touch of the ancient past by presenting Helen by Euripides on July 29th and 30th in the Studio Theater.

Helen is a tragedy by the ancient Greek playwright Euripides, first produced in 412 BCE for the annual City Dionysia competition in Athens. Although technically a tragedy, it is perhaps more of a romance or melodrama, like several of Euripides' later plays, and it shares much in common with his Iphigenia in Tauris, which was written around the same period.

The plot of the play follows an alternative myth of Helen of Sparta. According to the author, Helen never went to Troy, but a phantom goes there instead of her. The real Helen is brought by Hermes to Egypt where the local King wants to marry her. However, by the winds of fate, King Menelaus arrives in Egypt with his phantom wife where he finally meets the real Helen.

The show bridges the gap between past and present, in which students explores the ideas and politics expressed by Euripides, the ancient greeks, and how they relate to today. According to the director, Helen is one of the first controversial plays ever written, addressing social issues such as anti-war, feminism, anti-slavery, and anti-classism.

The play is directed by the Greek guest artist Evdokimos Tsolakidis as part of the UCSB Department of Theater and Dance's summer session programs. Evdokimos Tsolakidis is an actor, director, playwright, coach and founder and artistic director of the Theater of Changes (www.toc.gr). Tsolakidis teaches and directs plays in Greece and abroad. This year marks Tsolakidis' 30 years in theater.

UCSB Theater and Dance is proud to be presenting Helen with an open free rehearsal performance Friday, July 22nd at 3:00 PM and two free performances Friday and Saturday July 29th and 30th at 7:30 PM at the UCSB Theater and Dance Studio Theater.

Additionally, Evdokimos Tsolakidis will be in conversation with the UCSB professor Francis Dunn, discussing the state of theater in Greece today, how the arts can thrive during economic crisis, and the differences between theater in Greece and in the US. The talk will take place on Sunday July 24th, 2:30-3:30 p.m., Karpeles Manuscript Library, 21 W Anapamu Street (public parking opposite). The event is free and open to the public.