“For so many years, Europeans believed that fascism was over, but the recent ‘refugee problem,’ Euroscepticism, the financial crisis, and more have polarized our societies and completely overshadowed this belief that we live in free and inclusive societies,” observes Elli Papakonstantinou. The stage director runs the art space Vyrsodepseio and the ODC ensemble in Athens; her unconventional, interdisciplinary, and political theater productions tour international stages.

“I visited the memorial and was shocked,” says the theater director. “What surprised me was that the camp was built so close to everyday urban life. I wonder: How much of this ignoring of what’s happening around me resonates today?” Her focus isn’t so much on the past, but rather on sharpening our awareness of the present: in the face of a cold corporate world and the rise of right-wing populism, reminding us of the importance of compassion. Her piece poses questions – big ones, small ones, philosophical ones, rhetorical ones. Alongside the actors, a choir of elderly men from the surrounding area sings: “It’s important to me to engage in a dialogue with the local community,” she explains. Her inclusion also extends to the audience: she wants to involve them in unexpected ways – they will eat together, that much can be revealed. It’s meant to be a holistic experience, and this is achieved through music: “It carries the dramaturgy and connects the questions to everyday life.”