St John’s ‘Revelation’ on stage on Patmos

Patmos?s reputation as a holy island takes on a new dimension this summer season with a theatrical rendition of St John?s vision set to be staged on the Dodecanese island this month and next.

Following a debut run last year, a fresh round of performances of ?The Book of Revelation? are scheduled to take place at the Sacred Grotto of the Revelation from July 26 to August 3.

The performances showcase the work and dedication of the Techni Theater Company, a local creative group whose members have been rehearsing for the upcoming shows since March. A nonprofit cultural organization, the Techni Theater Company was originally established in Paris in 1995.

Directing ?The Book of Revelation? are Barbara Hoffmann and Till Sterzenbach, both permanent residents of the island, whose theater careers span more than three decades.

The historic center of the island capital Hora, the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian and the Cave of the Apocalypse were given World Heritage Site status by UNESCO in 1999.

Patmos is mentioned in ?The Apocalypse,? the final book of the New Testament, which focuses on a variety of moral, economic and social issues. This year?s production takes a closer look at the economic aspect.

Besides Greek, excerpts from ?The Book of Revelation? will be translated into English, German Italian and French. The Greek adaptation was edited by the abbot of the Monastery of Saint John, while Spyros Papanastasiou composed the production?s original score.

The cast is made up of 14 actors while the production?s costumes were designed by Francoise Dangon and Costas Matthaiou. The set design was undertaken by Hans Hoffer, who is also a professor at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Vienna.

For more information on the event, visit www.technipatmos.com. Shows start at 9.30 p.m.