And God Said

In April 2009, the world premiere of Avra Sidiropoulou’s latest play took place at the renowned performing arts center garajistanbul in Istanbul, Turkey. Performed in English, And God Said is an international theatre project uniting artists from diverse backgrounds to create art that transcends language and culture.

About the Project

Written and directed by Greek theatre artist Avra Sidiropoulou, the production features acclaimed Turkish actors Derya Durmaz and Teoman Kumbaracibasi. It continues Persona’s tradition of international collaboration, particularly between Greek and Turkish artists, to redefine cross-cultural understanding through theatre. This multimedia project combines an imagistic, poetic text with original animation by Silo 1 and an original musical score by Vanias Apergis, embodying Persona’s vision of theatre as a total work of art.

And God Said unfolds in a timeless, non-local space within a post-apocalyptic setting. After an irredeemable catastrophe erases all meaning, memory, and shared history, a man and a woman—stranded in this desolate landscape—cling to a baby as their sole existential anchor. The baby, requiring nourishment in a world where all resources have been obliterated, symbolizes human vulnerability, resonating deeply in an era of ecological collapse.

Performances and Participation

The production was officially invited to participate in the 28th International Fadjr Festival in Tehran in January 2010. During this festival, the final scene of the play was performed in Farsi by Iranian actor Mohsen Abolhassani.

Creative Team

• Text and Direction: Avra Sidiropoulou
• Set and Costumes: Tomris Kuzu
• Original Music Score: Vanias Apergis
• Original Animation: Silo 1
• Lighting: Cem Yılmazer
• Assistant Director: Cihangir Duman
• Photography: Bilge Can Gurer

Cast

• Derya Durmaz
• Teoman Kumbaracibasi

Press and Reviews

Selected excerpts and articles:

• Kathimerini (10/02/2010) by Ioanna Fotiadi (Greek)
• Art Mag (27/01/2010) by Andriani Abavi (Greek)
• Radikal (25/04/2009) (Turkish)

Hurriyet review excerpt: “Persona Theater Company’s new play And God Said speaks beyond language and culture.”