Alexandros Chountas: 'Surrealism arises from life itself...'
The internationally recognized Greek poet Nanos Valaorit's work, 'The Hotel on the Night That Falls', is being presented for the first time in Greece, directed by Lina Fountoglou.
The play 'The Hotel on the Night That Falls', written by the internationally acclaimed Greek poet and essayist Nanos Valaorit, is making its debut in Greece, directed by Lina Fountoglou at the Omega Stage of the Municipal Theatre of Piraeus. The narrative centers around an enigmatic hotelier who leads a young couple into a dimly lit hotel room that lacks basic amenities such as light, windows, and heating. The hotelier advises them to speak softly and locks the door behind them, setting the stage for an eerie and surreal atmosphere. As the plot unfolds, the couple finds themselves trapped in an unsettling reality where the hotel is on the verge of collapse. In this confined and cryptic setting, elements of reality, the unconscious, and memory become intertwined, reflecting their struggles to understand the world they have been thrown into. As they navigate their relationship, they attempt to create meaning from their experiences, transitioning from paradise to hell and reimagining their past, whether factual or fictional. The play delves into themes of love and time, allowing the characters to break free from their present confinement to dream and explore their desires. This production not only highlights the talents of Valaorit but also pushes the boundaries of theatrical storytelling by infusing surrealist elements into its narrative, highlighting how life's complexity can inform art and personal history.