100 YEARS FROM THE BIRTH OF EVGENIOS SPATHARIS

Evgenios Spatharis (1924-2009) was a great master of Greek shadow theatre, son of the prominent shadow puppeteer Sotiris Spatharis. He made his debut during the Axis Occupation of Greece and continued for the rest of his life with innumerable performances in Greece and abroad. Evgenios Spatharis managed to establish shadow theatre as a very popular spectacle for adult and young audiences alike, and as an exquisite art form that is both entertaining and educational. Through recordings and TV broadcasts later on, his works reached every Greek family, raising generations of children and thus playing a crucial role in the survival of the genre in the modern media era. Spatharis enriched the traditional repertoire with new comical, historical and mythological plots, also adapting ancient Greek tragedy and comedy, Homer’s Odyssey and the Cretan romance in verse Erotokritos. His multifaceted artistic activity included folk paintings, set and costume designs and direction for stage adaptations of Karagiozis. The heritage of the Spatharis father and son is preserved and continued by the Spathario Museum, founded by Evgenios Spatharis in Maroussi.