Nikos Kazantzakis’s Play Produced in London

The famous Greek author Nikos Kazantzakis is being honored in London. On May 31, the British theater Sadler’s Wells, will host a production of the author’s play’s author “Comedy: A Tragedy in One Act” by the theatrical company The Canting Crew, with the assistance of Kazantzakis publications.

After the play, a round table event will take place, chaired by Dr. Lewis Owens and the distinguished speakers of Modern Greek Roderick Beaton, Niki Stavrou (director of Kazantzakis publications), Professor of Theology Darren Middleton and project director Stephen Oswald.

Lewis Owens, has researched Kazantzakis’ work and he is the author of the study “Creative Destruction: Nikos Kazantzakis and the Literature of Responsibility” (his doctorate thesis is expected to be released soon in Greek), is preparing an interesting feature documentary about the writer.

The “Comedy” is a work of metaphysical reflection and for some people it is the most original of Kazantzakis’ plays, foreshadowing postwar theatrical forms. In this theatrical play the world of thought clashes with the world of pleasure. Kazantzakis wrote the novel in 1909, but his worldview which he developed in subsequent works is evident.

The author sharply criticizes the Christian belief on salvation. Peter Bin, who has translated many of Kazantzakis’ works, notes: “In Comedy the main theme is that heaven does not exist. For Kazantzakis, the abyss is not hell in an ethical sense, but the extinction that is our guaranteed end once we no longer believe in Christianity’s afterlife of eternal bliss.”