Lefkada

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Tag: Lefkada

PARADISE — a theatre evening with the DELUDERS

On Saturday, 18 July 2026, Melanydros brought the theatre group DELUDERS to Neochori for one unique evening: the performance “PARADISE, or A Little Story with No Tragedy at All”.

The contemporary piece brought to light the stories of women who loved, dreamed and fought for their freedom, only to be confronted by violence, social expectation and the silences of their time.

But what if the story is only one — and it all began with an apple? An apple, red as blood, that became a symbol and travelled through the centuries, into myths, songs and human storytelling. Through folk songs, myths, imagery and personal narratives, the performance opened a deeply human space where memory meets the present and the voice turns trauma into story — inviting the audience not only to watch, but to recognise fragments of their own history.

Following successful performances across Greece, PARADISE came to Lefkada for a single evening, presented with English surtitles, with the support of the Municipality of Lefkada as part of its collaboration with Melanydros.

Impressions

Poster for the PARADISE performance by the DELUDERS in Neochori (1)
Poster for the PARADISE performance by the DELUDERS in Neochori (2)

Creative Painting Workshop with Artemis Xeniou

From 14 to 17 July 2026, Melanydros welcomed artist Artemis Xeniou for a Creative Painting Workshop for children and adults — and Neochori filled with colour.

Using coloured pencils and paints, participants explored the elements of their own personality that leave a mark on paper. From individual expression the group moved towards collective creation, learning techniques, discovering the possibilities of colour and building an imaginative open-air exhibition.

Artemis Xeniou is a visual artist and a student at the Royal Academy of Art (KABK) in The Hague. She has studied in Greece, Lithuania, Hungary and London (Central Saint Martins), and has shown her work and performances in Greece, Iceland, Germany and the Netherlands. The workshop took place at the school in Neochori and was free to attend.

Impressions

Painting created at the Creative Painting Workshop with Artemis Xeniou in Neochori (1)
Painting created at the Creative Painting Workshop with Artemis Xeniou in Neochori (2)

Sea Pictures — a concert for the 20th Lefkada Music Week

On Sunday, 5 July 2026, Melanydros hosted the concert “Sea Pictures” at the school in Neochori, presented as part of the 20th Lefkada Music Week.

Under the artistic direction of Vanessa Athanasiou, this anniversary edition was dedicated to the sea and the element of water, featuring works by distinguished European, American and Japanese composers — Beethoven, Elgar, Dvořák, Higurashi, Kinoshita, Weill, Puccini, Curtis, Menotti and Tchaikovsky, as well as the Greek composers Spathis and Chairopoulos, with songs in seven languages.

Performers: Kimiko Hata (soprano), Laura Mamakos (mezzo-soprano), Despoina Manea (mezzo-soprano), Vanessa Athanasiou (violin), Elli Filippou (cello) and Spyros Souladakis (piano).

A special highlight of the evening was a short performance of the traditional Ryukyu Buyo (玻球舞跿) dance from Okinawa, presented by the Japanese dancers, the Akamine Sisters — a unique musical evening where the sea became inspiration, sound and movement in one of the most beautiful mountain villages of Lefkada.

Impressions

Impression from the Sea Pictures concert at the old school in Neochori (1)
Impression from the Sea Pictures concert at the old school in Neochori (2)
Impression from the Sea Pictures concert at the old school in Neochori (3)
Impression from the Sea Pictures concert at the old school in Neochori (4)
Impression from the Sea Pictures concert at the old school in Neochori (5)
Impression from the Sea Pictures concert at the old school in Neochori (6)
Impression from the Sea Pictures concert at the old school in Neochori (7)
Impression from the Sea Pictures concert at the old school in Neochori (8)
Impression from the Sea Pictures concert at the old school in Neochori (9)

Dressing the Lefkadian Woman — costume, poetry and song

On Saturday, 13 June 2026, Melanydros held an evening at the Neochori school dedicated to the theme “the soul yearns to be expressed” — through traditional dress, poetry, song and dance.

“Dressing the Lefkadian Woman” — Ioanna Livitsanou presented the traditional women’s costume of Lefkada, together with its jewellery and hairstyles, through storytelling, photographs and a live demonstration of dressing and adornment.

“A Musical and Poetic Gathering” — Andreas Melas shared his own poems, and the evening opened to everyone who wished to recite favourite verses or their own writing. Recitations alternated with musical moments in a warm gathering of words and melody, until the night gave way to rebetiko.

With the kind support of the Municipality of Lefkada, Vasiliki Christopoulou, Andreas Melas and Kostas Plios took the audience on a journey through songs of love, longing, joy and hope — a celebration where music became a shared experience and led naturally to dancing and companionship.

Impressions

Impression from the evening “the soul yearns to be expressed” at the school in Neochori (1)
Impression from the evening “the soul yearns to be expressed” at the school in Neochori (2)
Impression from the evening “the soul yearns to be expressed” at the school in Neochori (3)
Impression from the evening “the soul yearns to be expressed” at the school in Neochori (4)
Impression from the evening “the soul yearns to be expressed” at the school in Neochori (5)
Impression from the evening “the soul yearns to be expressed” at the school in Neochori (6)
Impression from the evening “the soul yearns to be expressed” at the school in Neochori (7)
Impression from the evening “the soul yearns to be expressed” at the school in Neochori (8)
Impression from the evening “the soul yearns to be expressed” at the school in Neochori (9)
Impression from the evening “the soul yearns to be expressed” at the school in Neochori (10)
Impression from the evening “the soul yearns to be expressed” at the school in Neochori (11)