ABYSS

ABYSS
a paradoxical rite of passage

After the successful completion of three original works—“Red Notebooks” (2020), “Touring Theater Troupe” (2022), and “Algorythmos” (2023)—award-winning actress and creator Eleana Georgouli presents her new play, “Abyss,” at Venue 7G of PLYFA.

“Abyss” brings to life the paradoxical universe of a dystopia. In a near-future world on the brink of collapse—ravaged by endless wars and human-induced climate change—we witness a gamified struggle for survival. Through a chain of poetic episodes, six performers form an explosive Chorus in a relentless, pulsating performance that tests the absolute limits of their mental, moral, and physical endurance.

THE STORY
The island of ARCADIA is a modern-day PROMISED LAND, where social and political justice, prosperity, and exceptional environmental conditions prevail. Before reaching ARCADIA, travelers must pass through ABYSS, a barren intermediary islet housing the Inspection Station. Thousands of travelers arrive here, fleeing their own islands in pursuit of a dreamland.

The Special Committee of ABYSS examines these newcomers to determine if they are eligible to proceed to ARCADIA. The crucial prerequisite for the entry card is to pass ALL stages of the EVALUATION process. Those who fail are sent back to their islands of origin.

But what happens when this process turns into a dangerous and surreal survival game with no end in sight?

CREATOR’S NOTE
Set in a familiar yet imaginary future, the play draws inspiration from humanity’s primal urge to dream of the “ideal” and the eternal disillusionment of this ideal. Through a series of episodes—sometimes absurd, sometimes tragicomic, and at other times despairing—the play focuses on the anxieties of modern humans confronting invisible or shadowy forces that govern their lives.

In an atmosphere oscillating between metaphysical comedy and dystopian thriller, the protagonists face a labyrinthine process of skill collection and credential approval. The central demand of the COMMITTEE during this evaluation process is the travelers’ compliance with the game’s rules. However, to align themselves with these rules, the travelers must progressively renounce every value they hold—ideological, political, or cultural. Through an endless and tormenting process, they must not only demonstrate psychological resilience but transcend their identity on every level (gender, race, class).

With depth and levity, “Abyss” explores the anatomy of the human soul in its thirst for hope and freedom, questioning how far the pursuit of these ideals can lead us.

“Abyss” is presented under the auspices and with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture.

Duration: 90 minutes