For Three Refrigerators and One Washing Machine

One of the most compelling and significant theatrical events of recent years is coming to Athens. “For Three Refrigerators and a Washing Machine”, the much-discussed documentary-style play that received rave reviews in London, is being presented at the Olympia Municipal Music Theater “Maria Callas,” shedding light on one of the darkest and least-known chapters of modern Greek history.

The Unknown Child Abduction! Professor Gonda Van Steen of King’s College London’s 14-year-long, ongoing academic research is brought to the stage in a production directed by Kyriaki Mitsou. The play reveals the story of more than 4,000 Greek children who were given up for adoption in the United States and the Netherlands during the Cold War.

This is a documentary-style performance, based on real-life testimonies, archival sources, and historical evidence, which explores issues of identity, collective memory, trauma, social injustice, and the exploitation of women and our most socially and economically vulnerable fellow human beings.

The performance draws particular strength from the presence on stage of Gonda Van Steen herself, as well as from people who were themselves adopted children in this story. Together with a diverse ensemble of actors of different ages and nationalities, they transform the theater into a space of memory, testimony, and deep human connection.

The performance is presented in three languages—Greek, English, and Dutch.

Direction/Set Design: Kyriaki Mitsou
Dramaturgy/Theatrical Adaptation: Kyriaki Mitsou, Romina Spyraki, Renata Sofrona
Historical Research: Prof. Gonda Van Steen

On stage: Elli Trigou, Yannis Koukourakis, Ioannis Athanasopoulos, Kyriaki Mitsou, Nefeli Papaderou,…

Source: https://cultureisathens.gr/en/event/for-three-refrigerators-and-one-washing-machine