Philoctetes

The Archaeological site of Kabeirion, on the island of Lemnos, hosts the theatre performance Philoctetes on 4 and 5 August 2026, as part of All of Greece, One Culture 2026.

Philoctetes (1965), by Heiner Müller - the most important German playwright of the second half of the twentieth century - marks the author’s first engagement with ancient drama, which would become a constant source of inspiration throughout his work. Drawing on Sophocles while freely reinterpreting him, Müller creates a play that, although clearly rooted in the political impasses of its time—and especially in the legacy of Stalinism—can still be read today as a political work with strong contemporary resonances, but above all as a meditation on the relationship between body and politics. The body of the abandoned Philoctetes, a victim of his commitment to the common cause, is reclaimed by those who ruthlessly condemned him to suffering on Lemnos. Thus, in Müller’s world, where no deus ex machina is expected to appear, Philoctetes becomes useful as a corpse, once he is no longer of use alive. The human body and its fate, humanism and its limits, and a politics that reshapes the law according to its own needs are themes that speak directly to contemporary society and enter into close dialogue with this year’s theme for the program “All of Greece, One Culture.” The rights are granted by henschel SCHAUS.

Source: Official Website – All of Greece, One Culture

Ticket Details

• The performance begins at 20:00 and lasts 60 minutes 
• The event is offered free of charge by the Ministry of Culture
• Advance reservation is required
• Only the entrance fee to the archaeological site (€5) is payable.
• For ages 15 and up

Book your ticket
 

**Please refer to the official website and/or the festival organisers for possible changes in times and dates.**