Theater
Death and the Maiden by Ariel Dorfman Comes to Athinon Theatre This October
More than three decades after it was written, Death and the Maiden remains one of the most compelling explorations of justice, memory, guilt and revenge ever staged.
One of the most celebrated psychological thrillers in contemporary world theatre, Death and the Maiden by Ariel Dorfman, arrives at Athinon Theatre from 9 October 2026, directed by Manolis Dounias and Emilios Cheilakis.
How do we reach the truth when lies have become a habit?
Ariel Dorfman
How do we keep the past alive without becoming its prisoners?
And how do we forget it without risking repeating it?
A Gripping Story of Truth, Justice and Memory
Set in a secluded house in a country that has only recently returned to democracy, the play follows a couple attempting to rebuild their lives after years of political oppression and personal trauma. Their fragile peace is shattered when an unexpected visitor arrives, triggering a chain of events that forces long-buried secrets back to the surface.
A woman haunted by memories of imprisonment and torture. A husband determined to leave the past behind. And a stranger whose presence ignites a dangerous confrontation with the truth.
As the three characters become trapped in an intense psychological battle of suspicion, power and revelation, the play asks difficult questions that remain strikingly relevant today:
- Can justice exist without revenge?
- When does the pursuit of justice become vigilantism?
- Is forgiveness truly the path to healing?
- And who, in the end, is the victim—and who is the perpetrator?
With masterful dramatic tension and constant twists, Dorfman’s play keeps audiences questioning what is real until its unforgettable final moments.
A Modern Classic of World Theatre
Written in 1990, Death and the Maiden has become a landmark of modern political and psychological theatre. It has been performed on major stages around the world, translated into dozens of languages, and won the 1992 Olivier Award for Best New Play.
Its Broadway premiere starred Glenn Close, Gene Hackman, and Richard Dreyfuss, while its international acclaim grew even further with Roman Polanski’s 1994 film adaptation starring Sigourney Weaver, Ben Kingsley, and Stuart Wilson.
An integral part of the play’s haunting atmosphere is Franz Schubert’s celebrated string quartet Der Tod und das Mädchen (Death and the Maiden), which serves as a powerful emotional thread connecting the characters’ present with their darkest memories.
The Cast
The production stars:
- Emilios Cheilakis
- Athina Maximou
- Antonis Myriagos
Directed by Manolis Dounias and Emilios Cheilakis, this new production explores the fragile boundaries between truth and perception, justice and vengeance, memory and oblivion.
Creative Team
Play: Ariel Dorfman
Translation: Christos Karchadakis
Directors: Manolis Dounias & Emilios Cheilakis
Set Design: Athanasia Smaragdi
Costume Design: Ioanna Timotheadou
Original Music & Sound Design: Dimitris Kamarotos
Movement Direction: Phaedra Ntaioglou
Lighting Design: Nikos Sotiropoulos
Assistant Director: Christianna Marioli
Photography & Artwork: Gridfox
Performance Information
Venue: Athinon Theatre, Athens
Opening Night: 9 October 2026
Performance Schedule
- Wednesday: 7:00 PM
- Thursday: 8:00 PM
- Friday: 9:00 PM
- Saturday: 6:00 PM & 9:00 PM
- Sunday: 7:00 PM
Don’t Miss Death and the Maiden
A gripping psychological thriller that challenges audiences to confront the complex relationship between justice and revenge, truth and perception, memory and forgiveness, Death and the Maiden remains as timely and thought-provoking today as when it first premiered.
Experience one of the defining works of contemporary theatre when it opens at Athinon Theatre this October.
