| Les Juifs De Salonique
The History Behind Les Juifs
Information on Karaghiozis
Moments from the show
Contact Us
|
|
|
A Brief History of Karaghiozis and Its Traditions
Karaghiozis in its modern form comes from the Asian shadow theatre of China and India. It came to Greece during the period of the Turkish rule, but soon its Turkish form (in the Turkish language: Kara Black, Ghioz Eyes) become completely Greek and adapted to the Greek way of living and the Greek customs - finally becoming part of those very customs and ways of living.
|
|
|
Karaghiozis is very easy to construct: Behind a white, back-lit screen, the figures are moved. These figures are made of cardboard or very thin plywood (non transparent, but etched to allow the light through) or of sheepskin or plastic (transparent, coloured). They are jointed, they are made of two or four or more pieces, and they are moved by a wooden or metal handle.
|
|
|
Every figure has a characteristic music that is played every time the figure comes on the screen. A long time ago the music was played live by a group of musicians, but nowadays it is on tape. The voices of all the characters, men and women, are done by the same person - the karaghiozopaiktis, the Karaghiozis player.
|
 |
The character Karaghiozis is a "philosopher of feelings." A hunchback, hook-nosed, hoarse-voiced, with one of his arms longer than the other - so he can extend it. He scratches his head, he beats people, he steals, and he is always bare-footed. He is clever, although occasionally he pretends to be dumb. Poor, lazy, illiterate - pretends to be educated. Uncouth, deals in everything, and so he beats and is beaten. He speaks his mind, is always unemployed and always, always, hungry.
|
|
|
