The Chairs by Eugène Ionesco

The Chairs

by Eugène Ionesco

THEATRE OF THE NO

Premiere: Saturday 3 October 2026  

THEATRE OF THE NO, Athens’ first English-speaking theatre, presents Eugène Ionesco’s «The Chairs», directed by American theatre-trained director and playwright Yoel Wulfhart, with Maria Tzanoukaki, Dinos Fragkos and Apos Kypraios. The production premieres on Saturday 3 October 2026 and runs every Saturday at 18:00 and on Monday 5 & 12 October at 20:00, performed in English with Greek subtitles.

Written in 1952, the play is one of the most characteristic works of the Theatre of the Absurd. An elderly couple prepares for the arrival of invisible guests, while an Orator is called upon to deliver the “great message” of life. As the empty chairs multiply, reality and imagination begin to blur, revealing the profound human need for communication and acceptance.

Through absurdity and dark humour, Ionesco raises questions about loneliness, memory, and the meaning of existence, capturing the human anxiety to leave a trace behind.

Director’s Note

“To quote one of my plays: Life is nothing but hot air, all we can do is make the most of its bad smell, warm our hands by its warmth.”

“As a playwright, I see The Chairs as a confrontation with the fragile human desire to find meaning in a world that offers no easy answers. Beneath its absurd surface lies a profound anxiety: the fear that our lives are brief, unseen, and ultimately without lasting significance.Ionesco leaves us with a haunting question: if meaning cannot be clearly spoken, shared, or preserved, what remains of us when we are gone?

In directing this production, I have sought to emphasize the absurdity of our lives and our endless search for purpose. I hope audiences leave the theatre questioning not only the world Ionesco presents on stage, but also the way they choose to live their own lives.”

Q&A (Questions and Answers)

A post-show discussion with the audience will follow each performance, exploring the play, its themes, and the questions it raises.

Production details

Written by Eugène Ionesco

Direction: Yoel Wulfhart

Language: English with Greek subtitles

Cast: Maria Tzanoukaki, Dinos Fragkos and Apos Kypraios,

Performances:

Premiere: Saturday 3 October 2026

Every Saturday at 18:00 and Monday 5 & 12 October at 20:00

(Special Offer: 20 tickets available for 5€ at the box office one hour before the show)

Ticket price: 15€
Presale: https://www.ticketmaster.gr/

THEATRE OF THE NO: Konstantinou Palaiologou 3, Athens | +30 6946851001

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