The new year is starting with science, education, theatre, music, the environment & nature
There is nothing better to start a new year than an excursion in nature, combining education, technology, art and culture at an altitude of 900 meters in a lush landscape. What’s in common among the Sun, conic sections, the soil, Marie Louise, a tree, Nikitaras, folk music, Virtual Reality, movie screenings and a school full of games and activities? That you will find them all over the weekends of January in Vamvakou in Lakonia, realised within the framework of the initiative for the Revival of Vamvakou with the support of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).
Culture makes it to the mountaintops
Don’t miss this month (27/01) the theatre play “All generations… Nikitaras!” on the life of Nikitas Sta-matelopoulos – the hero of the Greek War of Independence, Nikitaras – by the awarded playwright Giorgos A. Christodoulou (script and direction). The music is by Raphael Pilarinos. The cast consists of Christos Georgiou in the role of Nikitaras and Sarah Terzi in the role of mad Sophia. The play was first staged in 2020. The successful music evenings at Voureiko café-restaurant are continuing this year too, with old-time classic folk and rebetiko tunes. ‘’Grammes’’ music band will be taking us on a melodic journey around Greek discography on 20/01.
Movies at 900 meters – Cine Vamvakou!
The connection of Vamvakou with cinema started 94 years ago, with a movie camera at the school of Vamvakou. Today, Vamvakou Revival is reviving this activity and is giving the chance to children and grown-ups to watch special films with scenario based on children’s & young people’s problems and con-cerns of (max 1,5 hour-long), in collaboration with the Athens International Children’s Film Festival, at the school of the village. Every Saturday a new film is screened, starting from January, 20.
Technology and science make their way to the mountains this year too!
VR for… Vamvakou Revival or maybe Virtual Reality? Every weekend, the visitors of V.Lab (Vamvakou Technology Lab fully powered by SNF) are given the opportunity to enter 3D worlds and enjoy games of high-tech standards. And if you are a fan of gaming, you can find this too in the village! In the computer lab of V.Lab, you can find popular PC games for endless gaming. The second weekend of January (13 & 14/01), we will calculate the diameter of the Sun and learn about conic sections and 3D design at V.Lab.
Nature, art and programmes for children
Nature and art are always part of our themes. The third weekend of 2024 (20 & 21/01), we will play with water and soil and make seed bombs to save our planet during a fun environmental workshop, and, we will also turn into little detectives trying to solve the mysteries in all the rooms of the atelier of Marie Louise Boulanger through an interactive art workshop. Drawing from improvisation, theatre play and our contact with nature, we will explore the magic world of trees and unfold the mystery of their feelings (27/01). And we will say goodbye to January with lots of play in a different… school!
Vamvakou wishes you all the best for the new year, full of journeys to worlds you have dreamt of, to magic worlds, to ideal worlds, to the craziest destinations of your life!
