Melachrinos Velentzas talks to us
We had the great pleasure to talk with Melachrinos Velentzas, member of Experimento group and one of the protagonists of the alternative theatrical performance “Lemon”. The performance travelled to Galatas and took place at Klados farm on 18 May. For the time being, Experimento is preparing the performance of 20 & 21 July on Poros, as well as the two-day workshop “From Idea into Action”.
Melachrinos talked to us not only about his work as a pianist and actor, but also about the economic crisis and the way in which young people can make their dreams come true.
Tell us about your work.
I work in music and theatre as a pianist and actor. At the same time, in April 2018 I founded Experimento Productions, a research and production company. In fact, Experimento group acts as an independent art network aiming to promote research in the production of theatrical performances. We aim to adopt a holistic approach to a cultural event in, as we believe that everything has culture as a starting and an end point.
What is your relationship with the local area?
We visited the area as part of our research for the theatrical performance Lemon. Lemon travels to different places, theatre stages and non-theatrical spaces. One of these places was Klados farm, at Galatas, Troizinia, where the performance was hosted in the packing plant, in May. The friendship that bloomed between us and the farm’s owners, Stelios and Spiros Klados, and the special connection we felt with the area made us want to come back. Indeed, we are now preparing the performance for 20 and 21 July which is going to take place on the ferry boat connecting Poros with Galatas.
Also, a two-day workshop titled “From Idea into Action” will be organized at the beginning of July on the occasion of the performance taking place on Poros in an alternative setting. There, we are going to share with the participants the experience we have gained in the fields of research and production so far. The aim of such meetings is to bring up the participants’ wonderings and concerns regarding their own ideas and wishes. This is going to be done through teamwork and by employing theatre techniques and music.
How has crisis affected your work and your life and how do you deal with it?
I was born in 1983 and I belong to a generation who grew up with some certainties and with promises for things that were going to be offered to us. When the economic crisis came up, these certainties vanished into thin air. This is where you are asked to withstand the effect the negative feelings caused by this situation has on you and also to find the strength to use this uncertainty in a creative way. In any case, crisis is one of art’s structural components: art is always questioning reality.
Which of your knowledge and personality traits have been most useful to you in your professional life?
When I was younger, I used to play a game with my father – the game was called “How do you write this word?” From each word’s spelling, we moved to its meaning and then to the meaning each person gives to it. What I mean to say is that that constant wondering I had as a child turned out to be a valuable asset as I was growing up and along with my emotional need for things to evolve it has been really useful for my career so far.
What piece of advice would you give to a young person who would like to do what you do?
To do it in their own way. But always in collaboration with other people. The only chance of things to happen and have a certain meaning lies between the personal desire or fantasy and the needs a group of people has.
Short bio
Melachrinos Velentzas was born in Athens. He is an International and European Studies graduate (University of Piraeus) and he holds postgraduate diplomas in “Cultural Management” (Panteion University) and "Marketing, Consumption & Society", which he attended as a Limerick University scholar (Ireland). He presented his diploma thesis at Carleton University (Ottawa, Canada) titled “The function of music in advertising”. He has worked in cultural spaces creating and developing their identity. His relationship with music and piano started at the age of six with classical studies and advanced music theory lessons, which were followed by jazz improvisation and harmony courses. In theatre, he works as an actor having attended seminars, and since 2018 he has founded Experimento – Artistic network of Research and Production. He is delivers trainings on independent productions and communication of cultural events.