Karagiozis greek shadow puppetry friend tv#

I had tried my hand at writing a few Karagiozis plays in my younger days. (Please, pretty please, not to appear needy, but please….)” I was brought up on those barely audible, grainy recordings and even though he is long gone, whenever I think of Karagiozis or try to emulate his voice, which is quite often, since my uncle’s enthusiasm was inordinately infections and hastened by conversion into a devotee of the art of Karagiozis, it is my uncle’s voice I hear, booming in my ear.Ī couple of years ago, inspiring Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria Greek language schools educator Christina Soumi presented an inspired Karagiozis shadow puppet play to my daughter’s class entitled “Karagiozis in Australia.” Enthralled by her art and witnessing the delight of her students, many of whom were encountering my childhood friend for the very first time, I told her: “If ever you need a spare pair of hands, look no further.

Karagiozis greek shadow puppetry friend tv#

In the days before DVD’s, Youtube and mobile phones, he would travel to Greece, sit his vast video camera before a flickering TV set and record countless Karagiozis plays to bring back home to us. Bringing the play beyond the screen and into the real world, he would call me Hatzatzari, Karagiozis’ favourite nickname for his best friend and chief tormentee, Hatziavatis. Possessed of a deep, rumbling voice, he would insert of all the great Greek shadow puppet play hero’s catchphrases in all of his sentences, whenever he would address us. My late uncle Stathis was my first ever contact with Karagiozis.