I TRY INCESSANTLY
NAME: STELLA MAYROGIANNI
AGE: 92
PLACE OF RESIDENCE: ILIOUPOLI
BIRTHPLACE: ATHENS
ORIGIN: ATHENS
ON THE NIGHT OF THE PERFORMANCE HER YOUNGEST SON WILL DRIVE HER UP THE VOULIAGMENIS AVENUE FROM HER HOME TO THE HERODEION.
Born in 1917 in Plaka by local parents Stella describes herself as a 100% Athenian citizen, who is still full of life and optimism : "Eight months ago I was in the hospital and the doctors gave up on me, they even called a priest. But I'm still here. Every morning I wake up I say: 'Thank God, I woke up today'".
She spent her childhood between taking care of her 11 siblings ("I played with two children in my arms") and a job in a library: "from my first pay I bought my mother three pounds of soap. Until then she was washing our clothes using ashes".
At the age of 16 she got married and moved with her beloved husband who came from Constantinople to the area of Ilioupoli: "In the 1930's there were only 3 houses here. No water, no electricity, no nothing. Big rocks everywhere. We were eating greens and snails. I was taking care then of the chapel of Prophet Elias".
Stella became mother of 9 boys.
Today she is an active member of two choirs : "I know by heart over 160 songs".
Although she doesn’t read ancient drama, she identifies with Prometheus, because of his will to sacrifice himself.
© Rimini Protokoll
© Rimini Protokoll