“Cops and Robbers” go to Poland!

“Cops & Robbers” by Manolis Saridakis and Medie Megas is travelling to Poland! Following the completion of the first phase of their choreographic research, the team will take part in a residency at ZAMEK Culture Centre from 21 to 26 September 2026, continuing their exploration and development of the work.

In an enclosed space with grey walls, a group of disabled and non-disabled people perform a choreographic movement with their eyes closed. Holding hands, the participants remain connected to one another, seemingly forming a human knot that they attempt to untangle.

The work takes the well-known children’s game as its starting point. For Saridakis, the game is intertwined with both joyful childhood memories and the fear and anxiety he experiences when confronted with the reality of violence around him.

My sister and I played cops and robbers when we were children. But now, as an adult, when I watch TV and see robbers and policemen on the news, I feel afraid.

-Manolis Saridakis

The creative process was shaped by a dramaturgic exploration of the diverse issues that emerge from Manolis’s relationship with the game, including play, childhood, access and security in contemporary society. Maintaining the performative nature and emotion of the game while creating a performance structure that reflects this creative process was an exciting challenge for the team.

What will happen at ZAMEK Culture Centre

As part of the week-long artistic residency at ZAMEK Culture Centre in Poznań, the team will collaborate with two Polish artists, who will also take part in the work-in-progress presentation on 25 September.

The residency will focus on further developing the material of the work, while exploring how performers with different experiences and perceptions can come together and coexist creatively on stage. The team will also investigate audience participation and accessibility as integral parts of the performance itself, rather than as elements added afterwards. This exploration will include a workshop with the team of Klucz Theatre, as well as a collaboration with Polish audio description specialist Marcin Głowiński to develop accessible tools for audiences with visual disabilities.

Credits

Artists and specialists involved in the residency:

Manolis Saridakis, Medie Megas, Olympia Antonena, Ismini Slijper, Chrysanthos Christodoulou, Ewa Jenek, Bartosz Pawłowski, Marcin Głowiński and the Klucz Theatre team.

The team of “Cops & Robbers” performance:

Concept: Manolis Saridakis
Dramaturgy and rehearsal directions: Medie Megas
Performance creation: Manolis Saridakis, Medie Megas in collaboration with the dancers.
Dancers: Irini Kourouvani, Isimini Slijper, Olympia Antonena, Christos Christakopoulos, Manolis Saridakis, Medie Megas Scenography: Natasa Lekkou
Observer / writer: Maria Papadopoulou
Sound / music: Chrysanthos Christodoulou
Video / photo documentation: Gkikas Melachrinos
Production: Onassis Stegi / Europe Beyond Access
Executive production: liminal and Shared Productions