“Voices in the Dark” Were Heard Clearly at the Michalis Cacogiannis Foundation

“Women, Visibility and the Art of Speaking When You’re Told to Be Silent” with Natassa Bofiliou, Natasa Giamali, and Vangelis Avgoulas

With a complete sell-out and nearly 300 people filling the hall, the event immediately transformed into an experience. For two hours, the lights went out and only the voices remained. Three voices that, in the darkness, sounded clearer, braver, more genuine.

Vangelis Avgoulas moderated a discussion for two full hours, centered on female identity, sexism, and patriarchy. He then opened the floor, addressing people by their first names. Questions, comments, laughter, and often prolonged applause followed—applause that seemed to test the limits of the room.

Despite the initial anxiety, both women “stepped into the light” through the darkness. Not alone, but together with Vangelis, in a dialogue that connected them with the audience.

Natasa Giamali and Natassa Bofiliou, with a simple, understated, and unembellished style, dismantled sexist stereotypes and prejudices. They spoke clearly on the pressing issue of gender discrimination, emphasized the need to shift responsibility from the victim to the perpetrator, touched on “difficult” topics such as femicide, and spoke politically without evasion. Both have a strong public voice, and they proved it once again—this time without image—simply giving sound to their thoughts, stripped bare by the darkness.

Natassa Bofiliou, having previously lived through a similar experience during a concert held in complete darkness that had deeply moved the audience, spoke about that evening when, unseen beside her, Vangelis Avgoulas was helping pianist Antonis Palamaris find his notes. Natasa Giamali, with a background in law like Vangelis, walked alongside him through legal pathways, shedding light on aspects of discrimination and the institutional handling of gender-based violence. With composure and determination, they highlighted both the limits and the possibilities of the law. At the same time, she demonstrated her solidarity as a long-time ally of the disability movement by explaining to the audience the social model of disability and its importance. At this point, Elli Driva, a disabled actress who attended the event and whom we recently enjoyed in the role of Christina in Sotiris Tsafoulias’ series “RIFIFI,” also contributed.

Vangelis Avgoulas, with his spontaneous and disarming humor, acted as a bridge between the stage and the audience. Through brief, well-timed remarks that drew laughter from both attendees and speakers, he managed to dissolve the initial awkwardness, relax the audience, and create a sense of familiarity. In the darkness, his voice helped the audience open up and ultimately enjoy this unique experience.

Among those attending the event were the President and members of the Board of ELESΥΤΗ, as well as Ms. Konstantina Sklavou, Associate Professor at the Department of Social Work and President of the Committee for Equality and Combating Discrimination at the University of West Attica.

Significant support for the event also came from the company Edenred.

The third “Dialogue in the Dark” paved the way for the next one, scheduled for Tuesday, April 28, featuring lyricist and poet Lina Nikolakopoulou and singer-songwriter and performer Miltos Paschalidis.

Our appointment is renewed in the same venue, where, when the lights go out, our voices grow stronger.