A stage adaptation of Jorge Bucay's bestselling book 20 Steps Forward premieres at the Jenny Karezi Theatre in Athens on October 2.
Director Ioanna Georganta brings the philosophical work to the stage using a script written by Pavlos Mitsopoulos, who also designed the sets. The theatrical approach combines humor, emotion, and everyday moments to reflect truths in which audience members can recognize themselves.
The plot centers on four strangers who find themselves unexpectedly brought together in an airport waiting room. They are stranded for 90 minutes after the final evening flight to Thessaloniki is delayed repeatedly.
Suspended between the lives they are leaving behind and what awaits them at their destination, the travelers begin talking after a copy of Bucay's book prompts an unexpected conversation. As the departure is postponed again and again, stories from the book intersect with the characters' own lives.
The four individuals agree, question, clash, and laugh together during their wait. Almost without realizing it, they begin discussing the personal concerns and feelings that truly matter to them.
Themes of self reflection and choice
According to the production notes, 20 Steps Forward is a play about the choices people make and those they postpone. The work explores what individuals fear leaving behind, failure, second chances, relationships with others, and most importantly, one's relationship with oneself.
The performance offers no easy answers or prescribed paths, acknowledging that the next step in life is not the same for everyone. Creators designed the show for theatergoers of all ages, offering a shared theatrical experience for families.
The production is based on the global bestseller by Jorge Bucay, an Argentine doctor, psychiatrist, and gestalt psychotherapist. Bucay is widely known for his self-help literature and therapeutic parables that blend psychological insight with accessible storytelling.
In Greece, the original book is published by Opera Editions following a Greek translation by Konstantina Episkopopoulou. Readers familiar with the book will see its stories reframed through four distinct personal perspectives, while newcomers encounter the philosophy through a human dialogue between strangers.
Cast, creative team and venue background
The four main characters in the airport lounge are portrayed by actors Evi Dovelou, Stefania Zora, Vassilis Papadopoulos, and Christos Stavridis. In addition to writing the text and designing the sets, Pavlos Mitsopoulos collaborated with costume and props designer Angeliki Giannouli.
The performance takes place at the Jenny Karezi Theatre, located at 3 Akadimias Street in central Athens. The historic cultural venue is named after Jenny Karezi, one of Greece's most celebrated stage and screen actresses of the 20th century. Situated near Syntagma Square, the theatre regularly hosts contemporary Greek drama, comedy, and literary stage adaptations.
The story's setting uses a delayed flight to Thessaloniki, the capital of Central Macedonia and the second largest city in Greece. Located roughly 500 kilometers north of Athens, Thessaloniki is a major economic and cultural hub, and the air travel corridor between the two cities is among the busiest in the nation.
Performance times and ticket pricing
The play opens on Friday, October 2, 2026, with a scheduled curtain time of 21:00. The performance runs for a total of 100 minutes, which includes a 10 minute intermission.
Standard general admission tickets cost 20 euros. Reduced tickets priced at 18 euros are available for minors, university students, unemployed individuals, seniors aged 65 and over, and spectators with disabilities.
Tickets can be purchased online through the ticketing platform more.com. Special discounted rates for group bookings of more than 20 people are available by calling the Jenny Karezi Theatre box office at 210 3636144.
