Greek actor Periklis Lianos has spoken about his professional fears, confessing that low theatre attendance and performance cancellations leave him feeling personally rejected and devastated.
In an interview published by Greek weekly entertainment magazine Loipon, Lianos explained that performing in front of small crowds deeply affects his emotional state and sense of self-worth.
Impact of Low Audience Turnout
Lianos stated that having a sparse audience or seeing a performance cancelled because of a lack of spectators is his ultimate nightmare. He explained that whenever a show is called off due to poor ticket sales, he takes the outcome personally and feels emotionally collapsed.
When asked by Loipon if he had ever performed in an empty venue, the actor confided that low turnout leaves him feeling invalidated. He noted that sparse attendance makes him feel as though the audience is directly rejecting him as an artist.
Cancelled Show at Aggelon Vima Theatre
To illustrate his experience, Lianos recalled a specific incident from 2016 while he was starring in the play The Man in the Attic at the Aggelon Vima theatre in Athens.
On December 6, 2016, severe street disturbances in central Athens significantly disrupted movement across the city. As a result of the riots, only six spectators arrived at the theatre for the scheduled performance.
Following the low turnout, the production's producer decided that the show had to be cancelled for the evening. Lianos recounted that the decision felt like a physical blow, saying he walked to his car afterwards feeling as though he had been stabbed.
Career and Historical Background
Periklis Lianos is a long-serving Greek actor who worked as a practising lawyer before stepping away from his legal career to pursue full-time acting on stage and television.
The Aggelon Vima theatre is an established cultural venue situated in central Athens, near Omonoia Square, which regularly hosts theatrical productions and dramatic plays.
Public demonstrations and street disruptions occur annually in central Athens on December 6, frequently causing transport delays and affecting attendance at cultural venues throughout the city centre.
