Today, in response to defamatory comments in the Macedonian press from the theatre management last night, the creative team released the following statement to local television and print media:
"We the creative team of Alcmaeon in Corinth were invited by the NTB to realise Colin Teevan's version of Euripides' lost play from his Macedonian trilogy.
We took this as a privilege and have pursued our work with diligence and a great sense of responsibility to honour the Macedonian theatrical heritage. But, since we arrived on July 14th it has become increasingly obvious that the management had neither the funds nor the will to realise the agreed production. In spite of all our attempts at communicating with the management prior to our arrival, we had no advance warning as to the theatre's difficulties regarding finance and management. Thus, we strongly believe that we have been brought here under false pretences.
The management of NTB have been demanding changes in set, concept, venue and technical facilities. These changes have greatly compromised the show as well as everyone involved, not the least the author's rights. Yesterday, we were asked to asses the current state of the production and find a way of producing an alternative show concept in a different venue and cut down to whatever material and technical resources the theatre is currently capable of providing. At the same time, the MD of NTB, made public accusations that are not only incorrect and preposterous but are also defamatory. For example, it is the theatre MD who is solely responsible for the sanctioning of theatre's expenditure.
This current situation clearly shows that NTB is not in fact fulfilling their obligations to the creative team, their actors or the people of Macedonia. We have been forced into an impossible position, threatened and defamed by the very body that has invited us here and are finding it impossible to work. By making the circumstances of the production impossible, we believe, the theatre are de facto cancelling the show and are thus in breach of all our contracts.
The issues of copyright infringement and the abuse of our moral and human rights according to international law are currently being discussed.
Colin Teevan, Gideon Davey, Nikola Kodjabashia, Sasha C. Damjanovski, Ilina Angelovska"
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