Learn Hardcore Greek: Απόψε πάμε σε μια παράσταση στο παλιό θέατρο της γειτονιάς. - Tonight we are going to a performance at the old theater in the neighborhood.

Απόψε is a single word and feels a bit more compact and natural in many contexts.
σήμερα το βράδυ can sound a little more explicit or slightly more formal/emphatic, like “this evening (today)”.

In practice, you can use either:

Απόψε πάμε σε μια παράσταση.
Σήμερα το βράδυ πάμε σε μια παράσταση.

Both are fine and very common.

What exactly is πάμε, and why is it used for a future plan?

Πάμε is:

Person/number: 1st person plural (we)
Tense: present
Verb: πάω / πηγαίνω = to go

So πάμε literally means we go.

Greek, like English, often uses the present tense for near future plans:

English: Tonight we’re going to a show. (present continuous, future meaning)
Greek: Απόψε πάμε σε μια παράσταση. (present, future meaning)

If you want a more explicitly future form, you can also say:

Απόψε θα πάμε σε μια παράσταση. = Tonight we will go / we’re going to go to a performance.

Both are natural; πάμε without θα is very common for fixed plans.

Why is there no word for we in the sentence?

Greek usually does not need subject pronouns (I, you, we, etc.) because the verb ending already shows who the subject is.

πάμε clearly tells you “we go”.
Adding εμείς (we) is only needed for emphasis or contrast:
- Εμείς πάμε σε μια παράσταση, αυτοί μένουν σπίτι.
  We are going to a performance, they are staying home.

So Απόψε πάμε… already means Tonight we’re going…, without needing εμείς.

Why is it σε μια παράσταση but στο παλιό θέατρο? What’s the difference between σε and στο?

Σε is the basic preposition meaning to / in / at (depending on context).

Στο is a contraction:

σε + το = στο (to the / in the / at the, with neuter or masculine singular)

In your sentence:

σε μια παράσταση
- σε
  - μια (a) + παράσταση (performance)
- Here παράσταση has the indefinite article: a performance.
στο παλιό θέατρο
- σε + το = στο
- στο
  - παλιό θέατρο = to the old theater / at the old theater
- Here θέατρο has the definite article: the theater.

So:

σε is the full preposition.
στο is just σε combined with το (the).

Why is it σε here and not για (for) or another preposition?

In Greek, you use σε to show movement to a place or event:

πάω σε μια παράσταση = I go to a performance
πάμε σε ένα εστιατόριο = we’re going to a restaurant
πηγαίνω στο σχολείο = I go to school

Για usually means for (for the purpose of / intended for), not physical destination:

πάω για ψώνια = I’m going (for) shopping
είναι δώρο για σένα = it’s a gift for you

So for going to a performance / theater, you need σε (→ σε μια παράσταση, στο θέατρο), not για.

What does μια mean, and how is it different from μία?

Both μια and μία are forms of the feminine word for one / a / an.

As an indefinite article (a / an):
- In modern spelling, the unstressed form is often written μια, without an accent.
- σε μια παράσταση = to a performance (indefinite, not a specific one)
As the numeral “one”:
- When you really mean the number one (and not just a/an), you normally stress it: μία.
- Έχω μόνο μία αδελφή. = I have only one sister.

Pronunciation:

In everyday speech, μια and μία are both pronounced [mia].
The accent (or its absence) mostly shows grammar/use: article vs strongly-stressed numeral.

What is παράσταση exactly, and what gender/case is it here?

Παράσταση is:

Meaning: performance, typically a theatrical performance / show. Depending on context, it can be a play, opera, etc.
Gender: feminine
Basic form (nominative singular): η παράσταση
In the sentence it’s σε μια παράσταση, so:
- Preposition σε takes the accusative case
- Feminine accusative singular is also παράσταση

Some useful forms:

Nominative: η παράσταση (the performance)
Accusative: τη(ν) παράσταση (the performance – as object, or after σε)
Plural nominative: οι παραστάσεις
Plural accusative: τις παραστάσεις

Here σε μια παράσταση = to a performance / show.

Why is it παλιό θέατρο and not παλιός θέατρο?

Adjectives in Greek agree with the noun in:

Gender
Number
Case

Θέατρο is:

Gender: neuter
Nominative singular: το θέατρο
Accusative singular: also το θέατρο (neuter has same form for nominative and accusative)

The adjective παλιός (old) changes form:

Masculine: παλιός
Feminine: παλιά
Neuter: παλιό

Because θέατρο is neuter, the adjective must also be neuter:

το παλιό θέατρο = the old theater

So:

παλιός άνθρωπος (masc.: old man/person)
παλιά ταινία (fem.: old movie)
παλιό θέατρο (neut.: old theater)

Why is it το παλιό θέατρο (the old theater) and not ένα παλιό θέατρο (an old theater)?

This is a matter of definiteness and how specific you are:

το παλιό θέατρο της γειτονιάς
= the old theater of the neighborhood
→ It refers to a specific, known theater (the one in that neighborhood).

If you said:

Απόψε πάμε σε μια παράσταση σε ένα παλιό θέατρο.
= Tonight we’re going to a performance in an old theater.

That would mean:

It’s some old theater, not specifically the known neighborhood one.

In the original sentence, το παλιό θέατρο της γειτονιάς clearly picks out that one particular theater everyone knows.

What does της γειτονιάς mean grammatically? Why is γειτονιάς in that form?

Της γειτονιάς is a genitive phrase meaning of the neighborhood.

η γειτονιά = the neighborhood (nominative)
της γειτονιάς = of the neighborhood (genitive singular)

In Greek, the genitive case is often used like English:

of X
or X’s

So:

το παλιό θέατρο της γειτονιάς
literally: the old theater of the neighborhood
naturally in English: the old neighborhood theater or the old theater in the neighborhood.

Forms of γειτονιά:

Nominative: η γειτονιά (the neighborhood)
Genitive: της γειτονιάς (of the neighborhood)
Accusative: τη(ν) γειτονιά (the neighborhood – as object)

Here genitive της γειτονιάς shows possession/association with the theater.

Could the word order change, for example Πάμε απόψε σε μια παράσταση…? Does that sound natural?

Yes, Greek word order is relatively flexible, and several options sound natural:

Απόψε πάμε σε μια παράσταση στο παλιό θέατρο της γειτονιάς.
→ neutral, with Απόψε (tonight) at the start.
Πάμε απόψε σε μια παράσταση στο παλιό θέατρο της γειτονιάς.
→ still natural; slight emphasis on πάμε (we’re going).
Πάμε σε μια παράσταση απόψε στο παλιό θέατρο της γειτονιάς.
→ also possible; απόψε sounds a bit more like an added time detail.

Meaning doesn’t really change; it’s more about rhythm and light emphasis. All these versions would be easily understood and acceptable.

Can you briefly summarize the grammar roles of each word in the sentence?

Yes, word by word:

Απόψε – adverb of time (tonight)
πάμε – verb, 1st person plural present of πάω/πηγαίνω (we go / we’re going – here with future meaning)
σε – preposition (to)
μια – feminine, singular, indefinite article (a), modifying παράσταση
παράσταση – feminine, accusative singular noun (performance/show), object of σε
στο – contraction of σε + το; to the / at the
παλιό – neuter, singular adjective (old), agreeing with θέατρο in gender/number/case
θέατρο – neuter, accusative singular noun (theater), object of στο
της – feminine, singular, genitive definite article (of the), modifying γειτονιάς
γειτονιάς – feminine, genitive singular noun (neighborhood), in a genitive phrase indicating of the neighborhood

Altogether:
Απόψε πάμε σε μια παράσταση στο παλιό θέατρο της γειτονιάς.
= Tonight we’re going to a performance at the old neighborhood theater.