THEATROMATHIA

ABOUT US

The Educational Drama Institute of Greece – Theatromathia founded in January 2001 by a group of artists who for many years were working hard to create a company that would contribute to the development of drama/theatre in education. EDI is a non-profit company. Our base is in Athens but we are trying to reach even the most remote places in Greece.
The management directors (Alice Katsavou & Melina Papanestoros) in cooperation with artistic director (Takis Chrysoulis) are conducting the business of EDI. The members of EDI serve as heads in committees within the organization that are responsible for various projects (educational committee, publication committee, and audiovisual committee).
Today with the contribution of volunteers and members, we made a long way in reaching our goals. Our principal activities are productions of educational plays, seminars, workshops, lectures, publications and as well as special projects and initiatives.
Until now, we have conducted seminars and workshops in Athens, Thessaly, Peloponnesus, Dodecanese and Thessalonica. We also performed our plays in Athens, Thessaly, Kalamata and Sparta. We produce and broadcast as radio-theatre series for young children, Greek literature adapted for radio by Takis Chrissoulis (at the radio station of the Church of Greece).
We believe that as in ancient Greece theatre was a means of education for people, we must use it today as an educational tool meeting this way its origins.
We work constantly to that direction trying to influence government to include drama/theatre effectively into curriculum and we try to convince the theatrical groups of Greece to present educational plays connected with the curriculum and plays with a pedagogical meaning.

MISSION

Our mission is to promote the idea of Educational Drama in Greek Society.

OBJECTIVES

Our objectives are the following:

• Cultivate dialogue between educational and artistic community about all the aspects of Theatre in Education. To promote a forum for communication and exchanging of ideas about drama/theatre in schools [elementary, Gymnasium (intermediate) and Lyceum (high school)]
• We aim at a research project through pilot programmes to schools and Regional Cultural Institutions and Centres that will come to conclusions about the benefits of the use of Theatre/Drama and the ways that can apply to the Greek curriculum.
• Support the teaching community on their efforts of better education through Theatre/Drama.
• Assist teachers "acquiring" knowledge about drama/theatre as a method of teaching and as a way to "knowing ourselves"
  Encourage other artists to work to our direction for a theatre that "teaches while entertaining"

MAIN STRATEGIES

We promote theatre as an educational tool by conducting seminars, workshops and lectures assisting educators "acquiring" knowledge about theatrical aspects and the use of theatre in teaching young and adults (dramatization, acting, improvisation, dramatic activities, etc).
We also produce (and tour), educational plays that are based on curriculum. Simultaneously by developing our website, we introduce the idea of Educational Drama to new people everyday and promote the dialogue and exchange of ideas on the use of theatre/drama in education.
We also cooperate with schools, teachers, theatrical groups and organizations, in order to develop the use of drama in education and for research purposes.
We make publications, audiovisual and other educational material.
We cultivate communication between schools and the Greek artistic community by bringing them together in specific projects of cooperation.
We encourage telecommunication through internet or mail for teachers (members or not) for any aspect concerning theatre in education and propose plays, or dramatizations and theatrical games that can be embodied in the school curriculum.

ACTIVITIES

A. THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS UNTIL TODAY

"Gypsy’s Fairytale" by T.Chrissoulis, co-produced with Prova Theatre Group (2001) - a play against discrimination and racism. (for ages 4 and above)

"Rigas Velestinlis" by T.Chrissoulis, (Historic drama), co produced with Kesariani Theatre Group (2002) - life of Rigas, the hero of Greek revolution of 1821. (for ages 11 and above)

"Eternal Miracle" by T.Chrissoulis, (Religious Drama) (2001-2002) - life of Holly Mary of Egypt (for ages 16 and above) - 3 seasons (Also single performances in Tenos island, and Chalkida

"Sea Dream" by T.Chrissoulis, (Play reading) (2001) - dramatization of short stories written by Alexander Papadiamandis, one of the greatest Greek writers (for ages 10 and above)

"Constantine Paleologos, the petrified king" by T.Chrissoulis, (Play reading, with live orchestra) (Mystras-Sparta, 2002) – referring to Constantine Paleologos’ last moments of his life and the "fall" of Constantinople (Istanbul)

"For the tough weak or The right of a poor" by T.Chrissoulis, (Rhetoric Drama) (2002-04) - based on Lysias’ speech. (for ages 13 and above)

"The moon's trawler in the way of the stars" by T.Chrissoulis, (Play for children) (2003-2004) - a play that makes fears disappear. (for ages 3-9)

"An Ode to the Virgin" by T.Chrissoulis (July 25, 2003) - Music and theater event [9th Meeting of Religious Music]

"The love ring" by T.Chrissoulis, (2004-2005) - a play about how to make our dreams come true with love. (for ages 3-9). The children participate in the show with the guidance of the actors.

"The Quiltmakers gift" by Jeff Brumbeau (story theatre for children) (2004-2005) - a tale adapted for theatre by T.Chrissoulis. (A co-production with Agyra Publications)

"Once upon a time" by T.Chrissoulis at AKROPOL theatre

"The Selfish Giant" -Oscar Wilde (adapted for theatre by T.Chrissoulis) - (A co-production with Agyra Publications)

"Orpheus is Alive" by T.Chrissoulis (October & November, 2005) - a musical about a modern Orpheus who is the leading actor in the troup of Hades and he is falling in love with Eurydice, the new leading lady in the moment he shee's her. (for ages 16 and above)

"Hey, Psit" by T.Chrissoulis (October-December, 2005)- 5 directors and 5 one-act plays that are conected by the playful mood of the writer who made a one-act play for each of 5 letters of the Alphabet. Every word in the dialogue starts from that same letter. (For ages 13 and above)

"Seeking the Rainbow" by T.Chrissoulis (Play for children, 2005-2006) - a story about saving the woods that are recently burnt; by making the rain to return from her blue-sky-mom's house, when the children and our heroes finally find all six colors of the rainbow and give them to her. (for ages 3-9)

"The Quiltmakers journey" by Jeff Brumbeu (for children) (2006-2007) - a tale adapted for theatre by T.Chrissoulis and directed by Melina Papanestoros. (A co-production with Agyra Publications)

"Demeter & Pershephone" by T.Chrissoulis (Play for children, 2006-2008) - The ancient myth that explains why the seasons change. (for ages 3-9)

"Dancing with clean water" by T.Chrisoulis (Play for children, 2007-2008) - a tale about the importance of water with water-fairies and a eco-concius beaver. (for ages 3-9)

"Potatoes-Potatoes" by A.Lobel (Play for children, 2007-2008) - an anti-war tale (A co-production with Agyra Publications)

"A surprise tonigh" by T.Chrissoulis (March-April 2008) - A group of actors present a vaudeville performance through a series of unexpected drifts and inversions. The actors endeavour to stay calm and try to lead things along a natural course. But, they just slip. The deviation is so intense that the audience even doubts if the show is accidental or organized. The end inevitably brings surprise and shock. That's why the actors kindly request those who know the end of the story to keep it to themselves. (for ages 16 and above)

B. SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS UNTIL TODAY

• Members of EDI participated as educators at Seminars-Workshops 2001 conducted by Centre of Artistic Activities of Tripoli (Peloponnesus), the Ministry of Culture and Municipality of Tripoli. Our subject was "Movement, the soundless language of body". The workshop was attended by 50 teachers.
• International Seminar in Hydra titled "Playing to the Gods" (2001) with English and American participants (artists and teachers). Takis Chrisoulis presented in four lectures and one workshop his subject "The roots of ancient Greek Drama and the development up today", having a stunning success as the reviews he received from the organizers of the seminar verify.
• Members of EDI participated as educators in Workshop of Theatrical Education in Serres conducted by Regional Municipal Theatre of Serres (November 2001). Participants: 120 teachers.
  We conducted in cooperation with Municipal Cultural Centre of Kesariani a 12 hours workshops titled "Theatre in Education: Theatre as an art form and as a teaching tool".
• We conducted a 10 hours workshop for teachers of 30th Gymnasium of Athens (intermediate school), titled "Dramatizations based on curriculum and theatrical activities for Gymnasium students". Attendees: nine teachers
  We conducted a large scaled seminar-workshop (36 hours) for teachers and artists titled "Theatre as an educational tool -Theatre in Education a way to improve and assimilate the curriculum" in co-operation with Kesariani Municipal Cultural Centre.

C. OTHER

Production of a Radio-Theatre series programme titled "Treasures from Greek literature" (novels of famous Greek authors, adaptations written by Takis Chrissoulis) broadcasted by the Radio Station of the Church of Greece. (Listen the program live on-line Every Saturday 5.30 a.m. GMT)
Audio CD Productions with the music of theatrical performance: "Eternal Miracle", "For the tough weak", "Hey, Psit!".
Publications: "Orpheus is Alive" (book), "Hey, Psit" (Book), "Eternal Miracle" (book), "Theatro-MATHIA" (bimonthly magazine), "For the tough weak: Educational material connected with performance" (Vol.1 & Vol.2), "Moonwalk: Educational material connected with performance", "The love ring": Educational material connected with performance, "Seeking the rainbow": Educational material connected with performance".
Awards: The Cross of Apostoliki Diakonia (7/3/2005) for our work in childrens theatre for radio and audio CD's.
 

OTHER WEB-PAGES ABOUT US

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Major Publications