Theater as an educational tool

An interesting seminar in Kessariani, Athens

"Theater as an educational tool" is the title of the seminar organized by the Educational Drama Institute "Theatromathia" in cooperation with the Aeolian Cultural Center and the Municipalitu of Kessariani, from November 15 to December 21, 2003. The program of total duration of 36 hours, is addressed to educators and students of theoretical orientation in paedagogic and drama schools.

The issues analyzed in the context of the seminar are related to education through theater and the methods, principles and rules that define the relationship of theater and education.
Among others, also taught are drama-improvization, dramatization, acting, theater games, the Orf and Kondaly music education systems, as well as theater direction of school groups.
Through this program, participants are guided to a way that makes learning and teaching an "entertainment." Thus, they will be able to see in practice theater as an educational tool in their schools. They will learn to work with their students through the theater and they will encourage them to enter imaginative worlds that will help them explore safely important issues related to history, tradition, literature, science and their very personality or life itself.

Teachers in this seminars are actor, director and author Takis Chryssoulis and actresses Melina Papanestoros and Aliki Katsavou.

The classes of the seminar take place every Saturday and Sunday (10:30-13:30).

Two theater plays for children performed in Kessariani, Athens

Two lovely children's plays are presented by the Institute of Educational Theater Theatromathia" at Kessariani's Theater in collaboration with the Municipality of Kessariani, on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 16 and 17, 2003. They are Takis Chryssoulis' plays "The moon's trawler in the way of the stars" and "The Right of the Poor" and they are addressed to kids younger that 16.

The first play, "The moon's trawler in the way of the stars," for children 3-9 yr old, performed on Tuesday, December 16, is a magical fairy-tale that "pushes fears away," a show of collective theater that entertains and liberates.
The story is about Firefly who starts a trip to the dreamworldland with the help of Cricket, the good grandma Darky, the Moon and the Mushroom Monus-Monus. There, all the gifts of the night are spread for those who arrive first to enjoy. Fears are gone away since the mermaid Alianthi takes care of this.

The ID of the performance
Writer & Director: Takis Chryssoulis
Sets-painting: Petros Hadjipetros
Costumes: Anna Kastavou
Music: Konstantinos Stelloudis
Cast: Melina Papanestoros, Aliki Katsavou, Marios Simeonidis

The second play, "The Right of the Poor," is performed on Wednesday, December 17. The story unfolds in ancient Greece and its heroes are Pethodorus, orator Lyceas, their wives and a very sharp slave. It is a performance that uses entertaining tools to reveal the power of the speech and help children and youngsters know ancient Greece, the customs and the spirit of that time. It is addressed to children between 9 and 16 years of age.
The ID of the performance
Writer & Director: Takis Chryssoulis
Sets- Costumes: Anna Maherianaki
Sets painting: Petros Hadjipetros
Music: Yorgos Voukanos
Cast: Antonis Ziogas, Melina Papanestoros, Aliki Katsavou, Marios Simeonidis, Yannis Syllignakis

"An Ode to the Virgin-Jubilee": Music and theater event at the resort of Loutraki

With the event "An Ode to the Virgin-Jubilee", the Educational Drama Institute of Greece "Theatromathia" participates in the 9th Meeting of Religious Music that takes place on Friday, July 25, 2003, at the square of Our Lady the Healer (Panagias tis Giatrissas), in the town resort of Loutaki, near Athens. The meeting is an initiative of the Mayor of Loutraki, Mr. Pavlos Pavlou.
The "Ode to the Virgin-Jubilee" is a musical tribute in two parts, accompanied by monologues performed by actors Aggelos Antonopoulos, Takis Cryssoulis, Melina Papanestoros and Aliki Katsavou.
The first part presents the symphonic poem "Jubilee," composed by Yorgos Voukanos, in a libretto by Aggelos Antonopoulos. The "Exemplary Chamber Orchestra" is directed by Yorgos Aravidis and the choir "Diafonia" by Thanassis Matheakakis (baritone), Andreas Ioakim (psalmist) and Yorgos Voukanos.
The second part of the event presents the music and theater performance "An Ode to the Virgin" in texts by Takis Chryssoulis and music by Yorgos Voukanos. Also, actors Aliki Katsavou, Melina Papanestoros and Takis Chryssoulis, participate.
Singers are Yolanda Athanassopoulou, Christina Paputsidaki, Yorgos Voukanos and Andreas Ioakim, while parts of the plays "Angels of the Aegean," "Dream Birth" and "God's Songs" are performed.