Biography

Stratis Panourios was born in Lesvos Greece. He is a theater and cinema director, writer and actor. He has studied theatrical directing at the Greek National Theater and film directing at the “New York College” in Athens, playwriting at the Greek Playwrights Company (E.E.TH.S) and acting at the “Drama School of the National Theater”.

As a director, he has collaborated with the National Theater of Greece, the Cyprus Theater Organization, the Municipal Regional Theater of Patras, Agrinio and Corfu Greece. He has directed many plays in Athens, Lesvos and Italy. His own theatrical plays have been performed in Greece and Cyprus. He is a member of the International Theater Institute and an associate collaborator of the Swedish Institute of Athens. He is also a founding member of the Cultural Organization “Kochili”.

This last year, he has been collaborating with the Benaki Museum and the National Theater on a pioneering project that challenges Greek cultural norms, which combines drama, literature and fine arts. Original performances are composed on strong historical texts; one artifact is chosen and presented by the museum’s curators and actors perform in the museum’s galleries. It is a research program titled “From the Silence of the Display Case to Living Theatrical Voices”; a different museum tour where actors bring texts to life, casting light on aspects of history that are given voice by objects in the display cases.

Since November 2016, he has been collaborating with Korydallos prisons, the National Theater, Greek Ministry Of Justice, Office for Anti-Crime Policy, launching the 1st Theater Workshop inside the prisons. This is a research program. The first performance that was presented under this collaboration was “The Tempest” by William Shakespeare, directed by Stratis Panourios. All cast members were inmates, except for Miranda who was a National Theatre of Greece actress. It opened on June 2017. The next performance will open on February 2018 and it will be based on Chekhov’s novel “Ward No.6”. The performances are open to the public.

He has also collaborated with the Greek Therapy Center for Dependent Individuals (KETHEA) on June 2016, where he was asked to direct a performance in Korydallos prisons. This performance was based on the poem “If” written by Rudyard Kipling.

Moreover, Stratis is an acting and directing instructor and has introduced his own methods:
The “The Player of the Moment” is an original acting manual, which is based on and uses “Odyssey” by Homer as an educational training – tool. “Ulysses” as “No one” is transformed into the impeccable actor, always prepared and ready to jump into any part. Using the epic poem as a starting point and an inspiration, specific exercises are designed which aim to train the actor and shape his intellectual, emotional and moving center, turning him into a well balanced perceptive and creative artist, ready to transform impulses into inner and outer actions on stage. (To be published)

“Directing the Miraculous” is a journey into the inner world of the aspirant theatre director. It rotates him/her around a strange, almost dreamy directing method, which researches all aspects of training. Written as fiction, the book aims to record every step, every possible insecurity, the agonies, the qualifications, the great questions posed and the final transformation of the aspirant theatre director into a true artist. (To be published)

Lastly, he has conducted a number of speeches and lectures in Greece and abroad themed on the subjects of acting, directing and playwriting. Institutions that have hosted his lectures include: The American College of Greece, Deree College, Cyprus Theatre Organization, Greek Institute of Education Policy, Municipal and Regional Theatre of Patras, Municipal Theatre of Marathon, Tedx Athens, Municipality of Lesvos etc.

 

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Studies

2014-2016

– Film Direction
New York College, Athens – Film Studies
Under the direction of Dimitris Panagiotatos

2001-2004

– Theatre Direction
National Theatre of Greece
Under the direction of Stathis Livathinos

1993

– Ancient Drama Workshop
Of the graduates of the National Theatre of Greece
Under the direction of Giangos Andreadis

1990 – 1993

– Acting
Drama School of National Theatre of Greece
Under the direction of Tasos Roussos

1991-1992

– Theatre Works Writing
Workshop Young Greek Playwrights of E.E.TH.S
Under the direction of Stratis Karras

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Awards

2015: First Prize of theater performance Live Love Ride in Suitcase Theatre Festival.

2008: Third Prize at the National Competition one – act play organized by the International Translation Center of Rhodes and the Rhodes Municipal Theatre with the one-act play “Il Silenzio”

2006: First Prize of Playwriting in the 2nd Playwriting Competition of Aegean writers organized from Homeric Cultural Centre of Chios Municipality, with the play for children “Arion”

1991: First Prize in poetry in National Competition of Literature Review magazine with the poem “Hey! Love”

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Performances directed by Stratis Panourios

2017: “Kriezotou 3” Greek Poetry – Generation of Thirty, Benaki Museum – The Ghika Gallery – National Theatre of Greece
2017: ‘About Alexandros” based on 12th century Epic Persian Poetry, Benaki Museum – Museum of Islamic Art – National Theatre of Greece
2017: “The Tempest” by William Shakespeare, Korydallos Prisons – National Theatre of Greece
2017: “What the Old Man said”, based on the historic memoirs of Theodoros Kolokotronis, Benaki Museum – National Theatre of Greece
2017: “Erofili’s Needlework” by Georgios Chortatsis, Benaki Museum – National Theatre of Greece
2016: “Twelve Heads of Garlic and Fifteen Onions”, based on Ptochoprodromos Poems, Benaki Museum – National Theatre of Greece
2016: “The Initiation of Neoptolemos”. An adaptation of “Philoktetes” by Sophocles, Benaki Museum – National Theatre of Greece
2016: “The Guardian – Protector of the Shaolin Temple”, Version 2. Shaolin Temple Secular Disciple’s Union in Greece
2016: “The Guest” based on the poem “If” by Rudyard Kipling, Greek Therapy Center for Dependent Individuals (KETHEA), Korydallos Prisons
2015: “Live Love Ride”, play written by by Stratis Panourios, “Kochili” Cultural Organization
2015: “Death on the Nile” a performance inspired by Agatha Christie’s novel, Cultural Attempts on Nea Makri Experimental Stage, (Amateur Theatre Workshops)
2015: “Waiting for Godot” a performance inspired by Samuel Beckett’s play, Cultural Attempts on Nea Makri Experimental Stage, (Amateur Theatre Workshops)
2015: “The Maids” a performance inspired by Jean Genet’s play, Cultural Attempts on Nea Makri Experimental Stage, (Amateur Theatre Workshops)
2015: “Α night with Tennessee” a performance based on one-act plays by Tennessee Williams, Cultural Attempts on Nea Makri Experimental Stage, (Amateur Theatre Workshops)
2015: “Fachise Tsika” adaptation of a novel by Thomas Korovinis, Theatre Station Athens
2014: “Happy Birthday Mr. Shakespeare” a performance based on extracts from Shakespeare’s works, Municipal Regional Theater of Patras
2014: “The Song of the Earth” based on Stratis Myrivillis’s novel, Gennadius Library, Aegean Inlands, “Kochili” Cultural Organization
2014: “The Importance of Being Earnest” a performance based on Oscar Wilde’s play, Cultural Attempts on Nea Makri Experimental Stage, (Amateur Theatre Workshops)
2014: “A feast for Chekhov” a performance inspired by the play Chekhov’s Swansong, Cultural Attempts on Nea Makri Experimental Stage, (Amateur Theatre Workshops)
2014: “The Guardian – Protector of the Shaolin Temple”, Version 1. Shaolin Temple Secular Disciple’s Union in Greece
2013: “Boy with a Suitcase” by Mike Kenny, Municipal Regional Theater of Patras
2013: “Outis Suite” a film and a performance based on Homer Odyssey, co-directing with Mimmo Mongelli, Babel AC – Municipal Regional Theater of Patras
2013: “Three Sisters” by A. Chekhov, Theatrical Group of Technological Educational Institute of Piraeus (Student Theatre)
2013: “The Cherry Orchard” , based on Chekhov’s play, Cultural Attempts on Nea Makri Experimental Stage, (Amateur Theatre Workshops)
2012: “The Treasure of Odysseus” a performance based on Homer’s Odyssey, “Kochili” Cultural Organization
2012: “My Dear Me”. Devised theatre. Moraitis School, (Student Theatre)
2012: “The Seagull” ” a performance inspired by Chekhov’s play, Cultural Attempts on Nea Makri Experimental Stage, (Amateur Theatre Workshops)
2011: “Sold Here” written by Stratis Panourios, Cultural Attempts on Nea Makri Experimental Stage, (Amateur Theatre Workshops)
2011: “The Three Princesses who danced and sang” written by Stratis Panourios, Cyprus Theater Organization
2010: “The Emperor of Portugallia” a performance inspired by Selma Lagerlöf’s novel, Swedish Institute at Athens – “Kochili” Cultural Organization
2010: “Comedia” written by Stratis Panourios, Cultural Attempts on Nea Makri Experimental Stage, (Amateur Theatre Workshops)
2010: “Delirium Tremens” written by Stratis Panourios & Maria Katsandri, Theatre Synergyo Athens
2009: “The Quiltmaker’s Gift” based on Jeff Brumbeau’s novel, Cyprus Theater Organization
2009: “Eternal Husbands” based on Mark Τwain’s novel “Eve’s Diary”, “Kochili” Cultural Organization
2009: “Color Books” based on Stratis Myrivillis’s books, “Kochili” Cultural Organization
2009: “For Julia” by Margareta Garpe a reading of the play, International Theatre Institute Athens
2009: “The Youth Who Went Forth to Learn What Fear is” written by Stratis Panourios, Municipal Regional Theater of Agrinio
2008: “A spoonful of sweet sour cherries” Devised Theatre, Region of the North Aegean, “Kochili” Cultural Organization
2008: “Sea and traveler readings” a tribute performance for poet Nikos Kavvadias, Municipality of Lesvos, “Kochili” Cultural Organization
2008: “The Beauty end the Beast” by Xenia Kalogeropoulou – Thomas Moschopoulos, Municipal Regional Theater of Corfu
2008: “Grasshoppers” by Biljana Srbljanovic, a reading of the play, International Theatre Institute Athens
2007: “I would like this memory to say it” Devised Theatre, Region of the North Aegean, “Kochili” Cultural Organization
2007: “Readings 2017” based on selected extracts from Stratis Myrivillis – Elias Venezis – Argyris Eftaliotis novels, Municipality of Lesvos, “Kochili” Cultural Organization
2007: “Pánik” by Mika Myllyaho, a reading of the play, International Theatre Institute Athens
2006: “Ηonor your father and your mother” Devised Theatre about Bible Verse, Experimental Stage – National Theatre of Greece
2005: “Kreutzer Sonata” by Leo Tolstoy, Experimental Stage – National Theatre of Greece
2004: “The Door Guard – Theophilos Hatzimihail” Devised Theatre, Theophilos House – “Kochili” Cultural Organization
1998: “Lighting” written by Stratis Panourios, Theatrical Group “Onboard”