Yiannis Kalatzopoulos is the new artistic director of DIPETHE Patras, as it emerged from the meeting of the Board of DIPETHE Patras held at the offices of the Municipal Regional Theatre.
Yiannis Kalatzopoulos was born in Athens in 1949. From a young age he became known as a “child prodigy” in cinema, children’s theater and radio.
He studied at the Drama School as an outstanding talent, alongside the High School, with teachers Grigoris Vafias, Costas Baka, Eleni Zafiriou, Vera Zavicianou, Lambros Kostopoulos, Dimitris Konstantinidis and Kostis Meranaios.
He graduated from Panteion and Athens Law School and then attended theater directing courses at the Accademia Nazionale d’Arte Drammatica in Rome.
In the theater for adults, he played important children’s roles, with teachers and directors Minotis, Koun, Diamantopoulos, Ms. Katerina, etc. As a professional, he worked in the Myrat-Zoumboulaki, M. Katraki, E. Lampeti, National Theatre, KTHBE, Stoa Theatre, Theatrical Stage, in the DIPETHE of Ioannina, Corfu, Crete, Larissa and Veria, as well as in many cooperative troupes and groups.
He has directed performances for adults and children at the National Theater, the National Theater of Athens, the Ioannina, Komotini, Corfu, Kavala, Crete and Veria theaters, as well as in many private or cooperative troupes. Since 1982, he has been directing the Contemporary Art Group, within which the Children’s Curtain also operated. He was president of SEH (1990-92), director of the Children’s Home of the National Theater (2004), president of the Hellenic Theater Center for Children and Youth and the Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the State Awards for children’s theater work. He has adapted works by Aristophanes, Shakespeare, Moliere, Ibsen, Lorca, etc. for children. He has published the books: The King’s Clothes (theatre), Giannakis: the miracle child (novel) and Aristophanes Birds-Peace-Frogs (adaptations and instructions for school performances) by Kastaniotis publications.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PATRAS
THE Yannis Kalatzopoulos new Artistic Director of DI.PE.THE. Patras –
Presentation of the chairman of the Board of Directors Lydias Karathanasopoulou
After a careful study of the files and following the hearings of all 17 candidates for the artistic direction of DI.PE.THE. Patras, the Board of Directors chose Mr. Yiannis Kalatzopoulos as Artistic Director for the next two years with the possibility of an extension for one year, according to the announcement.
His proposal serves the purposes, the role and the reasons for which DIPETHE were created. The main mission of DIPETHE is the dissemination of theatrical art with the aim of upgrading the educational and cultural level of the public.
To present their work not only in their headquarters, but also in their wider region. The aim of our theater is to staff it with people from the field who live in our area, as well as the development of amateur, school and student artistic creation.
Our goal is also to bring the general public into contact with culture and art, to form a multifaceted, valuable cultural program of events and activities from all our structures, which will reach as many neighborhoods of Patras as possible and involve local artists , while it will concern all lay families and youth. It will also include amateur creation, as well as the vulnerable social groups of our fellow citizens, such as people with disabilities, disabled people, etc.
The Municipal Authority of Patras, having from the first moment put the child at the center of its efforts, its all-round development, highlighting the gifts of its personality, considers that in the coming years the children’s theater scene of Patras and the actions of DI. PE.THE. they can become a landmark for children’s theater.
We are very happy and moved, that 17 very worthy nominations were submitted for the position of Artistic Director of DI.PE.THE. Patras. The deep knowledge of the subject, the experience, the artistic education, the special knowledge and inclinations that make
each candidate unique, made the task of selection extremely difficult.
That is why we want to thank the candidates, all together and each one individually, and tell the 16 artists who
were necessarily not chosen, that the doors of DI.PE.THE. are open and that we really want to be in touch for proposals, collaborations, exchange of thoughts and opinions.
Yiannis Kalatzopoulos is an actor, director and writer, with great experience and recognition in theater and cinema. In his long and “heavy” resume, we find dozens of roles, since he became known as the “prodigy” of Greek cinema. He has played important roles of children, with teachers and directors Alexis Minotis, Karolos Koun, Vassilis Diamantopoulos and others. He finished the Drama School at the same time as the High School and as a professional he worked in the troupes Myrat-Zoumboulakis, Manos Katrakis, Ellis Lampetis, National Theater, KTHBE, etc. He finished Panteio and Athens Law School.
He attended directing courses at the Accademia Nazionale d’Arte Drammatica in Rome. He has directed over 80 shows at the National Theater, the State Theater of Northern Greece and in seven (7) DI.PE.THE. of the whole country. Overall, his collaboration with DI.PE.THE. of all of Greece is extensive and has a very important work to show.
He has published: ”The King’s Clothes”, ”Giannakis, the miracle child”, ”Aristophanes CHICKEN-PEACE-FROGS”, ”Theater Street”, ”What can I tell you my Sultana” ‘, ”Anti-Antigone”, ”Candelaio” by Giordano Bruno and ”Theatre for children and …intelligent adults”.
Yiannis Kalatzopoulos has a rich CV, a serious career in theater and directing, which among the other CVs of the candidates with serious work in the field, weighed in the selection. A person well-known in the field of theater, who we believe, in collaboration with the Board, can serve the role and goals of DIPETHE Patras and design in all areas, main stage, Chariot of Thespians, Drama School, etc. Besides of these, in the final decision, his extensive writing and directing involvement with children’s theater played a role (1982-2005 he directed the Contemporary Art Group, within which the Children’s Curtain functioned, director of the Children’s Home of the National Theater, president of Greek Theater Center for children and youth, etc.). He has adapted works by Aristophanes, Shakespeare, Moliere, Ibsen, Lorca, Brecht, etc. for children.
Given what we have said, plus the generally accepted great artistic stature of Yiannis Kalatzopoulos, we believe that his selection will leave his artistic mark on Patras.
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