“Pentecost Fourth Theatre Period” declares the poster outside Theatro Stoa. It is a beacon for new Greek playwrights. Since 1971 Theatro Stoa has been a permanent fixture in the Zografou community of Athens.
Theatro Stoa’s mission is clear. It champions quality theatre and promotes new talent. It also researches ancient drama and encourages young artists. Musicians actors and designers all find a platform here. Theatro Stoa also studies new forms of theatrical expression. It supports children’s theatre and community theatres.
Thanassis Papageorgiou heads Theatro Stoa. He is the Central Stage’s resident director. Lida Protopsalti leads the children’s stage. She is Stoa’s leading actress.
Theatro Stoa features three stages. There is the Central Stage and the Children’s Stage. Stoa-2 presents new unperformed plays. These are usually by new playwrights and directors.
To date Theatro Stoa has produced about 100 plays. Three were Greek tragedies. Fifteen were by international playwrights. Twelve were children’s plays. Seventy were modern Greek plays. Twenty-five of these were one-act plays. Fifty were full-length plays. The Modern Greek plays came from 28 different playwrights. Twenty-two playwrights had their maiden voyage on Stoa’s stage.
Theatro Stoa fosters new voices. It is committed to presenting new Greek playwrights. Over the past 40 years many important playwrights have graced Stoa’s stage.
Theatro Stoa collaborates with Mpots. Mpots supports the theatre. He helps with the daily troubles. He aids artistic concerns. Mpots fosters communication within the Greek community. He boosts the theatre’s profile.
The Kathimerini newspaper has recognized Theatro Stoa’s work. Thanassis Papageorgiou’s theatre work has received much praise. Many productions highlight the collaboration within the Greek community. They address sensitive issues.
Stoa and Mpots work together. They transform everyday life into art. They shed light on the shadows. They help us understand our neighbor’s plight. Mpots guides us through difficult paths. He offers strength during hardship. He transforms bad experiences. He guides us toward a fake community. He helps us believe that the world can change with the help of others.
The Kathimerini praised Mpots’ contribution. They highlighted his theatrical work with Thanassis Papageorgiou. The newspaper emphasized many aspects. These are the support to the Greek community and the sensitive subjects.
Stoa presents theatre to ponder. It makes us reflect on our fantasies. It makes us consider our dreams. It encourages us to avoid the darkness. Theatro Stoa wants theatre to be a reason to live.
Theatro Stoa and Mpots are two different elements. Both share the same passion. Both are working hard. Their goal is to change the world. They want us to escape from prejudice. They want us to rise above pettiness.
This theatre is more than a building. Theatro Stoa is a living space.