Cycle | Theatre • CCCC NEW PRODUCTION
24, 25 and 26 June, 21:30

Theatre "Manos Hatzidakis".

The new Culture and Conference of Heraklion, Crete, CCCC, production is a theatrical play dramatizing the historical figure of Theodoros Kolokotronis within the context of a dialogue with his Mother/Mother Hellas. 


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Based on the historical research, the new theatre play entitled “Theodoros Kolokotronis: God inscribed his signature…” by Giorgos A. Christodoulou is written and produced within the framework of the celebrations of the Bicentennial of the Greek Revolution of 1821. Depicted and portraying as a Greek-ancient-tragedy figure, Theodoros Kolokotronis (1770-1843), blessed by God, becomes symbol of the Greek Revolution of 1821 and also a legend for the next generations of Greeks.
The direction is by Giota Koundouraki, the scene and costume design is edited by Polytimi Machaira, the music composition of the play is composed by Rafail Pylarinos, while the choreography and movement direction is designed by Artemis Ignatiou. Theodoros Kolokotronis is played by actor Konstantinos Kazakos and the role of Kolokotronis’ Mother/Mother Hellas is performed by actress Ioanna Gkavakou.


Playwriter: George A. Christodoulou
Director/Light design: Giota Koundouraki
Scenography/Costumes: Polytimi Machaira
Music composition: Rafail Pylarinos
Choreography/movement instructor: Artemis Ignatiou
Assistant Director: Maria Chelidoni
Graphic design: Chrysostomos Spetsidis


Starring the actors Konstantinos Kazakos as Theodoros Kolokotroni and Ιοαννα Gkavakou as Kolokotronis’ Mother/Mother Hellas.


Short biographical notes

Κonstantinos Kazakos | actor


Konstantinos Kazakos was born in Athens.
He graduated from the School of Drama of Art Theatre – Karolos Koun. His debut in theatre was at “Medea” by Euripides (directed by Minos Volanakis). Other theatrical plays produced by the School of Drama of Art Theatre – Karolos Koun in which he participated, include the following ones: “Acharnae” and “Nefeles” by Aristphanes, “Iphigenia in Aulis” by Euripides, “Ulysses, return back home” by Iakovos Kampanellis. Other plays in which Konstantinos Kazakos performed are: “Tonight we improvise” by Luigi Pirandello (directed by Minas Constantopoulos), “The death of the salesman” by Arthur Miller (directed by Jules Dassin), “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare (directed by Andrew Visnevsky), “Ivanov” by Anton Chekhov (directed by Stamatis Fasoulis), “The Mousetrap” by Agatha Kristie (directed by Manousos Manousakis), “King Lear” by William Shakespeare (directed by Leonidas Trivizas), “Dangerous Liaisons” by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos (directed Kostas Kazakos), “Yes” by Gabriel Arout (directed by Giannis Iordanidis), “The Merry Wives of Winsdor” by William Shakespeare (directed by Leonidas Trivizas), “Othello” by William Shakespeare (co-directed by Kostas Kazakos and Michael Zeibel), “Leather Face” by Ch. Krauser (directed by Michael Zeibel), “I love you, too” by Doug Lucie (directed by Peris Michailidis), “The Mousetrap” by Agatha Kristie (directed by George Siskos), “The Nerd” by Larry Shue (directed by Kostas Arzoglou), “Prometheus Bound” by Aeschylus (co-directed by Kostas Kazakos and Sophocles Peppas), “All my sons” by Arthur Miller (directed by Giannis Iordanidis), “Rumors” by Neal Simon, “The Notre Dame of Paris” by Victor Hugo, “The Investigation” by Peter Weiss, “Endgame” by Samuel Beckett, “Mia Ellada theatro” (Greece, a theatre) by Dimitris Malissovas, “Polytechnitis ki erimospitis” (“”Jack of all trades and master of one”) by Alekos Sakellarios, et.al.
Konstantinos Kazakos has also played several roles in numerous TV productions.

Ioanna Gkavakou | actress


Ioanna Gavakou is a graduate of the School of National Theater and the Department of Theatrology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. She has collaborated with important directors of the Greek Theater and Cinema: Karolos Koun, Michalis Kakogiannis, Leonidas Trivizas, Manos Volanakis, Nikos Nikolaidis, Costas Baks, Korais Damatis and many others. She has played important parts: Grusha in Bertolt Brecht’s «The Caucasian Chalk Circle», Pandora in V. Ziogas’s «Seven Boxes of Pandora», Kassandra in Euripides’ «Trojans», Clytemnestra in J. Kabanellis’s «Letter to Orestes», Veronica in A. Leving’s «Veronica’s Room» and many others. She lived in the USA for several years where she collaborated with American professional theaters, the Scena Theater, the Washington Shakespeare Company, the Strawberry festival, the Producers Club II.
In Washington and New York she received very good reviews from the authoritatitve American press (Washington Post, New York Times, Review magazine, etc.) playing important parts: Electra in Euripides’s «Orestes», Constance in Ziron’s «Crazy Sagio», Titania in Shakespeare’s «Summer Night Dream», Clytemnestra in Euripides’s «Electra», Hecuba in Euripides’s «Trojans» and many others.
Ioanna Gavakou successfully performed in the play «Nicoleta Syggrou: My Andrew» as in Nicoleta Nomikos Syggrou written and directed by Simos Papanastasopoulos at the Vault Theater and Hecuba in «Mother Hecuba» at the Alkmini Theater directed by Manolis Ionas. Two great performances that were immediately nominated for the Maria Alkaiou special award by the Academy of Greek Art Awards. She won it in 2018 for her portrayal of Hecuba in «Mother Hecuba». She took part in the TV series: «Lawyers» dir. Paul Sklavos as Alexandra. Important parts in Greek cinema: «Fonissa» by A. Papadiamantis, directed by Stella Arkenti as Fonissa, «Ego o Giannoulis Halepas» dir. Stella Arkenti as Irini, G. Halepas’s mother.

Giorgos A. Christodoulou | playwriter


George A. Christodoulou grew up in Velo, originated from the mountainous village Caesar of Corinth. He was employed in newspapers, magazines and radios.
He is an author of:
• Books
o The hill of peace
o The voice of history
o Visible Circle
o The tear of Gioconda
o «The sculptor and his sleeping one»
• Theatrical plays
o Anemone, The woman
o Giannoulis Halepas, My sleeping one
o Xanthippi, Socrates' wife
o Umbilical cord
o Penelope Delta
o Lela Karagianni, The mother of resistance
o Red rain “Waltz”
o The Zeibekiko of Gioconda
o The Swing
o The Guillotine
o Seven
o Mr Attik… We are done
o When the murderer met Medea
o Herod of Attica “free poetry”
For the 200 years anniversary of the revolution of 1821, he scribed 3 theatrical plays:
• God inscribed his signature, Theodore Kolokotronis
• A parody trial… George Karaiskakis
• «Ai yeneai pasai “All generation” Nikitaras!!»
For the theatrical period of 21-22 he scribed 2 extra plays:
• The trial of six
• A letter of Asia Minor
His plays have been presented in numerous stages from acclaimed directors and actors. The majority of them are award winning from various institutions. “Art Academy, National theatre, Municipalities, Ministry of Culture, etc.”
Excerpts of his plays have been translated and are being studied at sociology departments of Universities in USA.
He is a member of the Union of Theatrical writers.
Είναι μέλος της Ένωσης Θεατρικών Συγγραφέων.
He gave lectures at students of Drama schools and Universities of the states, as a theatrical writer and theatre critic.


Giota Koundouraki | director


Giota Koundouraki is an actress, teacher of ancient drama, director and play writer of plays.
Company executive of the National Theatre of Greece (1985-1993), Giota Koundouaki has collaborated as an actress with the Laiko Experimental Theatre, the Kathreftis theatre company, the Nouveau Theatre de Belgique in Brussels, Belgium and several other theatrical companies under the direction of famous theatre directors, such as Alexis Minotis, Leonidas Trivizas, Giorgos Sevastikoglou, Giorgos Theodosiadis, K. Mpakas, Henri Ronse, et.al. Recently she has plays the roles of Medea and Kassandra in the play “Thely Anima Devi”, which she also directed (Theatre tis Emeras).
As teacher, Giota Koundouraki she mostly focused on the ancient theatre. Her educational methods include eastern philosophies and contemporary western theories on theatrical expression and performance. She has founded the Theatrical Group of the Municipality of Ilion, and later on she founded the theatrical group SYNTHESIS. Occasionally, Giota Koundouraki teaches several seminars on Psychological Theatre and Ancient Drama. She is the director of theatrical plays and also plays for children. She teaches theatre since 1996 and she is also the head of the Theatre and Acting Seminars of UNESCO Greece Association in Arts, Logos and Sciences.
Some of the plays she has directed include the following ones “When Tennessee Williams cries, Jan Cocteau laughs””(2011), “Lela Karagianni” (2016-2017) by George Christodoulou, “Theatre and Power” (2016-2017) by Nikos Koundouros, “Electra” by Sophocles (2017-2018), “The Anarchist Banker” (2014-2015) by Fernando Pessoa, et.al.
Giota Koundouraki has also writer the theatrical works “Apla Paramythia” (Simple Fairy Tales), “Apo ton Angousto mechri to Flevari” (From August to February), “Antriko Pronomio” (A man’s privilege), “Monologues”, “Akraio Erotiko Fainomeno” (An Extreme Love Phenomenon), “Astrikes Fimes” (Star Rumors) and also, the cinema script “Antistrophi” (Inversion).

Polytimi Machaira | scene and costume designer


Polytimi Machaira was born in Athens in 1964.
She has graduated with Excellency from the Academy Royale des Beaux-Arts de Liège – Royaume de Belgique (Royal Academy of Fine Arts Liège, Belgium), Department of Scene Design in Theatre and Costume Design. Her teacher were M.C. van Vuchèlen, Alain Guy Jacobs and F. de Bruin. In the context of a strict educational program, she succeeded to be the only student of the fourth year of studies. She completed her studies in Belgium with the dissertation entitled “Seven on Thebes by Aeschylus” supervised by Professor Alain Guy Jacobs.
She has also studied Video-Art in the studio of Jacques-Lui Nyst, while, at the same time, she passed the examination and was accepted at the third year of studies at the Academy Royale des Beaux-Arts de Liège – Royaume de Belgique (Royal Academy of Fine Arts Liège, Belgium), in the studios of M. Angeli, P. Defrère, A. Graham and A. de Jardin. In addition, she studied at ARMOS painting workshop by Vasilis Korkovelos, at the School of Cinema and Television by L. Stavrakou and at the Studio of “Vitraux” by Katerina Zacharioudaki.
She teaches scenography and costume design at the D. Fotiadis School of Drama, as well as the Tragas-Vogiatzis School of Drama in Athens, Greece. She has collaborated in theatre and cinema productions, winning several awards for her work. She has also collaborated in interdisciplinary seminars on philosophical energy, Philosophy and Cosmology Conferences, and also she has been a delegate of the Union of Greek Physicists in the proceedings of the Scientific Symposium. She is a S.E.A.(Association of Amateur Astronomers) members and she is also practicing alternative therapies of E.F.T., Muscle Relaxation, Reiki and Transcendental Meditation.

Rafail Pylarinos | conductor, composer


Rafail Pylarinos was born in Athens at 1962 and he is the son of musician’s family. His father and brother are from the old, executive cadres of the Athens’s State Orchestra and Lyric Scene.
He was almost very young when dedicated himself in the study of the classic music by studying piano. Without any delay instructed from his father the first lessons of trombone, and enrolled at the Athens Advanced Theoretical Hellenic Conservatory. His love for Opera revealed very quickly, event that induce him to study always in the same Conservatory as tenor. Himself following, his family tradition participated repeatedly at the National Opera of Greece playing trombone, enriching by this way his music culture of the Italian repertoire. Later on, having acquired the Theoretical Diploma (Harmony, Counterpoint, and Fugue) and feeling the need to offer him, a greater and thorough musical education, departed to Italy where he admitted after examinations in the class of Orchestra Management at the Santa Cecilia Music Academy of Rome, under the instruction of the Italian Maestro Bruno Aprea. Moreover, he trained simultaneously in the music of a Baroque as proclassical music maestro. Immediately after, he acquired the Orchestra Management Diploma at July of 1992, worked as assistant maestro of Maestro Α. Μ. Giuri at the Summer Seminars and Concerts of the Ferentino Orchestral Festival in Rome.
From 1990 its professional career begins conducting beyond, the Symphony Orchestra of “Santa Cecilia”, the Symphony Orchestra of the Ferentino Festival , both National Symphony Orchestra and that of Conteporanea Music of Greek Radiotelevision, the National Symphony Orchestra of Athens, the Philharmonc Orchestra of Brasov, the National Symphony Orchestra of Cyprus, the Symphony Orchestra  of Pireo “Dimitris Mitropoulos”, of which, from 1998, it occupies the place of Artistic Diretore, and the International Orchestra of Italy.
As guest conductor has been exhibited to the Auditorium of Rome with Symphony Orchestra of “Santa Cecilia”, to the “Sala Cerulli of Brasov to the prestigious Festival of Athens to “Erodio”, to the V.B Theatre of Ascoli, to Megaron Concert hall, to the Festival of Lanciano, to the National Opera of Greece and to the Theatro of V.B of Ascoli and elsewhere.
Since August 2019, he is the Deputy Artist - Executive Director at the Cultural and Conference Center of Heraklion (C.C.C.C) in Crete.

Artemis Ignatiou | Choreographer


Graduated from the Greek National School of Dance. Studied Theater, Music and Art History. In New York she studied Dance at the Merce Cunningham, Movement Research and the Martha Graham’s schools and Acting at the H.B. Studio Drama School (Herbert Berghof - Uta Hagen).
She is the Choreographer and Artistic director of the Lighting and Handover Ceremonies of the Olympic Flame, since 2008: Beijing 2008, Vancouver 2010, London 2012, Sochi 2014, Rio 2016, Pyeongchang 2018, Tokyo 2020 and for the Youth Olympic Games: Singapore 2010, Innsbruck 2012, Nanjing 2014, Lillehammer 2016, Buenos Aires 2018, Lausanne 2020.
In 2012 and 2011 she collaborated with the National Olympic Academy of Greece in the framework of its program“Olympic Education Day”, as director of reviving the history of the 1st Modern Olympic Games of 1896, in Kallimarmaro Stadium with the presence of 45,000 students.
In 2017 and 2018 she directed the Chorodrama “The Fall of the Tripolitsa” which was presented in the 196th and 197th anniversary celebrations of the city.
She is the founder of the ART Dance Theater, with which in 2019 she directed the Opening Ceremony of the 37th Marathon the Authentic which took place in Marathon Tomb and the Opening Ceremony of the 5th Marathon of Olympia which took place at the Archaeological Museum of Ancient   Ilida.
In 2008 the ART Dance Theater was theofficial Greek representative at the Opening Ceremony of the 6th Cultural Festival of Beijing for Cultural Olympiad China 2008. In 2007 the ART Dance Theater was the official Greek representative at the 10th European Dance Festival of Cyprus.
The ART Dance Theater performed several productions in other Festivals in Cyprus, Germany, Serbia, China, Tunisia, Italy and Greece.
Participated in all four Contemporary Dance Platforms in Athens Concert Hall “Megaron Mousikis”. Performed in Roman Agora, Greek National Contemporary Art Museum, Bouboulina Museum-Spetses, Bath of the Winds (Old Hamam)- Plaka, as well as in other theaters and festivals in Greece.
She is a teacher at the Greek National School of Dance and at the Dance School of the Greek National Opera. She has taught dance, expressive movement   and improvisation at the Drama School of National Theatre of Greece and at the Athens Conservatory Drama School.
She has been awarded  by the President of the Hellenic Republic and by many organizations, municipalities and institutions for her work as Choreographer. In 2020 she was awarded with the "Dimitrios Vikelas".
Higher Excellence Award by the Hellenic Olympic Committee. In 2016 she was named an honorary citizen of Ancient Olympia.
Member of Advisory Boards and Committees: Secretary of the International Dance Council of UNESCO (2011-today).


Maria Chelidoni | assistant director


Maria Chelidoni was born in Athens in 1976. She graduated from the G. Theodosiadis School of Drama in Athen and she also holds a MA in Theatre Pedagogy form the Helsinki Theatre Academy in Helsinki, Finland.
As a teacher of Acting, Improvisation and Speech Education, she has collaborated with institutions and organisations such as the YAFTA (Yorkshire Academy of Film and TV Acting) in Leeds, UK (2018), the Art School of Heraklion, Crete (2016-2017), the Second Primary School of Nea Chalkidona (2015-2016), the Outokumpu College of Dance in Finland (2011), the Laajasalo College Helsinki Finland (2010), the Sibelius Lukio of Music and Dance in Helsinki, Finland (2009), et.al. Maria Chelidoni has also taught in several educational programs and seminars focusing on the notions of “speech”, “body” and “expression”.

As an actress, she has collaborated with the following productions both in theatre and television: “Peaky Blinder” (BBC S5, Ep4, Ep 5), “Emmerdale”, “Run Kara” (short film), “Trojan Women” by Euripides (directed by Mirka Gementzaki, in Greece), “Culture Shock” (directed by Steve Balderson), “Arkham Sanitarium” (directed by Andrew Morgan), “Electra” by Sophocles (directed by Thomas Kindinis), “Songs of the Moon” (directed by Thomas Kindinis), et.al.
Maria Chelidoni has been an evaluator the Acting and Improvisation curriculum in the Art Schools in Greece and she has also been a member of the jury in the entrance examinations for the Art High School OF Heraklion, Crete. She has also been a scholar of the National Bank of Greece Educational Foundation and the Helsinki Theatre Academy.


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