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Press Releases

Statements by the new NTNG President and Artistic Director at their first press conference (10/09/2015)

Yannis Anastasakis: “We believe in a theatre open to everybody. It’s now or never”.
Aris Stylianou: “We are not politicians, we are not stars, we are not members of political parties; we are citizens of Thessaloniki who wish to help the National Theatre of Northern Greece.”

 
Statements from today’s press conference at the Vassiliko Theatre of Thessaloniki
 
The first presentation of the new NTNG President and Artistic Director took place earlier today at the Vassiliko Theatre, where the forthcoming theatre productions of the 2015-2016 season and the current financial situation of the theatre were presented.

The new President of the NTNG Board of Directors, Aris Stylianou, referring to his decision to take on new responsibilities in difficult times for Thessaloniki and the whole country, stressed out: “Some said that accepting this position would be an unwise undertaking, some even likened it to an electric chair. They are not absolutely wrong; the situation is very critical. We are not performing miracles, yet we do have the altruistic desire to do the best possible for the theatre.”
 
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Mr. Stylianou referred to the financial problems of the theatre, mentioning outgoings and debts. He also highlighted that at the same time the NTNG claims the money the states owes, such as the VAT return and the Opera debt. The President ended his brief presentation of the financial situation by admitting that he had begun doing a job completely different than the one he had imagined. “I have become an accountant. I wake up drenched in sweat in the middle of the night thinking about the huge debt and about the employees who have still not been paid after such a long time. However, as soon as the new government takes office, we will press the Ministries in Athens and we will demand a solution so that the theatre can stand on its own feet.”

Concluding, Mr. Stylianou emphasised the theatre’s strategic plan, which is based on principles such as openness, transparency and clarity, stressing out that: “We have to reorganise our future; to figure out a way to become more flexible and effective. Our aim will be the improvement of the revenues.”

Within a framework of social contribution, both in Thessaloniki and throughout the country, the President stressed out its plans to re-establish its old connection with Europe and the Balkans. “We are not politicians, we are not stars, we are not members of political parties; we are citizens of Thessaloniki who wish to help the National Theatre of Northern Greece.”

We are constantly informed about the situation of the theatre promoting solutions to the problems as well as planning our next steps”, said Yannis Anastasakis, commenting on his first 15 days as the new Artistic Director of the theatre.
 
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Meanwhile, we have made several achievements; we regained the 150 installments for our debt to the Greek Social Insurance Institute (IKA) that exceeded € 2,700,000, directly threatening the survival of the theatre. We have given a part of the amounts owed to employees by paying them 1 out of the 3.5 delayed salaries and within a few days the upcoming payment of the regular subvention, already approved, will appease them even more. At the same time, we are pressing and will continue pressing the government for a temporary subvention, that will give some breathing room to the NTNG, as well as for the return of the Opera’s debt, which unfairly – for years now – has been forced upon the NTNG. We persist on the search for funding which is crucial to our theatre.

We move on with the regulation of debts to the Greek Public Power Corporation (the debt had reached the amount of € 500,000!); day by day we are settling the water, phone and internet bills… I have wondered many times why even those standard expenses have been left unpaid for months or even years, when specific persons took care of these payments, contributors were unpaid for years and workers demanded payment! The fact that while the debt was ever increasing, the previous management went on putting up extravagant theatrical productions - such as the famous ALEXANDER THE GREAT, which cost at least € 406,000 as mentioned in the formal report - remains inexplicable.

We have also initiated an effort to reorganise the theatre’s services. I’m not shy to admit that the situation I confronted during the very first days was very alarming. The time is not right to lay the blame on anyone, but the production of a work of art involves more than just inspiration and talent! It involves a high level of cooperation, compliance to laws and regulations, enhancing every worker’s initiatives, organisational skills, effective decision making for lingering problems, a spirit of solidarity. This is the path we are following now; we are making this path by walking and we will be walking on this path from now on. All the contracts will be published on “DIAVGEIA”, the Greek Ministry’s Transparency Program Initiative, and contracts of previous years are already being uploaded along with some new ones that are signed now
.”

Continuing his speech and referring to the collaborators’ payments, he talked about the contract rearrangements: “The days when the NTNG was able to pay a director, a theatre designer, a musician or a lighting designer according to their artistic experience are gone. Due to the difficult times we live in, we are forced to make productions with few resources but addressing to many!”.

Yannis Anastasakis presented the first four productions that are to be performed during the period of 2015-2016. He also announced that in the schedule for October this summer’s successful performance “Plato’s Apology of Socrates” is going to be hosted again in one of the central stages of the NTNG. In addition, performances for associations, institutions as well as schools, that have expressed their interest, will be organised.
 
He also revealed that in October the theatre’s Actions featuring small groups of actors, will be performing both in the town of Thessaloniki and the rest of the region, announcing to the public that: “We are here and we are determined to share our belief with you in a world where education and culture are basic needs. We are calling for both the Province and the Municipalities to support these actions and I am sure they will offer it.”
 
He also announced that the NTNG will host a “Tournament 5X5” featuring 5 productions from 5 theatre groups at the Lazaristes Monastery-Studio Theatre from March to April 2016.
The NTNG has still to give the new artists, who struggle to express themselves and communicate with the public, the space to show their work, beginning this year. I am inviting the artistic groups of Thessaloniki to submit their suggestions by October 15th.”
 
Moreover, he announced that after about 25 years there is now a strong and mutual willingness for collaboration with the National Theatre of Greece and the first discussions with its Artistic Director, Mr. Stathis Livathinos, have already begun. “It’s time for the two fellow theatres to cooperate. And we will do it.”
 
Later on, the new pricing strategy of the NTNG for the period of 2015-16 was presented by Yannis Anastasakis, who stressed: “The National Theatre of Northern Greece has to adapt to the current situation. By struggling not to compromise with the quality of an artwork, by touring the whole city, the whole region and the whole of Northern Greece with theatre performances, events and collaborations with Municipal Regional Theatres (DIPETHE). We believe in a theatre open to everybody. There are so many institutions around us eager to collaborate, caring for culture and ready to take a step forward. These are the organisations we wish to come together and work with. Initiatives taken in the previous years and met with enthusiasm will be continued and supported. Today! Right now! Because we all know: it’s now or never.”
 
In her speech, Maria Tsima, in turn, thanked her friend and collaborator Y. Anastasakis, for the honour of having been offered to undertake the responsibilities of the Deputy Artistic Director of the NTNG: “I was already part of the theatre’s team and I had also witnessed the great difficulties first hand. On the other hand, I feel that I have to try from my new post with all my powers to succeed in the field of collaborations. Being and working together. This is the only way we can keep dreaming; keep acting. And we should not forget that if you are alone you will become nobody.
 
At the end of the press conference, the new Vice President of the NTNG Board of Directors, Dimosthenis Dodos, added:
I grew up in the theatre, as I have watched performances since I was a little child. This is why I feel that the NTNG has given me a lot and that I owe something in return. I am aware of its current situation. But I figured that I had to accept the post to honour both the members of the new Board of Directors and the new artistic management, as well as the Theatre. I’m giving a helping hand to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps…

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