The National Theatre of Northern Greece is one of the country’s largest theatre institutions. With its five indoor and two outdoor stages, plus the appearances it makes on tour and at festivals both in Greece and internationally, it has been a driving force on the cultural scene since 1961.

The NTNG is a private legal non-profit entity and is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors along with the Artistic Director. It is supervised and funded by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sport.

As a public theatre which repays citizens for the funding it receives through the art, education and entertainment it provides, and which seeks to remain open and accessible to society at large, the National Theatre of Northern Greece has forged a strategy which revolves around the following axes:

•   a wide-ranging repertory
•    high-quality productions for children and young people
•    a focus on theatre education and educational activities
•    strong ties and partnerships with cultural institutions, municipal authorities, bodies and social institutions
•    an emphasis on social policy
•    social activities which raise public awareness
•    low ticket prices with a wide range of concessions
•    a powerful international presence.
 
The NTNG’s annual programme brings together its own in-house theatre productions with co-productions with other theatre organizations, stagings of productions from Greece and abroad, and a wide range of cultural events. The Theatre also stages long summer tours around Greece and winter tours of Northern Greece, and organizes the annual Forest Festival, a major cultural event for Thessaloniki which includes concerts, theatre and dance.

The NTNG’s Children’s Stage and Youth Stage present high-quality productions for children and young people on a yearly basis. Infant theatre performances are also given.

Educational Programmes aimed at children in primary and secondary education, Theatre Workshops for children, teenagers, adults and people with disabilities, thematic tributes, lectures, open discussions, seminars, exhibitions, and play writing competitions are just some of the parallel activities which the NTNG organizes in line with its educational policy.

The NTNG Drama School provides a full theatrical education free of charge, and has been a nursery for young actors since 1973.

In addition, taking its social role serious and doing all it can to make theatre accessible to people of all ages, including those without easy access to live theatre, the NTNG engages in activities provided free of charge to special social groups. As such, it arranges performances in hospitals, institutions and prisons as well as running programmes in partnership with municipal social services, units providing care for the elderly, correctional institutions, drug rehabilitation programmes, and mental health and other bodies.

As a member of the Union of the Theatres of Europe and the International Theatre Institute, the NTNG has a robust presence beyond Greece and participates in international festivals, programmes, co-productions, projects and residencies. Emphasis is also placed on developing ties with South-Eastern Europe and the rest of the continent, as well as with Greek communities outside Greece.

Click on the links below to find out more about:
•    The NTNG’s Educational Work
•    The NTNG’s Outreach Work
•    The NTNG’s International Activities
 
The NTNG’s educational work

The educational and pedagogical dimension of the National Theatre of Northern Greece’s work is an integral part of its mission, as described in its founding law:

“The purpose of the National Theatre of Northern Greece is to promote the artistic cultivation of the nation through the dramatic arts, and to preserve its national cultural identity. With this goal in mind, it will develop, promote and disseminate theatre as a cultural, pedagogical, educational and entertainment aspect of the social life of Macedonia and Thrace, and of the nation as a whole” (Law 2273 National Theatre, National Theatre of Northern Greece and other provisions, 27/12/1994).

On the basis of this mission, the key goals of the NTNG include:
•    studying, researching and teaching (on stage) ancient drama
•    promoting and developing Greek drama
•    staging and interpreting classical works and works from the world dramatic repertory
•    researching, exploring and experimenting with new forms of theatre and on-stage expression
•    staging performances for children and young people
•    providing theatre education through the creation of a drama school
•    creating conditions and incentives which will raise awareness of theatre and help it to reach its potential in Macedonia and Thrace, as well as the nation as a whole
•    staging opera in collaboration with the musical ensembles of Thessaloniki, the Municipality, and other institutions in the city

The means with which the NTNG contributes to the provision of theatre education and the promotion of the dramatic arts as a pedagogical and educational body are:

•    Drama School
The National Theatre of Northern Greece’s Higher School of Dramatic Art has been operating since 1973. The purpose of the School is to provide a higher education in the dramatic arts and to produce well-educated and trained theatre professionals for the Greek Stage.
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•    Children’s Stage
The NTNG’s Children’s Stage was founded in 1977. Since then, it has staged high-quality performances for children with a view to entertaining them, but also to acquainting young theatre-goers with key theatrical works, helping them respond to theatre, encouraging them to think about real-world issues, and cultivating mature adult audiences for the future.
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•    Youth Stage
The NTNG’s Youth Stage was founded in 2008 and presents performances aimed at teenagers. Youth Stage productions include performances based on ancient drama and others whose aim it is to acquaint teenage students with key texts from Greek and world literature. Works that spotlight contemporary social issues such as racism, refugees, bullying etc. also occupy an important place in its repertoire.
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•    Infant Theatre
The NTNG’s Infant Theatre was introduced in 2017. It offers specially-designed short performances for infants and toddlers in which colours, sounds and images take the lead.

•    Educational programmes
Since 2002, the NTNG has been staging regular educational programmes for primary and secondary school students; the programmes are presented in class or at the theatre.
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•    Theatre Workshops
The NTNG has been running theatre workshops since 2015. Specialized theatre educators organize courses for children, young people, adults and people with disabilities. In addition, full-day summer art workshops are offered for children.
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•    The teachers’ hotline
The NTNG set up its “Teachers’ Hotline” with a view to contributing to the work of teachers, facilitating their communication with the theatre, and providing them with support on issues relating to the use of theatrical techniques in education. Teachers in primary and secondary education can contact the competent department by phone (on 2315 200 023) to request information and educational materials. The hotline is operational Monday-Friday, 09:00-16:00. This is a free service.

•    Themed “Big Day” events
A number of thematic events have been staged under the umbrella title “Big Days” since 2013. These are all-day events which seek to acquaint young and old alike with important playwrights through lectures, seminars, workshops, theatre games and a host of other activities. Attendance is free.

•    “MeTaTheatrika” parallel events
January 2020 saw the launch of a series of parallel events under the umbrella title “MeTaTheatrika”. These include discussions with the cast and crew of NTNG productions as well as with theatre theorists.

•    Stage and backstage tours
Group stage and backstage tours are organized for school groups at the Royal (Vasiliko) Theatre; requests should be sent to [email protected].

•    Costume exhibitions
Since the autumn of 2016, the NTNG has been making a systematic effort to put on display the costumes by important designers in its wardrobe. As a result, a series of temporary exhibitions have been installed in the foyers of the NTNG’s theatres and other spaces; costumes have also been shown as part of exhibitions staged by other entities. Moreover, thanks to funding from the NSRF, the permanent costume exhibition “Traces of the ephemeral” is now installed in the Royal (Vasiliko) Theatre; guided tours can be arranged.
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•    Various actions and programmes (readings, presentations, events, workshops) in association with various institutions, such as the:
Thessaloniki State Orchestra, Thessaloniki Concert Hall, Thessaloniki Film Festival, Vafopoulio Cultural Centre, Philippi-Thassos Festival, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University of Macedonia, Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, Museum of Byzantine Culture, Teloglion Foundation of Art, the Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki (MOMus), Region of Central Macedonia, City of Thessaloniki, Municipality of Neapolis-Sykies, Municipality of Thermi, Municipality of Ampelokipoi-Menemeni, Municipality of Kalamaria, Municipality of Thermaikos , Municipality of Pylaia-Chortiatis, Attiko Metro, Department of Secondary Education for Western Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki Arts School, Hellenic Theatre/Drama & Education Network, French Institute of Thessaloniki, British Council, Thessaloniki Traders Association, Parallaxi, and the Regional Municipal Theatres of Ioannina, Agrinio, Veria, Kozani, Serres, Kavala.

•    Publications
The NTNG’s publishing activities are aimed at promoting theatre research. Our programmes provide important information about the plays and their authors. We seek to make their contents original, when possible, using original texts or new Greek translations of existing texts. Some programmes have also included the text or the music from productions.

Recent NTNG publications include:
•    The programme for the anniversary production of  “Mikra Dionysia” , which documents every ancient drama production staged since the foundation of the NTNG (2011)
•    The digital publication “Ancient drama at the NTNG, 1961–2016” (2016)
•    The catalogue for the permanent costume exhibition, “Traces of the ephemeral” (2019)

•     Digital  archive
The impressive historical and artistic archive of the National Theatre of Northern Greece has been fully digitized and is now saved in its entirety in an electronic repository. Fully accessible through the NTNG’s dynamic web portal  ntng.gr, it attracts online visitors, researchers and educators. The collection can also be accessed from the Digital Library in the foyer of the Royal (Vasiliko) Theatre, which is open daily, admission free.
For more
 
The NTNG’s outreach work

In the context of its social policy, the National Theatre of Northern Greece makes it possible for the unemployed, people with disabilities, and poor students to attend performances free of charge.

It also responds positively to requests for free entry from organizations working with vulnerable social groups, such as the: Society for the Protection of Juveniles in Thessaloniki; Thessaloniki Psychiatric Hospital; International Society for Mental Health Services; “Zephyros” Residential Home, Evosmos; “Estia” Day Centre; OKANA; “Ianos” Department for Addiction Rehabilitation; Médecins du monde; SOS Children’s Village, Greece; the Smile of the Child; “Melissa” Residential Home; Papafio Child Care Centre; Chronic Diseases Clinic, Drama; “Sotir” Social Support and Rehabilitation Centre for People with Disabilities.
 
At the same time, the NTNG stages various activities designed to raise social awareness of, boost solidarity with, and provide assistance to vulnerable social groups. These include:

•    Actions in hospitals (paediatric departments)
•    Readings and actions for the elderly, addicts, prison inmates and people with disabilities in cooperation with municipal social services and organizations such as the: Greek Association of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders; Thessaloniki Open Care Centre for the Elderly; “Agios Panteleimon” Social Care Unit; “Anaplasi” Rehabilitation Centre; “Eirmos” Residential Care Home of the International Society for Mental Health Services; the Second Chance School, “Diavaton” Prison Foundation; KETHEA rehabilitation program, Kassandra and Grevena prisons; Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Department of Psychology “Promoting Self-help” Programme; Ithaca Therapeutic Community; and the Red Cross.
•    Performances in sign language with free entry for the deaf
•    Organizing theatre workshops for refugees, people with disabilities, addicts
•    Donating box office takings to social institutions
•    Cooperating with Médecins du Monde in the collection of medicines
•    Cooperating with the NGO ARSIS to raise funds for refugees by collecting requisite items and providing creative activities for children
•    Cooperating with the Make-A-Wish organization to make the wishes of children with serious health problems come true
 
The NTNG’s international activities

Two of the National Theatre of Northern Greece’s main objectives are: 1) promoting international theatrical exchanges and collaborations, and 2) developing relationships with Greek communities abroad.

Moreover, in recent years, NTNG productions have been performed with surtitles in English to make them accessible to non-Greek-speakers resident in Thessaloniki and to visitors from abroad.

The NTNG is a member of the International Theatre Institute and the Union of Theatres of Europe (since May 1996). At the same time, it is active across Europe, with a particular focus on the sensitive and geopolitically crucial area of the Balkans and South-East Europe in general, through collaborations through European Co-Funding Programmes, participations at international festivals, co-productions, the hosting of performances and artists, running workshops, projects and residencies featuring the participation of artists active internationally.

The NTNG’s international presence and activity revolves around two axes:
•    Developing meaningful collaborations and artistic exchanges with important theatres and artists abroad
•    Making the NTNG a regular and continuous presence at events abroad by sending performances to international festivals and organizing international tours

Indicatively, in 2016–2019, the following activities took place at the international level:

International events at the NTNG

• Hosting—Residency of the “ISO” young artists’ theatre group of the Union of Theatres of Europe (23-30 August 2017)

• Organizing the 1st and 2nd NTNG International Forest Festivals (1-14 July 2017 and 28 June-6 July 2018, respectively) and installing the permanent costume exhibition “Traces of ephemeral” at the Royal Theatre (open since 31 May 2017)
The project was implemented under NSRF 2014-2020 and will be continuing in the years to come, since funding has been secured from the Region of Central Macedonia until 2023.

• Organizing the “Ancient Drama and Politics” Encounter for Young Artists from South-East Europe
The programme was implemented within the framework of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture’s International Ancient Drama Network. For ten days in September for three consecutive years (2017, 2018, 2019), artists from Greece and South-East Europe came to Thessaloniki to participate in workshops, attend lectures, screenings and performances and to create. Their focus: tracing the links between ancient Greek drama and our contemporary political and social reality.

• Organizing “Greeks of the World”
A series of tributes to Greek artists active in different art-forms who have distinguished themselves with their work abroad. The lectures and masterclasses were implemented within the framework of the “NTNG Forest Festival” Action of the OP “Region of Central Macedonia 2014-2020", with co-financing from national and European resources (December 2018).

• Mini International “Europe Speaks Out” Festival within the framework of the 2nd #SKG Bridges Festival
Seven artists from different countries in a series of monologues about Europe’s image today (10 and 11 May 2019)

International tours - Participation in festivals

• International Tour of “Plato’s Apology of Socrates”, directed by Dimos Avdeliodis. The production travelled to Romania (3 and 4/12/2015), Cyprus (28 and 29/01/2016), Vietnam (25/03/2016) and Serbia (13/11/2016)

• Performance of “The Gift” at the 35th International Festival of Bilbao (18 October 2016)

• Performance of the NTNG production of Leon A. Nar’s “I Have Never Forgotten You”, directed by Michalis Sionas at the Habima Theatre in Tel Aviv (Israel National Theatre, 13 February 2018)

• NTNG participation in the “18th Meet In Beijing Arts Festival” in Beijing, China (Mong Man Wai Concert Hall, 10 and May 11, 2018)

• NTNG participation in the “Future of Europe” festival of the Stuttgart State Theatre, Germany, with the production “After the Campsite”, directed by Michalis Sionas (6-9 June 2018)

Participation in European programmes

• The NTNG participated in the “Digital Natives” programme, co-financed by the Creative Europe Programme (2018-2019), in collaboration with four other theatre-members of the Union of Theatres of Europe: the Volkstheater (Vienna, Austria), the Comédie de Reims (Reims, France), the Cluj Theatre (Romania) and the Schauspiel Köln (State Theatre of Cologne, Germany)

Participation in international seminars

• Participation in the seminar in Reims, France, led by the celebrated director Ludovic Lagarde. The workshop was organized by the Union of Theatres of Europe in cooperation with the Comédie de Reims (2-6 June 2016)

• Participation in the “ISO” young actors’ theatre group of the Union of Theatres of Europe (27 June-2 July 2016)

• Participation in the “Masterclass for young European directors and set designers in cooperation with Russian actors” addressing “War in Shakespeare” organized by the Union of Theatres of Europe in Rostov, Russia (23 November-3 December 2016)

• Participation in the masterclass for young actors led by the director Oskaras Koršunovas at the Teatro di Roma, Italy (2-12 March 2017)