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Press Releases

Provisional Productions 2011-2012 (30/06/2011)

Vassiliko Theatre
➢ «Our Great Circus» by Iakovos Kambanellis, a landmark performance for the Greek stage, directed by Kostas Kazakos. Music composition and direction on stage: Stavros Xarhakos. (November 2011- January 2012). After this date, the production of the NTNG will be transferred to “Acropol” theatre of Athens for a limited number of performances.
➢ «Zorba», the emblematic play by Nikos Kazantzakis, adapted for the stage by Akis Dimou, directed by Sotiris Hatzakis. Starring: Ieroklis Michailides, Tania Tsanaklidou, Xrysa Pappa (Beginning of March 2012- end of May 2012)
«The Prophet’s Garden» - NTNG Dance Theatre
A mixed spectacle with dancers and musicians based on the so-named play of the renowned Lebanese poet Khalil Gibran, which was presented as work in progress in May by the NTNG Dance theatre choreographed by sinequanon, now in full form. (January 25th - February 5 2012)

Children's Stage
➢ «Tin City», by Evgenia Fakinou, music by Giannis Markopolos directed by Foteini Baxevani. (Beginning of October 2011- end of February 2012). After this date the play will be transferred to Badminton Theatre in Athens for a limited number of performances.

➢ «Peter Pan» by James Barrie. Adapted for the stage and directed by Giannis Kalatzopoulos, who will also star in the role of Captain Hook. The performance will premiere after the end of Tin City and will resume in autumn, as it will be the opening children’s play of the new season.

Theatre of the Society of Macedonian Studies
➢ "Agamoi Thytai…in public” directed by Ieroklis Michalides. A satirical musical with Ieroklis Michalides and the subversive group “Agamoi Thytai” (Beginning of November 2011- mid of January 2012)
➢ «Madam Sousou», the sublime comedy of Dimitris Psathas, adapted for the stage by the playwright, directed by Giorgos Armenis, starring Foteini Baxevani. (End of January 2012 – Palm Sunday). After this date the performance will be transferred to the Theatre of the Cultural Centre “Greek World” for a limited number of performances.

New HYPEROON Stage- Society of Macedonian Studies
➢ In terms of the Programme “Thessaloniki- A Crossroads of Culture” sponsored by the Ministry of Culture the following performances will be staged:
1. «Words and Silence», Kavafy- Places and faces of Arabs in his poetry, directed by Giannis Paraskevopoulos, which was presented as work in progress in spring 2011.
2. «The Thinkers of the Invisible» , KHALIL GIBRAN- NIKOS KAZANTZAKIS, directed by Christina Hatzivasileiou, which was presented as work in progress in spring 2011. Variable repertory (Mid November -mid December 2011).
3. «Dybbuk» by Bruce Mayers, from the so-named play by Shalom Anski. Translated by: Louisa Mitsakou, directed by Sotiris Hatzakis, music by: Savvina Giannatou. (Premiere: around December 20th 2011) .
➢ «Moby Dick », by Herman Melville, adapted for the stage by Paul Stebbings and Phil Smith. Translated by: Leonidas Karatzas, directed by Gianis Paraskevopoulos, music by Dimitris Maragkopoulos. (Beginning of February 2012- Palm Sunday). It is a singular libretto part of which was composed by John Kenny and Paul Flush in order to be initially staged by «American Drama Group Europe» and «TNT Music Theatre Britain».
➢ «Anna Karenina», by Leo Tolstoy, in theatrical adaptation and direction of Argyris Xafis. ( Mid April- end of May 2012).

Lazaristes Monastery
People’s Stage - Socratis Karantinos Stage
➢ «Loxandra» (Repetition) by Maria Iordanidou, adapted for the theatre by Akis Dimou and directed by Sotiris Hatzakis, starring Foteini Baxavani as Loxandra. (Beginning of October 2011, for a limited number of performances).

Youth Stage
➢ «A Child Counting the Stars», by Menelaos Lountemis, adapted for the stage by Lakis Lazopoulos and directed by Giannis Rigas. (Premiere: around October 20th 2011).

Experimental Stage (Youth Theatre)
➢ “Action Venue - Νon Stop” , Open Expression ground
The Young Artists Festival: Action Venue” which until now took place in spring, opens up its gates to young people throughout the year. Its aim is to become, in these times of crisis, an expression ground and meeting point of individual artists and troops, student and alternative groups mainly of Thessaloniki and Northern Greece, who work -professionally or not- in the fields of theatre, dance, music hip hop, acrobatics, video art and any other form of contemporary expression and creation.

Macedonia-Thrace Unit
➢ «The Trombon» by Marios Pontikas, directed by Dimitris Sakatzis. Tour begins: early March 2012.

Union of Theatres of Europe
The NTNG continues its active participation in the Union of Theatres of Europe and has scheduled two productions in terms of the Liquid Frontiers Programme:
➢ «The Passage». It’s a performance which is based on true life experiences of immigrants from their “passage” towards a safe haven and a new life, with images –scrap leftovers of the contemporary Western civilization.
➢ «The Ark». It is a programme which will be realized by the students of the NTNG Drama School in cooperation with their teachers and in interactive communication with the audience. The programme aims at highlighting man’s achievements which would survive a contemporary cataclysm.
The Liquid Frontiers Programme takes place in terms of the European Programme “Culture” by the following theatres- members of the Union of Theatres of Europe “Piccolo Teatro - Teatro d'Europa” in Milan (Italy), “Bulandra” theatre in Bucharest (Romania), “Teatro Garibaldi” in Palermo (Italy), “Théâtre Nanterre Amandiers” in Paris (France) and the National Theatre of Northern Greece in Thessaloniki (Greece).
The final presentation of the programme will take place in Moscow in March 2012, in terms of the Union of Theatres of Europe Festival.

Actions
➢ Action «Ζ»: The play «Ζ» by Vassilis Vassilikos which had been scheduled for May 2011 has been postponed following the wish of the Labrakis family, and aimed at being presented in 2012, in order to coincide with the centennial anniversary of Thessaloniki liberation. Action «Ζ» will be presented in the real venues following the time sequence of events.
➢ «First Playwriting». The NTNG aims at promoting young talents and creative forces and initiates, in terms of the “First Playwriting” programme, the presentation of new playwrights for the first time before the audience in the form of a dramatized open reading.
➢ “Coffeetime Theatre”, “This One and That One” by Kostas Mourselas, continues its performances.
➢ “In-House Theatre” continues its performances and bradens its horizons with personal visits to individuals who cannot afford access to theatre going, as well as to socially sensitive groups. In terms of this action, the NTNG will cooperate with the followinf social bodies: Sykies Municipality (elderly caretaking), Municipality of Thessaloniki (in coordination with ‘Home Care’ service), the Municipality of Kalamaria (in coordination with Home Care’ service) The Greek Spciety of Alzheimer Disease and Relative Disorders, the Red Cross– children with special skills, Saint Panteleimon Social Care Unit, the Penitentiary Institution of Diavata- Second Chance School, the Prisons of Kassandra and Grevena- Σωφρονιστικό Ίδρυμα Διαβατών- Σχολείο Δεύτερης Ευκαιρίας, Φυλακές Κασσάνδρας & Γρεβενών – re-habilitation programme of KETHEA, Ithaca Rehabilitation Centre, Elderly Society of Paleokastro, Thessaloniki, “Anaplasis” Rehabilitation and Remedy Centre, Eirmos Boarding House.
➢ In terms of alternative actions, the musical theatre performances of “Pigs”, by the “BAND-aged” group will continue on the musical stage “Gaia Live” for the next year.
➢ The Educational Programmes of NTNG in Primary and Secondary Schools as well as in Pediatrics Hospitals will continue, together with the speech training seminars to journalists, which will broaden up to include teachers of he Primary and Secondary Education.
➢ The cooperation of the Dance Theatre with the NTNG actors in on-site performances in 5 of the city museums will continue.
➢ Co-operation with the «Make a wish» organization, in order to run actions concerning the fulfillment of wishes made by children with serious health problems.
➢ Free preparation courses for candidates of the entrance examinations to the country’s Drama Schools will take place, thus reacting to the operation of illegal preparatory courses and the financial exploitation of the candidates and their families.

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