“It all started in 1972, the fifth year of the seven-year period. At the time, of course, we did not know how long the dictatorship would last, seven or more years, but we had the impression that it would never end. In this gloomy atmosphere I needed something else, something different, something fresh, something new. But what could that have been? Then a thought crossed my mind.

Should we do a children’s show? That would definitely be something new. I had never watched a show like this before and I couldn’t even imagine what it would be like. I remember we were in a tavern in Rafina with Stamatis Fasoulis. “Stop,” I told him, “wouldn’t it be nice if we did a children’s show? I think it might be very nice.” “Good idea”, Stamatis said to me, and that’s how it all started.”

The above is an excerpt from Xenia Kalogeropoulou’s new book “Before I forget: half a century of theater for children”, a publication of the National Theatre.

The book with the memories of the great lady of the Greek theater, as told to Julia Diamantopoulou, will be presented on Tuesday, December 12 at 19.00 in the Events Hall in the Ziller Building.

Xenia Kalogeropoulou, who devoted herself passionately to the theater for children, shares, in her own special way, precious memories and unknown aspects of a whole life that reveal her love for the theater and its people. Fifty years of a great adventure with emotions, trials, woes but also moments of intoxicating happiness.

The book is “a minimal tribute that the Greek theater owed to Xenia Kalogeropoulou” notes the artistic director of the National Theater Yiannis Moschos in the foreword of the publication. Actress Amalia Moutousi, lyricist Lina Nikolakopoulou, journalist Stavroula Papaspyrou and director Stamatis Fasoulis will speak at the event, which is open to the public.