Seventeen new productions and two repetitions, the National Theater presents the theater season 2024-25 in a multi-collective repertoire that envisages an “Open World” and includes a wide range of options where new plays are accompanied by classics of world drama, with collective textual compositions, with original dramaturgies that touch on critical social issues, with transcriptions of emblematic theatrical and literary texts, as well as with a great tribute to the modern Greek work.

“Open cultural dialogues, inclusion, extroversion. Three lighthouse concepts. Three concepts that have guided us over the last three years. The artistic programming for the winter season 2024-2025 is nothing more than the continuation of everything we dreamed of, methodically planned and managed to implement in the previous two years” said the artistic director of the National Theater, Yiannis Moschos, at the press conference held today (18/9 ) on the Central Stage of the Chiller Building, for the presentation of the program of the new season, in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Culture Jason Fotilas, who in his greeting emphasized the “undivided support of the Ministry of Culture to the National” as it is the “measure and legacy of the theater production of the country”.

At the same time, Yiannis Moschos surprised everyone, as he declared that he will not apply for the renewal of his term in December and that he will leave the artistic direction of the first state stage, while he noted that he will be at the side of the next artistic director/ dry for as long as necessary so as not to affect the smooth functioning of the organism. Regarding what will be done with the succession situation, Mr. Fotilas avoided answering the journalists’ questions.

Balance with a positive sign

Making a short assessment of the three years, Yiannis Moschos said: “We defended the ensemble theater and the audience trusted us. Our tents were filled with people. We significantly increased the organization’s revenue. We increased our production activity providing more jobs. We gave the Ethnikos scenes a distinct personality. We have re-established the Experimental Stage with a new orientation, dedicating it to young creators. We collaborated with many different creators of the Greek theater, of all generations, giving space to a variety of aesthetic trends: from the most experimental searches to classic readings of works. We wanted to expand our audience by offering our viewers many different options. There were, of course, performances that divided, but also performances that left a strong artistic imprint, knowing the enthusiastic acceptance of audiences and critics. I am proud of all of them − regardless of reception and result − because I know with what effort and love they were made by their creators and with what care they were executed by the National.

I am very happy with what we have achieved so far. All the result of a collective effort. To all the artists who collaborated with us, of course, but also to all the employees of Ethnikos, I am grateful for their cooperation and support. We dreamed of an extroverted, “bright”, inclusive theater. I believe we did not betray our dreams.”

As far as the financial report is concerned, it is worth mentioning that in the financial year 2023 the revenues of the National Theater set a decade-long record. As Yiannis Moschos said, “70% was the increase in the organization’s revenues comparing the period from September 10, 2023 to September 10, 2024 with the corresponding period of 2022-2023, while if we compare the revenues with the corresponding period of 2021-2022 the an increase approaching 178%”.

Projects that touch on critical issues of our time

This year’s plays also touch on critical social and political issues of our time such as the defense of democracy, the administration of justice, the absurdity of war, the position of women, the rights of minorities, the barriers of the Greek family, the marginalization of the third age, violence on the internet.

Of particular interest is the fact that this year’s winter program has included a tribute to the modern Greek project. “Greek authors were commissioned to write original plays specifically for the National Theatre, while new Greek plays that are staged for the first time or that have been presented for many years on the Greek stage have been included. Furthermore, dramatists were commissioned to write on themes proposed by the directors, and original theatrical adaptations of novels by well-known Greek writers were included,” emphasized G. Moschos.

Referring to the ground-up renovation of the “Marika Kotopoulis” Stage at the REX Theater that is scheduled to begin within the next year, G. Moschos noted that this is a large and very beneficial project, which is planned and will be implemented by the Ministry of Culture, joining the Recovery and Resilience Fund. “With the data so far, all three stages of REX will be closed, temporarily, from mid-January 2025 until the end of the year. However, the National Theater will seamlessly continue its artistic work, without reducing its production activity to a minimum, either utilizing the existing building structures of the Ziller building and the “School of Athens-Irini Papa” complex or using spaces outside the National Theater. A co-production has been planned with the National Opera, which will be presented at its Alternative Stage, collaboration with the Karolos Koun Art Theater at the Odos Phrynichos Theater, as well as the housing of producers at the “Choros” theater in Botanikos.

Partnerships and actions of a social nature

The diverse activity of Ethniko does not end in the production of theatrical performances. The institution of theater workshops and universally accessible performances continues with great success. While at the same time, special importance is also given to actions of a social nature that are offered free of charge to the community: from this year the National is bringing back the institution of Hospital Visits, while it continues to provide theater workshops in correctional institutions and to people who are at the stage of addiction. In addition, as part of the Cultural Prescription program, it offers for the first time drama therapy workshops for people facing mental health problems.

Furthermore, as Yiannis Moschos announced, in a few weeks a long-term project will be completed: the digitization and documentation of the historical archive of the National Theatre. New tools will soon be available online: valuable new archival material, digital tours of the Ziller building and the costumes of the historic cloakroom, and many other features.

In addition, as part of the synergies, the National welcomes this year a new collaboration with the Organization for Culture and Development NEON. In fact, the contemporary art exhibition “Space of Togetherness” was recently inaugurated in the “School of Athens-Irini Papa” building complex.

Finally, in the field of extroversion, the first state stage continues to expand the network of international collaborations. The National Theater will organize in April 2025, for the first time in its history, the International Theater Conference of the European Theater Convention (ETC), of this important network of theaters in Europe, hosting representatives of theater organizations from more than 30 countries. The Conference will take place at the same time as the third “Showcase” in a row, where curators and directors of foreign organizations, as well as foreign journalists, will be invited to attend the productions of the National Theater and meet Greek theater creators. At the same time, the program of artistic exchange and hosting of Greek artists abroad and foreign creators at the National (Residencies) that was launched last May continues.

The Repertoire at a glance

Chiller Building – Center Stage

-GOODBYE, LINDITA (on repeat)

Conception-Direction: Mario Banussi

From 16/10/24

  • MOTHER COURAGE by Bertolt Brecht

Directed by: Stathis Livathinos

From 28/11/24

  • FAUST by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Adaptation-Direction: Aris Biniaris

From 3/13/25

Chiller Building – “Nikos Kourkoulos” Stage

  • IN HER BODY by Eleni Efthymiou, Sofia Eftychiadou, Nefelis Maistralis

Directed by: Eleni Efthymiou

From 11/13/24

  • OUR LEGACY by Matthew Lopez

Directed by: Yannis Moschos

From 7/2/25

Chiller Building – Side Stage

  • TO WHO IS DUE TO SO MUCH APPETITE FOR LIFE by Yannis Mavritsakis

Directed by: Yannis Mavritsakis

From 3/27/25

Rex Theater – “Marika Kotopoulis” Stage

  • Molière’s SCHOOL OF WOMEN

Directed by: Alexandros Mylonas

From 30/10/24

Theater Space

  • THE LAST WHITE CROW by Alexis Solomos

Directed by: Elena Mavridou

From 20/11/24

  • THE CARYATIDA! by Giorgos Kapoutzidis

Directed by: Katerina Mavrogeorgis

From 5/2/24

Experimental Scene of Young Creators

REX Theater – “Katina Paxinos” Stage

  • LYGERI by Andreas Karkavitsa

Arranged by: Irini Moutraki

Directed by: Irini Lambrinopoulou

From 10/24/24

  • MA GRAN’MA

Conception-Direction: Dimitris Charalambopoulos

From 12/12/24

“School of Athens” – Irini Papa

  • ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE

A play based on the play by Henrik Ibsen

Adaptation-Direction: Konstantinos Vasilakopoulos

From 2/26/25

  • PANDORA

Conception-Direction: Ouichi

From 5/14/25

Small National

CHILDREN’S STAGE

Rex Theater – “Eleni Papadakis” Stage

  • Georges Sari’s BIRTHDAY

Adaptation-Direction: Dimitris Agartzidis, Despina Anastasoglou

From 10/19/24

Chiller Building – Event Hall

  • NILS HOLGERSON, LILICA AND TATESSERA PI

Text-Direction: Ilias Kounelas

From 1/22/25

TEENAGE SCENE

Rex Theater – “Eleni Papadakis” Stage

  • AFTER THE PARTY by Maria Zavakou

Directed by: Yolanda Markopoulou

From 5/11/24

Co-productions – Collaborations

Alternative Stage of the National Opera

  • MATAROA ON THE HORIZONTA

Text: Elsa Andrianou

Directed by: Thodoris Ambazis

Music: Thodoris Ambazis, Nikos Kypourgos

From 14/12/24

In co-production with the National Opera

Karolos Koon Art Theater – Phrynihou

  • PHILOXENÄ°á¾¹ of Alexandra K*

Directed by: Maria Maganari

From 2/19/25

In collaboration with the Art Theater – Karolos Koun

Chora Theater

  • THE LINE OF THE HORIZON (in repetition) by Christos Vakalopoulos

Directed by: George Pavlou

From 21/11/24

In collaboration with the Theater of the New World