Lefteris Giovanidis (Greek: Λευτέρης Γιοβανίδης) is a theatre director, performing arts manager and translator from Greece. A tireless director, on and off the stage. Lefteris, has a reputation as an astute artistic director of theaters, and has for many years been a highly regarded stage director as well. From 2020 until 2023 he was the artistic director of the Municipal Theatre of Piraeus, a 130 year-old theatre with a long tradition and history, the 3rd most important theatre in Greece. He was also the artistic director of the Municipal and Regional Theatre of Kozani.[1]

Biography

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He studied at the Drama School of Athens supervised by director Giorgos Theodosiadis and he graduated in 1995.[2] After his graduation he worked for two years as an actor in Athens and in 1997 he moved to New York, USA in order to study stage directing at Michael Howard Studio and Herbert Bergohof Studio. He also attended courses at Actor's Studio NYC.[3] During his stay in USA he worked at the beginning as assistant director and then he made his inaugural works as a director. He returned to Greece in 2000.

In New York 1998, he founded his own company, Seventh Theatre, and did the productions of Sheppard’s “True West” and Marivaux’s “A matter of dispute”. In 2003, he founded in Athens the not-for-profit company that he had produced more than 14 performances.

Until now Giovanidis has directed 46 plays, he has translated 14 more plays to Greek and he has made 6 adaptations of books for theatre.[3] He has instructed drama and improvisation-classes at the Drama School of National Theatre of Northern Greece. He has co-operated with theatres and institutions like National Theatre of Greece,[4] National Theatre of Northern Greece, Croatian National Theatre [hr] (Gradsko kazalište Marina Držića),[5] Patras Municipal and Regional Theatre,[6] Foundation of the Hellenic World,[7] Michael Cacoyannis Foundation,[8] Athens Festival, State Theatre of Turkey, etc.

Moreover, he directed the medal ceremonies of the Athens Olympics and Paralympics Games in 2004 and the opening ceremony for the 2007 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships in Patras.[3][9]

Theatre

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Year Title Theatre
2024 Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare State Theatre of Turkey and Megaron, The Athens Concert Hall
2023 The Elephant, Kostas Bostantzoglou Municipal Theatre of Piraeus
2022 Merry Wives, William Shakespeare Municipal Theatre of Piraeus
2022 Enoch Arden, Alferd Tennysson MMA
2021 Loukis Laras, Dimitrios Vikelas Municipal Theatre of Piraeus
2021 La bella Greca, Theodora Kapralou
2019 The Rose Tattoo, Tennessee Williams Regional Theatre of Greece
2019 The backgammon, Dimitris Kechaidis Regional Theatre of Greece
2018 Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare National Theatre of Croatia, Regional Theatre of Greece
2018 Manos Eleutheriou[10] Regional Theatre of Greece
2017-18 Schumann,[11] Sophia Kapsourou National Theatre of Greece
2017 The Greek Christmas Carols,[12] Y. Markopoulos Megaron, The Athens Concert Hall
2017 Fools,[13] Neil Simon Agios Dimitrios Theatre
2017 The Statue That felt Cold, Christos Boulotis Benaki Museum
2017 L'Origine du monde, Sébastien Thiéry Hellenic World
2017 Of love...,[14] Konstantina Varsami Gazarte stage
2016 Emil and the Detectives,[3] Erich Kästner Hellenic World
2016 Moonlight Sonata, Yiannis Ritsos Festival of Mantinia
2016 Escuela, Guillermo Calderón Theatre Thission
2015 Antigone, Sophocles KDEPPAM, Mykonos
2014 The selfish giant and his love,[15] Constantina Varsami Texnopolis, Gazi
2014 Fishsoup,[16] George Lebesis Acropol Theatre
2014 Medea,[17] Jan Rene Lemoine Michalis Cacogiannis Foundation, Athens
2014 Janis Joplin-ROOM 105, Gigi Gaston Aggelon Vima Theatre
2013 Heidi, Johanna Spyri Piraeus 131 Theatre
2013 Dreaming stories, Elisavet Georgiadi Texnopolis, Gazi
2013 Interview, Alexis Stamotis Southbank Centre, London, UK
2013 Educating Rita,[18] Willy Rusell Theatre Alma, Athens
2012 Atomic Alert,[8][19] Fred. Sonntag Michalis Cacogiannis Foundation, Athens
2012 Bastion,[5] Luko Paljetak Kazaliste Marina Drzica, Dubrovnik, Croatia
2012 Reunion, David Mamet Apollon Theatre, Patras
2011 Love to death, Aldo Nikolai Mikro Theater, Larissa
2011 Heidi,[20] Johanna Spyri Apollon Theatre, Patras
2009 Sonnets, William Shakespeare Theatre 104 Kastaniotis, Athens
2008 Hetaerae Dialogues,[9] Loukianos National Theatre of Northern Greece
2008 The Age of Chrysanthemums, Manos Eleftheriou Athinaida Theatre
2008 Richard III, W. Shakespeare La Fenice Theatre, Venice, U.T. of Europe
2007 Why Madonna and not me,[9] Mixalis Kokkoris, National Theatre of Northern Greece
2006 The magic flute,[9] Wolfgang Mozart Apollon Theatre, Patras
2005 Melocoton en almibar,[9] Migel Mihura Roes Theatre, Athens
2004 The Master Builder,[21] Henrik Ibsen Modern Theatre of Athens
2004 Wheelchair dancer,[9] Sara Froeber American – Hellenic Center of Arts
2003 A song of a night gale, Charlot Chandler Metaxourgio Theatre, Athens
2002 Who discovered America?, Chrysa Spiliotis Argo Theatre, Athens
2001 Los figurantes, José Sanchis Sinisterra Institute Thervantes, Athens
1999 True West, Sam Shepard Center Stage Theatre, New York
1999 A matter of dispute,[9] Marivaux Kraine Theatre, New York

Selected Translations

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“Enoch Arden”, Alferd Tennysson, (Megaron-The Athens Concert Hall-2022), “The Rose Tattoo”, Tennessee Williams (Regional theater of Northen Greece-2019), “Reunion”, David Mamet, (Apollon Theatre, Patras - 2012). “Heidi”, Johanna Spyri, (Apollon Theatre, Patras - 2011). “The smell of the kill”, Michelle Lowe, (Diana Theatre, Athens - 2010). “The Magic Flute”, Wolfgang Mozart, (Apollon Theatre, Patras - 2006).“Black bird”, David Harrower, (Aplo Theatre, Athens - 2006). “Trip to Bountiful”, Horton Foot, Vasilakou Theatre, Athens - 2005). “Melocoton en almibar”, Migel Mihura, Roes Theatre, Athens - 2005). “The Master Builder”, H. Ibsen, Modern Theatre, Athens - 2004). “Wheelchair dancer”, Sara Froeber, American– & Hellenic Center of Arts - 2004). “Play on”, Rick Abbot, Argo Theatre, Athens - 2003). “The whales of August”, David Berry, National Theatre of Greece - 2002).“Happy days”, Samuel Becket, (Rialto Theatre, Athens - 1997).

References

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  1. ^ "Ο Λευτέρης Γιοβανίδης στο...τιμόνι του ΔΗΠΕΘΕ Κοζάνης". Enikos (in Greek). 3 March 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  2. ^ "Απόφοιτοι". Athens Drama School (in Greek). Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d "Λευτέρης Γιοβανίδης: Ο "Εμίλ" γίνεται σύμβολο της παιδικής δύναμης". Culture Now. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  4. ^ "Γιοβανίδης, Λευτέρης". National Theatre of Greece Archive (in Greek). Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Premijera Paljetkova 'Bastiona' u Kazalištu Marina Držića". Vecernji (in Croatian). 4 June 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  6. ^ "Παλαιότερες παραστάσεις ΔΗ.ΠΕ.ΘΕ.Πάτρας:2000-2007". Patras Municipal and Regional Theatre. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  7. ^ Koulouvaris, Giorgos (21 March 2017). "Λευτέρης Γιοβανίδης: "…Μόνο άμα έχεις πίστη σε σένα, μπορείς να κερδίσεις…"". Naftemporiki (in Greek). Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  8. ^ a b "Το πρωτοποριακό Atomic Alert στο ίδρυμα Μιχάλης Κακογιάννης". TVXS (in Greek). 22 November 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g "Γιοβανίδης, Λευτέρης". National Theatre of Northern Greece. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  10. ^ "80 χρόνια Μάνος Ελευθερίου: Παράσταση αφιέρωμα από το ΔΗΠΕΘΕ Κοζάνης". Culture Now (in Greek). 18 June 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  11. ^ "Schumann by Sophia Kapsourou". National Theatre of Greece. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  12. ^ Charonitis, Giorgos (12 December 2017). "Ο Γιάννης Μαρκόπουλος γράφει για τα "Κάλαντά" του". Athinorama (in Greek). Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  13. ^ ""Οι ηλίθιοι" του Neil Simon από την θεατρική Ομάδα Δήμου Αγίου Δημητρίου". artandlife.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  14. ^ "Η Ρίτα Αντωνοπούλου μεταμορφώνεται σε Μήδεια του έρωτα". Rizospastis (in Greek). 11 February 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  15. ^ "Ο Εγωιστής Γίγαντας και η Αγάπη του στο The Christmas Factory". Culture Now (in Greek). 17 November 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  16. ^ "Παραμυθένια "Ψαρόσουπα" με οικολογική συνείδηση". Naftemporiki (in Greek). 1 November 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  17. ^ ""Μήδεια, ένα μανιασμένο ποίημα" του Ζαν-Ρενέ Λεμουάν [Σκηνοθεσία: Λευτέρης Γιοβανίδης]". Michael Cacoyannis Foundation. 6 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  18. ^ ""Εκπαιδεύοντας την Ρίτα" στο θέατρο Αριστοτέλειον". Proto Thema (in Greek). 25 February 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  19. ^ ""Atomic Alert" by Frederic Sonntag - Directed by Lefteris Giovanidis". Michael Cacoyannis Foundation. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  20. ^ Martatos, Takis (31 October 2011). "Πρεμιέρα με τη Χάιντι απόψε στο ΔΗΠΕΘΕ Πάτρας". The Best News (in Greek). Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  21. ^ Loverdou, Myrto (9 January 2005). "Γιώργος Κιμούλης: O γνωστός ηθοποιός ανεβάζει τον "Σόλνες" του Ιψεν και με εξομολογητική - αποδομητική διάθεση μιλάει για τη δική του θεατρική περιπέτεια". Vima (in Greek). Retrieved 5 May 2017.