About Shadow Theatre & Drama

Greek Traditional Shadow Puppetry (Karaghiozis / Καραγκιόζης)

Greek Traditional Shadow Puppetry (Karaghiozis / Καραγκιόζης) is an art form with roots in ancient ritualistic and shamanic practices of Asia, the Middle East, the Balkans and Egypt.

As a popular form of folk theatre, with plots focusing on urban everyday life rather than mythological tales, shadow puppetry appeared in Greece at the end of the 19th century, and continues in the present day.

It is mainly based on oral tradition and creator improvisations. The main protagonist is Karaghiozis (Καραγκιόζης), a classic trickster-character, for whom the art form is named. The stories are set in Greece during the Ottoman occupation, and Karaghiozis is an impoverished slave, constantly out of a job, and extremely hungry. He is represented barefoot, bald-headed, with one long arm, a hump and clothes full of patches.

Drama workshops / Process drama

Throughout the years, both before and since becoming a dramatherapist, I have used process drama, forum theatre and other drama interventions in experiential workshops with an educational focus. The group participants have mainly been children and adolescents of all ages. The projects included both one-off workshops and pre-arranged groups of young people having regular meetings.

In most cases, the workshop aims were related to emotional and psychological issues; however, the setting was strictly non-therapeutic. In other instances, the workshop aims were merely educational, such as learning a certain skill.

To date, themes that I have explored include:

Emotional awareness
Self-worth
Bullying
Diversity
Collaboration
Recycling
Shadow puppetry
Greek mythology
Greek as a second language

For more information and details, please click here.

Performances

Apart from many Karaghiozis (Greek traditional shadow puppetry) performances I have given in Greece, Cyprus and the UK, I have tried to explore the art form of shadow theatre beyond the traditional form.

Over the past few years, I have both initiated and joined groups of artists in creating performances which included storytelling, puppetry, shadow puppetry, shadow theatre, music, and visual arts.

For more information and details, please click here.