Epidaurus Lyceum, the international summer school of ancient drama running in parallel with the Athens & Epidaurus Festival, has successfully completed its second active year of studies.
In 2018, the programme was divided into two separate cycles, under the common theme Polis (City) and the Citizen and saw the participation of students and teaching staff from 23 countries around the world. During the programme, students attended a number of practical and theory workshops, lectures and masterclasses, whose aim was to engage students in an experiential study of ancient drama through diverse aesthetic trends, methods and performing approaches.
The teaching staff of Epidaurus Lyceum 2018 consisted of the following acclaimed professionals: Maria Shmaevich, acting teacher at the Russian State Institute of Theatre Arts (GITIS); Dennis Hilton-Reid, director and acting coach; Sanjoy Ganguly, director; Lilo Baur, actress and collaborator of Theatre de Complicité; Pichet Klunchun, dancer and choreographer; Xu Jiali, and Gong Baorong from the Shanghai Theatre Academy; Jonathan Pranlas-Descours, dancer and member of Sine Qua Non ART; Enrico Bonavera, actor at the Piccolo Teatro in Milan; Francesco Origo, director and acting coach; Patricia Apergi, choreographer, along with the Aerites Dance Company; Georgia Mavragani, director; Eleani Georgouli, actress; Griffón Dance Company; Edith Hall from King’s College in London; Angeliki Spiropoulou, Christina Zoniou, Maria Mikedaki and Ioannou Karamanou from the University of the Peloponnese; Efimia Karanatza from the University of Patras; Georgina Kakoudaki, Head of Epidaurus Lyceum and co-curator for educational programmes for Athens & Epidaurus Festival, and Vangelis Theodoropoulos, Artistic Director of Athens & Epidaurus Festival.
Workshops were held outdoors at various sites, including the Ancient Theatre and the Ancient Stadium of Epidaurus, the Lygourio Gymnasium (Junior’s High) and Lyceum (High School), at the courtyard of Agios Athanasios church, and at other cultural venues in the area.
Students and teachers also attended performances and rehearsals at the two theatres of Epidaurus, and visited the Asklepion archaeological site.
Standouts moments of this year’s programme: The presentations of the main workshops Citizens Defeated under the guidance of choreographer Patricia Apergi and Aerites Dance Company (Cycle A) and The responsibility of the Polis under the guidance of Griffón Dance Company (Ioanna Portolou, Yannis Nikolaidis, Cecil Mikroutsikou) at the finale of Cycle B, both of which were held at the Ancient Stadium of Epidaurus with the participation of students from the first and second cycle respectively.
During the farewell happening for the Cycle B of Epidaurus Lyceum, ten students read excerpts from the Temporary Constitution in Greece in their native language. The public reading took place at the Nea Epidavros square, the historic site where the first constitution of the modern Greek state was ratified. The event was held under the auspices of the Administration of the Peloponnese.
In 2019, Epidaurus Lyceum will be held between 2 and 16 July, under the theme Reinventing ancient drama on the contemporary stage.

Epidaurus Lyceum is realized under the auspices and support of the Ministry of Culture and Sports and is a member of the International Network of Ancient Drama of the Ministry.
Realized in collaboration with the Department of Theatre Studies, School of Fine Arts, University of the Peloponnese.
Supported by the Municipality of Epidaurus, the Ephorate of Antiquities of Argolis (based in Nafplio), Institut Français de Grèce and the Administration of the Peloponnese.
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Photos: Iris Katsoula, Dioni Sarantinou, Nadja Mattioli