We invite you to a unique workshop of creative drama expression, at the Greek Community of Melbourne and Victoria. The workshop will be facilitated by the artist Steve (Stathis) Grapsas.

This four-hour intensive workshop aims to give the participants an opportunity to examine the timeless pieces of Ancient Greek Tragedy and consider their relevance today. The method will be similar to that used by Stathis with other groups he has worked with, where the primary focus includes participants becoming a vessel for the material they transmit to their audience. After an initial introduction, there will be a warm-up to prepare the body for the work. Groups will be allocated a specific extract each to work on and finally present to the group.

More specifically,the warm-up that will be conducted and the ‘deconstruction’ exercise that will follow, belong to the Attis training method which Stathis has worked on.  Both of these exercises prepare the group mentally and physically for the work. The ensemble work will cover principles previously examined with the groups in prison, which bring forward the power of the masses texts form Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides will be worked on there is an element of improvisation in the workshop some video material may be used as examples.

Appropriate clothing is required for floor work.

The workshop will be held on 12th of October 2pm-6pm, Mezzanine level, Greek Centre, 168 Lonsdale street, CBD

Participation is free of charge. Limited placements. Please book here https://www.trybooking.com/BFWKW

Stathis Grapsas has trained as an actor in Melbourne, London and Athens, and has performed in most major cities in Europe, at the Wilma Theatre in Philadelphia, at the Ancient Theatre of Epidavros and the Herodes Atticus in Athens. In Post-War Belgrade (2001) he organized and conducted theatre workshops for beneficiaries in 10 institutions for the homeless and parentless children and youth. He was the assistant director for the BBC on location in Greece for the November 17 documentary. In June 2010, he undertook a project with migrant primary school students and presented a provocative text titled 'Furtive Life’.

From 2010 to 2013 he ran a personal development workshop on a voluntary basis, in a Greek prion for young offenders. In 2011 the theatre group in the prison started performing to audiences from within the community and also travelled via police escort to other prisons to perform. Stathis’ experience extends to working with youth under court supervision and conducting workshops for released adult prisoners. Before leaving Greece in 2013, Stathis conducted a workshop for prisoners in the Korydallos Psychiatric Prison of Athens.

From 2003 to 2013 Stathis was the resident director at Hydrama Theatre and Arts Centre, where he conducted workshops for students and professional actor, focusing on the political aspect of Ancient Greek Tragedy and its contemporary application.

Upon his return to Melbourne, he conducted a workshop in a local remand facility and collaborated with the Northland Youth Centre on a project for high-risk youth. In 2015 he started a 2 year voluntary initiative with three actors from the Fusion Theatre Company and presented an original piece of work titled, ‘Heroes of the Past and Present’.

He has worked for the Greek Community in Melbourne both as an actor and director. Apart from his work with students from the Greek Schools run by the community, he also worked with the Creative Drama and Arts group which consisted of predominantly Greek migrants and presented work devised by the group itself.

Stathis is currently based in Greece and continues his work in four prison facilities and as a workshop facilitator for the Epanodos Organization which caters for released prisoners and continues his work at the Hydrama Theatre and Arts Centre.

You can find out more about his multiple years artistic path of Stathis Grapsas at: https://www.stathisgrapsas.com/