Athens, Greece – The Municipality of Athens, in collaboration with the Karolos Koun Art Theatre, is hosting D-Athens Dionysia 2025, a vibrant three-day festival dedicated to contemporary theater. Running from December 12 to 14, the event at the Art Theatre’s Basement aims to provide a platform for emerging playwrights, cultivate new ideas, and strengthen the journey of theatrical works from page to stage. This initiative seeks to build collaborative bridges between creators, institutions, and the public.
Athens: A Global Capital of Theatre
Mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, emphasized the city’s commitment to its theatrical heritage: “Athens honors its roots as the birthplace of theater and aspires to become a leading Global Capital of Theatre today. Together with the Karolos Koun Art Theatre, we invite you to this grand celebration, the Dionysia, featuring the original playwriting competition ‘Mikra Nea Dionysia’ (Small New Dionysia), a new annual event supporting Greek dramaturgy. The public will have an active role, with the opportunity to listen to and vote for their favorite play. We look forward to seeing you in April for the International Dionysia.”
D-Athens Dionysia 2025 is a project of the cultural initiative “Athens World Theatre Capital,” a partnership between the Municipality of Athens, through the Development Agency of Athens, and the Karolos Koun Art Theatre.
A Meeting Place for Creativity and Connection
Marianna Kalbari, Artistic Director of the Karolos Koun Art Theatre, highlighted the event’s core philosophy: “For us at the Art Theatre, theater, beyond being a place of creation, is above all a meeting place. D-Athens Dionysia was born from this need: to establish, for the first time, a vibrant institution that supports both theatrical creation – starting from its core, dramaturgy – and the connection and communication between theater professionals and the audience. In the city where theater was born, in the city that continues to give birth to stories, let us begin with the stories being written today, to write our own history: a different way of living, dreaming, and conversing through theater.”
Ioannis Georgizas, CEO of the Development Company of the Municipality of Athens, added: “The Development Agency of Athens invests in actions that create opportunities. With D-Athens Dionysia, we support new creators, bring institutions and professionals together, and build stable foundations for Athenian theater to travel beyond borders.”
The Symbolism of D: Transformation and Dialogue
The initiative, through its specially designed program of actions “D-Athens,” aims to leverage a global privilege: the fact that theater was born in Athens. The letter Δ (Delta), as a mathematical symbol, signifies “change” or “transformation,” and this is precisely what D-Athens seeks to achieve through its activities: to transform ancient Greek heritage into contemporary ideas, ideas into action, works into productions, and the audience into a community.
Δ/D also stands for key words of the program: Dionysus (Διόνυσος), god of Drama (Δράμα) and Creation (Δημιουργία). Demos (Δήμος), because theater is a public space. Dialogue (Διάλογος) and Deliberation (Διαβούλευση), which are the essence of Democracy (Δημοκρατία). Network (Δίκτυο) and Dissemination (Διάδοση), which ensure the city’s outward reach.
D-Athens Dionysia: A New Institution for Contemporary Dramaturgy
The central institution of the “Athens World Theatre Capital” initiative is D-Athens Dionysia: an annual ecosystem centered around theatrical creation, focusing on new dramaturgy, international circulation of works, digital tools, and a vibrant market for professional meetings.
D-Athens Dionysia organizes competitions, staged readings, play development workshops, pitching sessions, and meetings, aiming to establish a stable, international hub for the theater of today and tomorrow.
The D-Athens Dionysia is structured around four pillars:
- Dionysia Greek (December): Focused on contemporary Greek dramaturgy.
- Dionysia International (April): Featuring an international competition and a Greek Focus section.
- Dionysia Agora (April): An international ‘market’ for ideas, co-productions, collaborations, and a tribute to a guest country.
- Digital Dionysia (Year-round): A digital platform with a library and a hub of tools for texts, translations, and online presentations.
D-Athens Dionysia Greek: A Pre-Holiday Theatre Celebration (December 12-14)
Through two open calls, D-Athens brings together new texts of contemporary Greek dramaturgy and theatrical proposals in the conception or development stage for a three-day event. The works are presented live, either as “First Readings” (competitive – Mikra Nea Dionysia) or as short pitches (networking), in front of a committee, industry professionals, and the public.
The program is complemented by masterclasses, mentoring, speeches, and discussions (Networking), encouraging the exchange of knowledge and networking among theater professionals.
For the competition, the distinguished works proceed to the “Dramatourgeio” (Playwriting Workshop), a three-month feedback and development workshop, and are also presented in the GREEK FOCUS section of the international version of Dionysia. The first-place work directly qualifies for the competitive section of “Dionysia International.”
Three-Day Program Details:
Day 1 – COMPETITION – Mikra Nea Dionysia
Friday, December 12, 6:00 PM
Three contemporary Greek play texts, selected through an open call under the theme “Light to Rush In,” are presented live as “First Readings” before the public and a committee consisting of (alphabetically): Dio Kagelari, Dimitra Kondylaki, Lydia Koniordou, Giannis Kalavrianos, Vassilis Katsikonouris.
- 6:00 PM: Play Title: “The Distant Lights Dance for Us”
- Author: Michalis Malandrakis
- Director/Music Supervision: Simos Kakalas
- Actors (alphabetically): Evelina Thomopoulou, Dimitris Passas, Konstantinos Fekas
- 7:30 PM: Play Title: “Tireas-Shellshocked”
- Author: Christos Tzioukalas
- Director: Thodoris Abazis
- Live Music: Kleon Antoniou
- Actors (alphabetically): Ilektra Kartanou, Manolis Mavromatakis, Marilena Bartaloutsi, Venia Stamatiadi
- 9:00 PM: Play Title: “Dead Flies”
- Author: Maria Drimi
- Directors/Music Supervision: Thanasis Zeritis, Nefeli Maistrali
- Actors (alphabetically): Thodoros Grampsas, Diamantis Karanastasis, Menelaos Kyparissis, Sofia Marathaki, Marilena Drikou, Marietta Protopappa, Giorgos Tzanakos
The three competing works were selected by the three-member D-Athens Dionysia judging committee (alphabetically): Eri Kyrgia, Zetta Pasparaki, Elena Triantafyllopoulou.
Production Managers/D-Athens Dionysia Coordinators (alphabetically): Dimitris Magginas, Angelos Bouras
D-Athens Dionysia Program Design: Marianna Kalbari
Day 2 – NETWORKING – Saturday, December 13, 6:00 PM
Speeches, masterclasses, mentoring, a round table, and discussions aimed at exchanging knowledge, experiences, ideas, and fostering meaningful connections among theater and culture professionals.
- 6:00 PM – Eri Kyrgia, playwright-dramaturg-translator, Elena Triantafyllopoulou, theater scholar-dramaturg: “What is ‘Dramatourgeio,’ the new institution of D-Athens?”
Presentation of “Dramatourgeio” as a new D-Athens institution supporting contemporary Greek writing. How the feedback and mentoring workshop operates after the competition, criteria for participation, the role of dramaturgs, and the next steps for works within the D-Athens ecosystem, from Dionysia Greek to its international version. - 6:30 PM – Zetta Pasparaki, cultural manager, performing arts director ELEVSIS 2023-European Capital of Culture: “How do I draft a theatrical proposal and where/to whom do I address it?”
A practical guide on how to create a complete theatrical dossier: artistic concept, description, team, biographies, budget, timeline. Discussion on how to adapt the same proposal when addressing festivals, state organizations, foundations, or European programs. - 7:15 PM – Nikos Ververidis, founder of ELC PRODUCTIONS and the cultural platform elculture: “How/where do I seek funding for the implementation of my proposal/idea?”
Mapping the main funding sources for theater today: grants, foundations, co-productions, collaborations with private entities, sponsorships. How to build a realistic budget, how to build sustainability beyond a single grant, and how D-Athens can function as a ‘hub’ for acquaintances and collaborations. - 8:00 PM – Gavriella Triantafylli, Director of Programming and Production at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC): “How do I pitch my proposal/idea?”
A workshop on the ‘art’ of pitching: how to narrate your idea clearly, concisely, and attractively, how to organize your verbal presentation, notes, or visual material. What a pitch must include, what mistakes to avoid, and how to transform presentation anxiety into creative energy and connection with the interlocutor institution/producer. - 9:15 PM – Round Table Discussion: “Together, perhaps we can do something” (Karolos Koun): The invaluable power and dynamic of the team, then and now.
Invited guests:- Directors-collaborators of the Art Theatre with significant work and long careers in theatrical groups (alphabetically): Thodoris Abazis, Simos Kakalas, Giannis Kakleas, Stathis Livathinos
- Directors from the younger generation leading groups with fertile and consistent presence, emphasizing Greek dramaturgy (alphabetically): Valeria Dimitriadou (C for Circus), Thanasis Zeritis-Nefeli Maistrali (4 Frontal), Haris Fragoulis (Kursk)
Discussion Coordinator: Marianna Kalbari
Day 3 – NETWORKING – Sunday, December 14, 5:30 PM
- 5:30 PM: Awards Ceremony
Announcement of the ranking of the works that participated in the Competition, in first, second, and third place, after voting by both the judging committee and the public, as well as the announcement of three additional works selected by the three-member committee and receiving honorable mention. The first-place work directly participates in the competitive section of “Dionysia International.”
All six distinguished works participate in the “Dramatourgeio,” the three-month feedback workshop that “prepares” them for their international presentation at Dionysia International (April 4-7). - 6:30 PM: Pitching
Theatrical proposals, also arising from an open call, are presented through pitches, giving creators and groups the opportunity to meet institutions, producers, and future collaborators. Twelve complete or in-progress proposals of Greek dramaturgy by (alphabetically): Mary Vamvaka, Dimitra Vamvakari, Noemi Vasileiadou, Nikolas Drosopoulos, Xenia Kalantzi, Chara Kasaraki, Eleni Lykoudi, Christina Matthaiou, Giorgos Mastrakoulis, Eirini Bazani, Meropi Papastergiou, Maria Tsimas, will be presented.
Presentation Curators-Coordinators: Dimitris Magginas, Angelos Bouras - 9:30 PM: Festive closing of the three-day event with wine, discussion, and Christmas wishes.
Important Information:
“dt” Action: Presentations in… dt time
As part of the networking, D-Athens offers ten creators the opportunity to speak on stage and briefly present a proposal or idea “in dt time” (up to 2 minutes). These presentations-ideas-positions-announcements-requests will take place on Sunday, December 14, with registrations on Friday, December 12, and Saturday, December 13. Strict priority will be observed.
Online Public Voting – Podcasts
The competitive works will be recorded live during the “First Reading” and will be posted as podcasts on the communication channels of the Municipality of Athens (radio station 9.84, Municipality, etc.) and the Art Theatre, so that online public voting can also take place on the Municipality of Athens’ Instagram, from Saturday, December 13, at noon until Sunday, December 14, at noon.
Digital Archive
In parallel, a digital archive of works submitted to the Competition will be created on the new “D Athens-Athens World Theatre Capital” website, which is under construction. Summaries, indicative excerpts, and contact details of the authors will be posted, so that interested theaters, directors, groups, and producers can request the full text in consultation with them. The archive will include exclusively the works of creators who have given their consent.
Admission
Admission to all D-Athens events is free, on a first-come, first-served basis.
Source: https://athina984.gr/2025/12/13/d-athens-dionysia-2025-dimos-athinaion-theatro-technis-kai-o-athina-9-84-giortazoyn-to-sygchrono-theatro/
