THEAMA

THEAMA is the first professional, all-inclusive theater group, with disabled and non-disabled artists. All artists are professionals, registered with the Association of Greek Actors. With a long and successful record of productions locally and abroad, over a span of 10 years, THEAMA additionally operates a training facility ‘ISON’ in collaboration with the Dance Group ‘EXIS’ that teaches individuals with or without disabilities within an inclusive concept of performing arts, drama and dance. THEAMA strives towards accessibility to the Arts since its establishment in 2010 and it operates as a non-government, non-profit organization with main objectives to include disabled performers in the mainstream, professional theater. Its scopes are to provide creative, cultural, artistic and educational activities in an inclusive concept of the performing arts, including theater, television and film productions. It came about to fill the void that existed in the sector for the professional and career-oriented approach for persons with a disability that are actively involved in the performing arts. It strongly advocates the message that art is for all, anyone capable of maintaining the artistic and aesthetic values should be able to participate, and none excluded based on disability or other social biases. It is a prerequisite to include in the training courses and the productions 30% of non-disabled performers so that the inclusivity clause of the objectives is maintained, thus promoting social inclusion and maintaining proper educational and pedagogical methods for the performing arts. For the past ten years, THEAMA produces plays from the national and international, classical and modern repertoire. Since 2018, it has successfully introduced children plays, addressed to schools and the general audience. Since 2013, the Greek Ministry of Culture has recognized THEAMA as a professional Theatre Group and has included it on its List of Subsidized theater groups and the training facility ISON is in the process of becoming a fully-accredited Performing Arts Academy, the first inclusive establishment of its kind in Greece.

Blindfold - The Night of the Hunt by Sophia Stavrakaki

Duration: 60'

Description: A play that endeavours to oppose the arrogance, the devaluation of human nature and the deprivation of hope, eminent in a fast-approaching reality, where society will be clearly delineated into two categories of the human species, the majority of those that accept their obligations and a minority of anti-conformists.

Extra information: An option for hyper-titles and video art.

People on road: 9

Freight: none

Freight details: n/a

The Persians by Aeschylus

Duration: 90'

Description: The first ancient Greek tragedy that survived complete by Aeschylus (472 BC), known for its anti-war and antiracist content, considered as the first literary work that contemplates on the acceptance of diversity.

People on road: 23

Freight: necessary

Freight details: T-Shaped wooden platform required

The Significance of Space and Time in Ancient Greek Tragedy

Duration: 50'

Description: Performance of the 'Deserts - Philoctetes' followed by two 3-hour sessions of Master class on ancient Greek drama by Vassilis Oikonomou, Director, MA in Ancient Greek Theater, University of Patra, Dept. of Theater Studies. The birth of tragedy based on two elements, Space and Time, within a framework of targeted improvisation.

Extra information: Two 3-hour sessions plus 50 minutes Performance.

For all audiences with/without disabilities, maximum number of participants 20.

People on road: 7

Freight: none

Freight details: n/a

Workshops, master classes, seminars for disabled and non-disabled participants; performances for general audiences.

“Heroes and Myths” (2011) based on extracts from plays by Tennessee Williams

Against the absurd and racist legislation decreed by the Ministry of Culture that all professional actors must be certified as “able-bodied” a theatrical group of people with disabilities ventures to convince us all that they are indeed professionals. Their production of “Heroes and Myths” an adaptation of monologues from Tennessee Williams plays.

****Elena Galanopoulou in Eleftherotypia

Ionesco and Sophocles for the World Day of People with Disabilities

THE.AM.A. continues its performances to honor December 3rd the World Day for Disabilities. The only professional theatrical group of people with disabilities is performing for the Day the comedy of Eugene Ionesco “Jacob or the Submission” representative work from the theater of the Absurd and the monologue “Philoctetes” based on the tragedy by Sophocles. Their approach to the performing arts exhibits thorough knowledge, outstanding aesthetics  and professional integrity.

To Vima 

“The Zoo Story “ (2013-2014) by  EdwardAlbee

What struck me in the performance I saw is that the actors were playing without hiding behind their disability, to elicit feelings of sympathy or, worse, pity. And that made all of us in the square forget that there was a problem. We could see how the roles created absorbed each actors disability to such an extent that the effaced. Well done. A thumbs goes to Vassilis Economou director, who found the boundaries of each partner and worked with them, managing to create an image of diversity as normal.

Savvas Patsalidis blogspot