State Theatre of Northern Greece

The State Theatre of Northern Greece, based in Thessaloniki, was founded on January 13, 1961, and inaugurated its activities in the summer of the same year with performances of Sophocles’ tragedy “Oedipus Rex” at the ancient theater of Philippi. Its first president was the writer Giorgos Theotokas, and its first director was the director Socrates Karantinos. From December 1961, the State Theatre of Northern Greece started presenting performances in Thessaloniki at the Royal Theater, while in the fall of 1962, it moved to the newly constructed building of the Society of Macedonian Studies. Its goal, from its founding, was the teaching of Greek and foreign dramaturgy, the organization of tours in the main cities of Northern Greece and the entire country (from 1962), the organization of performances of ancient drama or other classical works in the surviving ancient theaters and elsewhere, as well as various other events related to theater and art in general.

It was the first theater in Greece to establish an alternating dramaturgy. At the same time, it organized a series of literary mornings with distinguished speakers. Since 1973, the Drama School of the State Theatre has been operating, providing free full theatrical and artistic education and serving as a nursery for young actors. In November 1977, the Theater of Thrace started operating with Komotini as its base. Later, the Theater of Eastern Macedonia was added after two years, with Serres as its base. These two scenes operated until 1984.

Since December 1977, the Children’s Stage has been operating. In December 1982, the dance group “Aenon Choreotheatro” by Daniel Lomel was incorporated into the artistic dynamics of the State Theatre, and thus, for the first time, the city of Thessaloniki acquired a permanent stage with regular dance performances, both in Thessaloniki and in other cities. Finally, in 1997, the Thessaloniki Opera was established as an independent department of the State Theatre of Northern Greece, which merged with the State Theatre according to Law 4002/2011.

Source: State Theatre of Northern Greece