# Lefteris Giovanidis

Lefteris Giovanidis (Greek: Λευτέρης Γιοβανίδης) is a theatre director, performing arts manager and translator from Greece. A tireless director, on and off the stage. Lefteris, has a reputation as an astute artistic director of theaters, and has for many years been a highly regarded stage director as well. From 2020 until 2023 he was the artistic director of the Municipal Theatre of Piraeus, a 130 year-old theatre with a long tradition and history, the 3rd most important theatre in Greece. He was also the artistic director of the Municipal and Regional Theatre of Kozani.

## Biography

He studied at the Drama School of Athens supervised by director Giorgos Theodosiadis and he graduated in 1995. After his graduation he worked for two years as an actor in Athens and in 1997 he moved to New York, USA in order to study stage directing at Michael Howard Studio and Herbert Bergohof Studio. He also attended courses at Actor's Studio NYC. During his stay in USA he worked at the beginning as assistant director and then he made his inaugural works as a director. He returned to Greece in 2000.
In New York 1998, he founded his own company, Seventh Theatre, and did the productions of Sheppard’s “True West” and Marivaux’s “A matter of dispute”. In 2003, he founded in Athens the not-for-profit company that he had produced more than 14 performances.
Until now Giovanidis has directed 46 plays, he has translated 14 more plays to Greek and he has made 6 adaptations of books for theatre. He has instructed drama and improvisation-classes at the Drama School of National Theatre of Northern Greece. He has co-operated with theatres and institutions like National Theatre of Greece, National Theatre of Northern Greece, Croatian National Theatre [hr] (Gradsko kazalište Marina Držića), Patras Municipal and Regional Theatre, Foundation of the Hellenic World, Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, Athens Festival, State Theatre of Turkey, etc.
Moreover, he directed the medal ceremonies of the Athens Olympics and Paralympics Games in 2004 and the opening ceremony for the 2007 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships in Patras.

## Theatre

| Year | Title | Theatre |
| 2024 | Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare | State Theatre of Turkey and Megaron, The Athens Concert Hall |
| 2023 | The Elephant, Kostas Bostantzoglou | Municipal Theatre of Piraeus |
| 2022 | Merry Wives, William Shakespeare | Municipal Theatre of Piraeus |
| 2022 | Enoch Arden, Alferd Tennysson | MMA |
| 2021 | Loukis Laras, Dimitrios Vikelas | Municipal Theatre of Piraeus |
| 2021 | La bella Greca, Theodora Kapralou | |
| 2019 | The Rose Tattoo, Tennessee Williams | Regional Theatre of Greece |
| 2019 | The backgammon, Dimitris Kechaidis | Regional Theatre of Greece |
| 2018 | Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare | National Theatre of Croatia, Regional Theatre of Greece |
| 2018 | Manos Eleutheriou | Regional Theatre of Greece |
| 2017-18 | Schumann, Sophia Kapsourou | National Theatre of Greece |
| 2017 | The Greek Christmas Carols, Y. Markopoulos | Megaron, The Athens Concert Hall |
| 2017 | Fools, Neil Simon | Agios Dimitrios Theatre |
| 2017 | The Statue That felt Cold, Christos Boulotis | Benaki Museum |
| 2017 | L'Origine du monde, Sébastien Thiéry | Hellenic World |
| 2017 | Of love..., Konstantina Varsami | Gazarte stage |
| 2016 | Emil and the Detectives, Erich Kästner | Hellenic World |
| 2016 | Moonlight Sonata, Yiannis Ritsos | Festival of Mantinia |
| 2016 | Escuela, Guillermo Calderón | Theatre Thission |
| 2015 | Antigone, Sophocles | KDEPPAM, Mykonos |
| 2014 | The selfish giant and his love, Constantina Varsami | Texnopolis, Gazi |
| 2014 | Fishsoup, George Lebesis | Acropol Theatre |
| 2014 | Medea, Jan Rene Lemoine | Michalis Cacogiannis Foundation, Athens |
| 2014 | Janis Joplin-ROOM 105, Gigi Gaston | Aggelon Vima Theatre |
| 2013 | Heidi, Johanna Spyri | Piraeus 131 Theatre |
| 2013 | Dreaming stories, Elisavet Georgiadi | Texnopolis, Gazi |
| 2013 | Interview, Alexis Stamotis | Southbank Centre, London, UK |
| 2013 | Educating Rita, Willy Rusell | Theatre Alma, Athens |
| 2012 | Atomic Alert, Fred. Sonntag | Michalis Cacogiannis Foundation, Athens |
| 2012 | Bastion, Luko Paljetak | Kazaliste Marina Drzica, Dubrovnik, Croatia |
| 2012 | Reunion, David Mamet | Apollon Theatre, Patras |
| 2011 | Love to death, Aldo Nikolai | Mikro Theater, Larissa |
| 2011 | Heidi, Johanna Spyri | Apollon Theatre, Patras |
| 2009 | Sonnets, William Shakespeare | Theatre 104 Kastaniotis, Athens |
| 2008 | Hetaerae Dialogues, Loukianos | National Theatre of Northern Greece |
| 2008 | The Age of Chrysanthemums, Manos Eleftheriou | Athinaida Theatre |
| 2008 | Richard III, W. Shakespeare | La Fenice Theatre, Venice, U.T. of Europe |
| 2007 | Why Madonna and not me, Mixalis Kokkoris, | National Theatre of Northern Greece |
| 2006 | The magic flute, Wolfgang Mozart | Apollon Theatre, Patras |
| 2005 | Melocoton en almibar, Migel Mihura | Roes Theatre, Athens |
| 2004 | The Master Builder, Henrik Ibsen | Modern Theatre of Athens |
| 2004 | Wheelchair dancer, Sara Froeber | American – Hellenic Center of Arts |
| 2003 | A song of a night gale, Charlot Chandler | Metaxourgio Theatre, Athens |
| 2002 | Who discovered America?, Chrysa Spiliotis | Argo Theatre, Athens |
| 2001 | Los figurantes, José Sanchis Sinisterra | Institute Thervantes, Athens |
| 1999 | True West, Sam Shepard | Center Stage Theatre, New York |
| 1999 | A matter of dispute, Marivaux | Kraine Theatre, New York |

## Selected Translations

“Enoch Arden”, Alferd Tennysson, (Megaron-The Athens Concert Hall-2022), “The Rose Tattoo”, Tennessee Williams (Regional theater of Northen Greece-2019), “Reunion”, David Mamet, (Apollon Theatre, Patras - 2012). “Heidi”, Johanna Spyri, (Apollon Theatre, Patras - 2011). “The smell of the kill”, Michelle Lowe, (Diana Theatre, Athens - 2010). “The Magic Flute”, Wolfgang Mozart, (Apollon Theatre, Patras - 2006).“Black bird”, David Harrower, (Aplo Theatre, Athens - 2006). “Trip to Bountiful”, Horton Foot, Vasilakou Theatre, Athens - 2005). “Melocoton en almibar”, Migel Mihura, Roes Theatre, Athens - 2005). “The Master Builder”, H. Ibsen, Modern Theatre, Athens - 2004). “Wheelchair dancer”, Sara Froeber, American– & Hellenic Center of Arts - 2004). “Play on”, Rick Abbot, Argo Theatre, Athens - 2003). “The whales of August”, David Berry, National Theatre of Greece - 2002).“Happy days”, Samuel Becket, (Rialto Theatre, Athens - 1997).