Eleana Georgouli
Born in Athens. Graduated from the Drama School of Greek Art Theatre Karolos Koun. Holds an MA in Physical and Intercultural Theatre from Exeter University (UK), where she was mentored by Phillip Zarrilli. In 2016, she was awarded the Koun Award for best newcomer in theatre for her performances as Maria in Georg Büchner’s Woyzeck and as I-330 in Yevgeny Zamyatin’s We.
Since her return in Greece (2009), she has been investigating the physical/psychological trainings of actors/performers. She has been teaching yoga and physical theatre in classes and workshops, as well as at the Drama School of the Greek Art Theatre Karolos Koun.
As an actress she has participated in a number of performances, include Heiner Müller’s Medeamaterial, dir. Efrosyni Mastrokalou (as Medea); Sophocles’ Ajax, dir. Christos Sougaris (as Tekmissa); Euripides’ Iphigenia in Aulis, dir. Emilios Chilakis – Manolis Dounias, M. Papaioannou’sKatevainei o Kamouzas stous Fournous, dir. Maria Aiginitou; Documentary, conceived by Katia Gerou & Eleana Georgouli; Marathon: dance like you’ve never danced before, durational performance, dir. Phillip Zarrilli (at Exeter, Roborough Studio), Fragmento, dir. Hannah Silva (at Devon Dance Plaform). She has also played parts in films by Iben Ravn, Vassiliki Mouschou, Kyriakos Katzourakis, Thanos Anastopoulos et al.
As founding member of the Simeio Miden theatre group, she has had leading roles in H. Müller’s The Mission at Attis – Neos Choros (as Debuisson); Y. Zamyatin’s We at Grotowski Center, Wrocław (as I-330); F. Kafka’s In the Penal Colony at Athens Festival 2014 (as a prisoner); G. Büchner’s Woyzeck (as Maria); F. Kafka’s The Metamorphosis (as Grete Samsa); A. Camus’ The Just Assassins (as Stepan); A. Artaud’s To Have Done With the Judgement of God; W. Shakespeare’s As You Like it (dir. Savvas Stroumpos).
She was awarded first prize at the Monologue Festival 2017 for directing the performance Iliad – Book 3, with translation by Yorgos Blanas, with Maria Florato performing. Furthermore, Georgouli has worked as a volunteer in the theatre group of YRE (Youth Against Racism in Europe), directing second-generation migrants.
WORKSHOP
Expanded body and collective landscape in ancient drama from the citizen to the polis / from the individual to the collective
CycleΒ: 18 July – 1 August
The workshop will be structured in two parts:
In the first part, we will focus on a comprehensive training on psychosomatic techniques allowing us to explore our personal capabilities and helping our bodies dispose of automatic, daily habits.
More specifically, we will focus on strengthening our centre, opening our physical axes, enhancing our diaphragm and respiratory muscles, releasing our spine, enhancing facial expressions, releasing our breath and voice.
In the second part, we will focus on making the transition from personal means of expressions to exploring the creation of collective landscapes. How we collaborate – each of drawing on their own expression – into creating a common atmosphere.
The chorus/collectivity generates an energy background wherein the dramaturgy of each play is achieved. Participants will be asked to create set pieces based on structured improvisation. Our research will focus on the following dramaturgical axes: From the citizen to the polis: plague/siege/burial, material drawn from Theban tragedies, Oedipus at Colonus, Seven Again Thebes and Antigone respective.
*Participants are kindly requested to wear comfortable clothes and carry with them trainers, knee pads and plenty of water.