(Elizabeth Grenier’s report appeared on DW, 8/28. Agents of intercultural dialogue: documentary theater director Prodromos Tsinikoris)
The prestigious German cultural award recognizes the artistic work and commitment to cultural dialogue of Arvo Pärt, Anita Raja and Prodromos Tsinikoris.
Prodromos Tsinikoris: Documentary theater as a bridge between cultures
Born in the West German city of Wuppertal in 1981 as the son of Greek labor migrants, Prodromos Tsinikoris is one of the leading voices in contemporary Greek and European theater.
As a theater director, actor and dramaturg, he creates documentary productions exploring the themes of migration, social inequality and historical perspectives.
His audio walk “In the middle of the street” centers on homeless people during Greece’s financial crisis.
The documentary theater production “Clean City,” co-created with Anestis Azas, focuses onthe lives of migrant cleaners, juxtaposing their personal testimonies with the rhetoric of neo-fascist movements who want to “clean” Greece of its foreigners and refugees.
In the play “96%” Tsinikoris deals with the Holocaust of the Jews of Thessaloniki and the looting of their property during the Nazi occupation.
From 2015 to 2020, Tsinikoris directed the Experimental Stage at the National Theater in Athens. Today, he is co-curator of the International Forest Festival in Thessaloniki and teaches at the National Theater’s directing school in Athens.
Many of Tsinikoris’ plays have been developed and presented in Germany. His work has also circulated broadly across Europe, particularly through documentary theater festivals and major public theaters.
Edited by: Brenda Haas
