Lakis Kouretzis

Lakis Kouretsis is an educator, director, author, and specialist in aesthetic education and educational theatrical expression. He studied Psychology of Pedagogy, Aesthetic Education and Child Expression, Theater, and more specifically: Theater Pedagogy, Physical Expression and Psychodynamics of the Actor, Semiotic and Aesthetic Analysis of Theatrical Practice in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. He continues to research these subjects and monitor their application and development both abroad and in Greece. As an educator, he has focused on aesthetic education, educational theatrical expression, and the organization and operation of preschool and school education centers, among others. He is the creator and introducer of Theatrical Play in Greece. Beyond his professional field, he began presenting Theatrical Play in 1976, collaborating with specialized psychologists and members of the art group "Parodos." He teaches in the retraining of teachers and kindergarten teachers at "Marasleio," D.D.E. of the University of Athens, at the Theater Department of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, at the Theater Pedagogy - Theatrical Play Workshop of the Artistic and Educational Theatrical Expression Company "Theater of the Day," where he is the Director of Studies and Principal Animator. He also conducts long-term training workshops for educators as Animators of Theatrical Play in cities such as Larissa (since 1988), Heraklion, Crete (1993), Patras, and various P.E.K., in seminars organized by School Advisors, Teachers' Associations, Kindergarten Teachers, Parents, N.E.L.E., as well as by the Ministry of Education, the General Secretariat for Youth on the topic: "Theatrical Education - Theatrical Play." He has directed research workshops for the Moraitis School Studies Society and the University of Athens (Department of Philosophy, Pedagogy, and Psychology) on "Theatrical Play in the Educational Process" and "Training of Trainers and Special Advisors for Children and Adolescents with Special Needs," theatrical workshops for French actors and theatrical play animators in France, theatrical play for children in French schools, at the School of the Greek Community of Paris, at the AINU Theater in Valenciennes, at the European School of Brussels, as well as in Cyprus (Nicosia, Larnaca). He collaborates with Greek and foreign universities, the Pedagogical Institute, is a member of curriculum drafting teams, and the Central Coordinating Committee of the "Melina - Art and Culture in Education" program of the Ministries of Education and Culture. As a Director, he has staged more than 80 works from Greek and international dramaturgy, collaborating with various professional theater companies, D.H.P.E.THE., and others. He has been honored with the "Dimitris Rontiris" award. He directs theater workshops in France and Austria. As an Author, he has written plays performed by various theater companies in Greece (Theater Stoa, Parodos, Theater of the Day, Ample Gardens, D.H.P.E.THE., and others) and abroad, children's books (published by Gnosis): "Theatrical Play, Pedagogical Theatrical Practice and Theatrical Approach," "Theater for Children in Greece" (published by Kastaniotis) - "Theatrical Education" (a book for teachers) by the Ministry of Education - Pedagogical Institute (published by O.E.D.B.) - "In the Beginning, Just a Line..." (published by Taxideftis) - "The Theatrical Play and Its Dimensions" (published by Taxideftis), as well as numerous articles in magazines, newspapers, educational and theatrical publications. He is a member of the Society of Greek Directors and Playwrights, the International Theatre Institute, and a founding member, along with Xenia Kalogeropoulou, Alki Zei, Dimitris Potamitis, and others, of the Greek Center of ASSITEJ (International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People). He is the founder of the art group "Parodos" and co-founder, along with Andromachi Montzoli, of the artistic and educational theatrical expression company "Theatre of the Day." In January 1995, he was elected president of the Association Européenne du Théâtre d'Enfants (European Association of Children's Theatre) in France.