Fotos Politis

Fótos Polítis (1890-1934) was a prominent "theater person" of the interwar period, who served the theater in many capacities: as a translator, director, critic, and collaborator with the National Theatre. He studied law in Germany, where he gained theatrical education, influenced by Max Reinhardt's views on the modern approach to ancient Greek drama and contemporary theater. After returning to Greece, he professionally engaged in theater criticism, writing for the newspapers "Proia" and "Politeia," while also pursuing poetry and playwriting. In 1919, he translated and directed "Oedipus Rex," with Aimilios Veakis in the title role, in a performance that became legendary. From 1932 until the end of his life, he collaborated with the National Theatre as a director and contributed to staffing it with some of the greatest names in the theatrical field and the most significant personalities of the time. Although open to contemporary influences and often experimental in his productions, he insisted on the importance of maintaining the classical repertoire in theater, a mission continued by his successors Dimitris Rondiris and Alexis Minotis.