Dissertation committee:
Χρυσόθεμις Σταματοπούλου Βασιλάκου, Ομότιμη Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Θεατρικών Σπουδών ΕΚΠΑ
Βάλτερ Πούχνερ, Επίτιμος Καθηγητή,ς Τμήμα Θεατρικών Σπουδών ΕΚΠΑ
Κωνστάντζα Γεωργακάκη, Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Θεατρικών Σπουδών ΕΚΠΑ
Ευανθία Στιβανάκη, Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Θεατρικών Σπουδών ΕΚΠΑ
Αικατερίνη Διακουμοπούλου, Επίκουρη Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Θεατρικών Σπουδών ΕΚΠΑ
Αλεξία Αλτουβά, Επίκουρη Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Θεατρικών Σπουδών ΕΚΠΑ
Παναγιώτης Μιχαλόπουλος, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Θεατρικών Σπουδών ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
The dissertation with title ‘The theater of Greek immigrants in Australia: The preliminary phase 1900-1940” studies the Greek pre-war theater in Australia. More specifically, it studies the performances of Greek expatriates and touring troupes from Athens, Australian productions with Greek participation as well as performances of ancient Greek plays. Such theatrical activities have been also associated with the presence of the Greek diaspora in the cinema and theaters.
In Sydney the first expatriates presented various plays inspired by the Greek national History, such as Sklava (Slave) in 1916 (“Hellenic Philodramatic Society”) and Athanasios Diakos in 1930. Likewise, in Brisbane in 1921 the Dramatic Society presented Esme and in 1930 The Killing of Ali Pasha.
In Melbourne, the Panhellenic Association "Orpheus" has presented since 1923 works such as: The Two Sergeants, Thymiula the Galaxidiotissa, Political Windmill, Submarine, Golfo, Esme the Turkish. Several original plays were also presented in Adelaide, such as: Ah! These five women, The Volunteers, The Secretary, around 1935. From 1930-1940 in Perth, D. Ioannidis wrote various works: The Newcomer to Australia, Australomania, Ananias in Australia and two English-language musical works (Athenian nights και Somewhere in Perth).
In 1923, Greek expatriates and Australians had the chance to attend performances by the Athenian Company and Vrysoula Pantopoulos, in all Australian cities. There was also an attempt for the foundation of a permanent parish troupe in Sydney 1915 and 1931. In 1936, the Amateur Metropolitan Association of Agia Sophia was founded· however such troupes were usually short-lived.
Traveling tragedians from Europe, university students and local Australian troupes performed all the works of ancient Greek literature. In Sydney from 1922, Adam Tavlaridis and Georgios Paizis participated in Australian theater or film projects, as actors, directors, producers.
The soprano Angela Parcellis, Raoul Kardamatis the set designer - producer, the flautist John Lemmone, Dimitrios Kolyvas (Rudy Rico), Artemis Linou, became renowned in the Australian audience.
From 1867 onwards, John Hatzopoulos and the illusionist Alexander Canaris toured Australia presenting multi-spectacular shows. In 1939, Leonidas Foteinos brought his puppets to Australia. From the 1910s, expatriates engaged in entertainment businesses, managed, or built their own theaters, such as: Marino Lucas, George Conson, Vretos Margetis, Antonios Loukas, G. Laurantus, J. Kouvelis, Andronicos, Konomos brothers, Hatsatouri family. In 1924, the first play by a Greek writer, Kon. Kyriazopoulos, was published, O Adiakritos musafiris (The indiscreet Visitor) which had been staged in Melbourne in 1917. Theatrical poems (in a dialogue form), as well as a one-act comedy by an unknown person, The Assembly of Assemblies, saw the light of day publicity, through the columns of the national newspaper Panhellenios Kyryx, in the period 1926 – 1930, while from 1913 the monologue Letter to the mother was written and published. The pre-war presence of the pioneering Greek expatriates in the regional and Australian theater proves to be multifaceted and important.
