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Greek and World Theatre: Drama, Performance, Education

ZONIOU CHRISTINA

CHRISTINA ZONIOU

Special Teaching Staff

Acting • Stage Practice • Social / Applied Theatre

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Christina Zoniou has taught Acting, Stage Practice and Social / Applied Theatre at undergraduate and postgraduate level since 2005 as a permanent member of the Special Teaching Staff of the Department of Theatre Studies, School of Fine Arts, University of the Peloponnese.

Her academic, research and professional artistic work spans Greece and several other countries, with a particular focus on acting, theatre education, applied and social theatre and the Theatre of the Oppressed.

ActingDirectingDramaturgyApplied TheatreTheatre of the OppressedDocumentary TheatreIntercultural EducationArts-Based Research
Education
  • B.A. in Theatre Studies, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (1997).
  • M.Phil. at the Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies, University of Glasgow (1998).
  • Master “Drama in Scena” at Laboratorio Nove Acting School (2002).
  • Ph.D. from the Department of Early Childhood Education, University of Thessaly (2016).
  • Participation in numerous international seminars in theatre education.
International Teaching Experience
  • Visiting Professor at the University of Pisa (academic year 2018/19).
  • Visiting Professor at Sapienza University of Rome on a scholarship (2019).
  • Visiting Professor at Istanbul Gelisim University (2012).
  • Guest lecturer at the Jana Sanskriti Centre of Theatre of the Oppressed & Drama School in Kolkata (2020 and 2024).
Academic Field
Acting
Government Gazette 43/N.P.D.D./28-02-2005
Research Interests
  • Contemporary approaches to acting
  • Directing and dramaturgy
  • Actor training
  • Performing arts in education
  • Applied and social theatre
  • Theatre of the Oppressed
  • Documentary theatre
  • Ethnotheatre
  • Intercultural education
  • Critical adult education
  • Arts-based research
  • Critical ethnography
  • Action research
International Research Activity
She has participated as principal researcher, researcher and trainer in numerous transnational research and educational projects and has been a member of the international research group “Performing Space”.
Publications and Academic Output
She has published 5 books as co-editor and more than 50 peer-reviewed academic articles in books, journals and conference proceedings.
Research and Educational Projects
  • EduSeismArtTec — Educational Seismology for School and Society: an interdisciplinary approach through innovative theatre education methods and digital technologies (2020-2023).
  • ReWrite your Story (2020-2022).
  • YouthDocs — Documenting critical perspectives on personal identity, youth culture and contemporary reality (2014-2016).
  • ARIADNE — Arts for intercultural adaptation in new environments (2011-2012).
  • Acting for Austerity (2012-2013).
  • Intercultural Education, Interpersonal Relations and Theatre (2012).
  • Camille Claudel III: Ästhetische Bildung in europäischen Dimensionen (2009).
  • mMPACT — Learner-centred teaching methodology with an emphasis on the performing arts (2007-2010).
Academic and Educational Roles
  • Co-founder, trainer and member of the Scientific Committee of the “Epidaurus Lyceum – International Summer School of Ancient Drama” (2016-2018).
  • Member of the Editorial and Scientific Committee of Education & Theatre (2014-2024).
  • Scientific adviser and trainer for “It could be me – It could be you”, implemented by the Hellenic Theatre/Drama & Education Network and UNHCR Greece (2015-2024).
  • Scientific coordinator and trainer of “Addressing Roma School Segregation through Performing Arts” (University of the Peloponnese & Council of Europe, 2023).
Professional Artistic Activity

Since 1999, she has worked professionally in the performing arts as a dramaturg, assistant director, director, stage manager, acting teacher and applied theatre facilitator.

Her artistic activity has included theatres, festivals and organisations in Greece, Italy, India, France, Ireland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Lithuania, Hungary, Spain, Poland and Germany.

Film
She co-developed the dramaturgical concept and appeared in the Italian documentary SpinTime – Che fatica la democrazia!, directed by Sabina Guzzanti.

The film was selected and screened at the 87th Venice International Film Festival in 2021 and was distributed in Italian cinemas during 2021-2022.

Civil Society
  • President and Treasurer of the Board of the Hellenic Theatre/Drama & Education Network (2014-2019).
  • Member of the Board of the Municipal Library of Nafplio (2019-2024).
  • Co-founder of Osmosis – Centre for the Arts and Intercultural Education (2005-2015).
  • Active member of the Greek and international Theatre of the Oppressed movement since 1999.
Selected Publications
  1. Zoniou, C. & Magos, K. (2024). “Interculturality and Theatre: A critical overview or which theatre is appropriate for intercultural education.” In C. Parthenis, L. Gioti & T. Katopodi (Eds.), Lifelong Education and Training of Teachers in Modern Multicultural Societies – Theoretical Approaches, Actions and Practices of Intercultural Education . Gutenberg.
  2. Zoniou, C. (2023a). “The politics of Chorus. Introducing the Chorus in Jana Sanskriti's Theatre of the Oppressed performances.” In R. Yarrow (Ed.), Jana Sanskriti's Khelar Ghor: Ibsen, Forum Theatre and Patriarchy in Bengal. Critical Essays and Framing Perspectives , pp. 142-166. Talpata Publication.
  3. Zoniou, C. (2023b). “Maieutica e ascesi: la formazione dell’attore nello spazio tele-microscopico del Teatro dell’Oppresso.” In G. Di Palma & I. Scaturro (Eds.), Per-formare il sociale, Tomo III: La pedagogia nel teatro sociale , pp. 119-141. Bulzoni Editore.
  4. Zoniou, C. & Tsichli, A. (2023). “Documentary Theatre, Devised Theatre and Educational Seismology: Pedagogical applications and devising the performance Beat the Quake!” In I. Kalogeras, N. Melis, M. Ragousi, C. Zoniou, A. Tsichli & D. Kalogera (Eds.), EduSeismArtTec Educational Seismology for School and Society: Interdisciplinary Approach with Innovative Methods of Theatre Education and Digital Technologies , pp. 74-105. National Observatory of Athens.
  5. Zoniou, C. & Papadopoulou, G. (2021). “Intercultural dialogue and empowerment of immigrant women through theatre.” In T. Karaoglou & N. Aliferis (Eds.), Immigrants and Refugees in Modern Drama and Stage: Proceedings of the Second Theatre Studies Conference, in Memoriam of Dimitris Spathis , pp. 65-80.
  6. Zoniou, C. (2021). “From performing heteronomy to devising a theatricality of autonomy: A presentation of an ongoing process of Theatre of the Oppressed, documentary theatre and critical ethnography in a multicultural community in Rome.” Education & Theatre, 22, 24-36.
  7. Zoniou, C. (2018). “Acting approaches in social theatre: The case of the actor-facilitator in Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed.” In A. Altouva & K. Diamantakou (Eds.), Theatre and Democracy: Proceedings of the Fifth Panhellenic Theatre Studies Conference , pp. 511-526.
  8. Zoniou, C., Kakoudaki, G. & Tsakona, A. (2018). “Educating audiences in ancient drama: A process of audience development through artistic education at the Athens & Epidaurus Festival in collaboration with the University of the Peloponnese.” Education & Theatre, 19, 76-89.
  9. Zoniou, C. (2017). “Documentary theatre performances with youth, teenagers, children and non-professional adults: A practical guide for facilitators.” Education & Theatre, 18, 32-39.
  10. Zoniou, C. (Ed.) (2016). YouthDOCs – Documentary Theatre & Video on Youth Culture, Personal Identity and Contemporary Reality: A Handbook for Practitioners & Teachers . Directorate of Secondary Education of Eastern Attica. ISBN: 978-960-86680-8-9.
  11. Zoniou, C. & Boemi, N. (Eds.) (2013). Ariadne: Arts and Intercultural Adaptation. Artistic Workshops with Groups of Immigrants . University of the Peloponnese and Grigoris Publications. ISBN: 978-960-333-822-2.
  12. Zoniou, C., Tarján, E., López Fdz. Cao, M., Várhegyi, V. & Szabó, V. (Eds.) (2012). Art of Adaptation: Manual of Artistic Tools for Migrants . Ariadne Project. ISBN: 978 295 437 5205.
  13. Govas, N. & Zoniou, C. (Eds.) (2010). Theatre in Education Projects with Forum Theatre Techniques for Prevention and Social Inclusion . Osmosis & Hellenic Theatre/Drama in Education.
  14. Zoniou, C. (2010). “Augusto Boal (1931-2009).” Education & Theatre, 11, 71-80.