IRENE MOUNDRAKI
Theatre Scholar • Dramaturg • Researcher
Dramaturgy • Contemporary Greek Theatre • International Relations • Theatre Research
Irene Moundraki was born and raised in Athens. She holds a BA, an MA and a PhD with distinction from the Department of Theatre Studies of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
She also studied Italian Art and Language at the University of Milan on a scholarship. Her professional and research activity brings together dramaturgy, theatre research, archival documentation, criticism, teaching and international cultural relations.
Education
- BA from the Department of Theatre Studies, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
- Postgraduate studies at the Department of Theatre Studies, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
- PhD with distinction from the Department of Theatre Studies, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
- Studies in Italian Art and Language at the University of Milan on a scholarship.
Languages
- English
- Italian
- French
National Theatre of Greece
She has worked at the National Theatre of Greece as a special artistic associate since 1999.
She is responsible for:
- Dramaturgy
- Library
- Archive
- International Relations
She is also the Scientific Coordinator of the International Workshop of Ancient Drama.
Dramaturgical Collaborations
- Robert Wilson
- Sofia Vgenopoulou
- Irene Lambrinopoulou
- Giannis Karaoulis
- Stathis Livathinos
- Giorgos Lyras
- Sofia Marathaki
- Nikos Mastorakis
- Vasilis Nikolaidis
- Tasos Pyrgieris
- Thanasis Sarantos
- Eleni Skoti
- Takis Tzamargias
- Stamatis Fasoulis
- Sotiris Hatzakis
Greek Play Project
She is the founder, creator and director of the Greek Play Project (GPP), a bilingual online platform dedicated to the study, support and international promotion of contemporary Greek playwriting.
Among its activities, she also organises Greek Play Project New York in New York City.
Theatre Criticism and Editorial Work
From 2000 onwards, she worked as a theatre critic for publications including:
- ANTI (2000-2008)
- Highlights (2000-2010)
- MONO (2012)
- Creative Theatre
- Foyer
She has edited dozens of theatre programmes for the National Theatre of Greece and independent theatre productions. Her essays, studies and reviews have appeared in journals, newspapers, edited volumes and theatre programmes.
University Teaching
- Department of Theatre Studies, NKUA — “Greek and World Theatre: Drama, Performance, Education” .
- Department of Theatre Studies, University of the Peloponnese — “Creative Writing, Theatre and Cultural Industries” .
- Postgraduate programme of the Department of Education — specialisation “Humanities: Literature, Theatre and Language in Education” .
Other Teaching Activity
- She has taught at the Department of Theatre Studies in Nafplio.
- She has taught at drama schools.
- She has taught at the higher military educational institution of the Hellenic Army.
- She has taught creative writing workshops.
- She has directed productions with amateur performers.
International Activity
She has participated with lectures and workshops in numerous conferences and theatre studies meetings in Greece and abroad.
In 2013, she participated in the International Visitors Leadership Program in the United States on the theme “Promoting Social Change Through the Arts”, as a guest of the United States Department of State – Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
International and Institutional Roles
- Member of the Board of the European Theatre Convention.
- Member of the Executive Committee of the International Association of Theatre Critics .
- Member of the Horn Award Committee.
- Member of the Greek State Theatre Play Award Committee.
- Chair of the Advisory Committee for Independent Theatre Grants of the Greek Ministry of Culture (2017-2021).
- Former President and Vice-President of the Hellenic Association of Theatre and Performing Arts Critics.
Research and Cultural Documentation
- Coordinator of the project “Mapping the Contemporary Theatre Landscape in Greece” for the National Centre for Theatre and Dance.
- Member of the “Pythagoras” Laboratory for Theatre Research and Documentation of the Department of Theatre Studies, NKUA.
Books and Publications
- Carlo Goldoni: His Life, Work and Reception in Greece , Aigokeros, 2019.
- Within, Without and Thereabouts: Texts on Modern Greek and World Drama and Stage Practice , Aigokeros, 2020.
- Scientific editor of the volume The Dynamics of Greek Discourse in Theatre, Municipal Theatre of Piraeus.
- Greek translation of Carlo Goldoni’s The New House, National Theatre of Greece Publications, 2019.
- Editor of the “Dramaturgy” series published by Aigokeros, dedicated to the dramatic output of contemporary Greek playwrights.
Recent Dramaturgical Collaborations
- 2025 — Dramaturgy consultant for I Vengera by Ilias Kapetanakis, National Theatre of Greece, directed by Sofia Marathaki at Choros Theatre.
- 2024 — Adaptation of Andreas Karkavitsas’ novel I Lygeri for the Experimental Stage for Young Creators of the National Theatre of Greece, directed by Irene Lambrinopoulou.
- 2024 — Dramaturgy consultant for the staged reading The Pope of Galileo by Kostas Gavroglou, directed by Takis Tzamargias.
- 2024 — Dramaturg for Aeschylus’ Oresteia, directed by Theodoros Terzopoulos, presented at the Epidaurus Festival and subsequently toured in Greece and abroad.
- 2023 — Dramaturgy for Chorus. We Are Here Prepared for Tragedy, directed and choreographed by Sofia Mavragani.
- 2023 — Dramaturgy for Chris Cooper’s At the Edge, directed by Sofia Vgenopoulou.
- 2023 — Dramaturgy for Can the Bird Become a Tree? by Christos Chomenidis, directed by Takis Tzamargias at Little Epidaurus.
Recent Publications
- Irene Moundraki, “The Challenge of Being Greek in Today’s European Theatre. A roundtable with Ioli Andreadi and Aris Asproulis, Alexandra K*, Yannis Kalavrianos, Stathis Livathinos, Yiannis Panagopoulos, Elli Papakonstantinou, Thanos Papakonstantinou, Savas Patsalidis, Takis Tzamargias, Sofia Vgenopoulou”, in Theatre and Performing Arts in Eastern Europe: New Perspectives , Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai Dramatica, 69, April 2024, pp. 133-164.
- Irene Moundraki, “The Body as Trauma on Stage: The Case of The Ugly One and Pool (No Water)”, in Iosif Vivilakis (ed.), Theatre – Trauma – Therapy: Texts and Testimonies on the Healing Dimension of the Performing Arts , Armos, 2023, pp. 332-340.
- Akis Dimou, Sofia Kapsourou, Giannis Soldatos, Pela Soultatou, Dimitris Foinitsis, Antonousa Kastanaki, scientific coordinator: Irene Moundraki, Aigokeros – Rokka Festival, Athens, 2021.
Exhibitions
“Travel Through Theatre”
at Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos”, highlighting the heritage of world drama.