In 1995, on the initiative of the director and actor Vangelis Theodoropoulos and the translator Koralia Sotiriadou, the “New Art Stage”, an urban non-profit company, was founded. Two years later, the newly formed company acquires its own permanent home: the first, dilapidated, brewery of the FIX factory in Neo Kosmos is declared a heritage site as a remarkable industrial building of the early 20th century and is transformed, with all the necessary interventions, into a working theater with three halls, the Theater of the New World.
Before the space was even set up, in the summer of 1997, “Koinos Logos” by Elli Papadimitriou was staged in the courtyard, with a dilapidated house, which still stood there, as the natural setting of the performance. In the fall, Snyder’s “Dirt” was staged in the old warehouse. In the little house in the courtyard, a photography exhibition by Ilias Bourgiotis was open with the theme “Kurdish refugees in Greece”.
The work to convert the old beer warehouse into a theater was completed in February 1999. The result, beautiful and friendly, with respect for the theater and the viewer.
The Theater of the New World emphasized political theater, which listens to society and raises questions and concerns. “I can’t understand what theater is, if it doesn’t “talk” about what concerns us,” Vangelis Theodoropoulos said in an interview. He uploads mainly contemporary Greek or foreign works. Classic works are treated in a modern way and with an emphasis on their topicality. It also presents performances by immigrant artists.
The Theater of the New World gives a platform to new creators and many notable theater artists have started or have emerged from its performances. At the same time, he often collaborates with other theater groups.
From 2002, it started operating the mobile theater unit for children treated in hospitals and institutions and slowly expanded to other places such as special schools, refugee camps, women’s prisons, etc.
Its three theater stages can operate simultaneously, to accommodate the productions and co-productions of the Theatre, as well as other events that take place on its premises. In other words, it works like a small multi-space for artistic creation. He also presents his productions outside of Athens, as well as performances given in other Athenian theaters. In 2017, an anniversary volume was published for the twenty years of the Theater’s creation.
Until now, the Theater of the New World has recorded important distinctions and awards for its actors. And it continues tirelessly, “with optimism, in defiance of the times”, as its founder states.
