About Hippo Theatre Group
Video for the 15 years of the company's existance
The HIPPO theatre group was founded in 2009 by Alexandros Raptis and Fotis Dousos. It has staged performances and created theatre workshops for both children and adults in Greece and abroad.
The group's core mission has always been mobility and communication with as many communities as possible, in both villages and cities within and beyond Greece. HIPPO started in the provincial town of Serres and gradually expanded across mainland and island Greece. A defining feature of the group is its commitment to performing not only in large cities but also in remote villages and border islands (e.g., Oinousses, Zoniana in Crete). The group has also toured internationally, performing in many cities in Cyprus, USA, Canada, central Europe and Australia. Through its work, HIPPO has played a crucial role in promoting the Greek language abroad and strengthening the cultural ties between the Greek diaspora and mainland Greece.
The group has also conducted theatrical programs and experiential workshops for children and adults with limited or no knowledge of Greek—often third- or fourth-generation immigrants—with remarkable results. Educational communities and Greek parents’ associations abroad have recognized HIPPO’s work as being of exceptional significance.
HIPPO’s signature style is a unique form of physical theatre called "kinemo" (a blend of "kinesthetic" and "emotional"), developed through years of experience, travel, exploration, and in-depth research into physical expression. In 2018, the group published a book titled kinemo, outlining its theatrical philosophy. This approach has been the foundation for many of its performances for both children and adults.
Key milestones in HIPPO’s journey include:
-
The presentation of the play Niara at Yale University before students of the Modern Greek Studies program (2013).
-
Conducting an acting workshop on the kinemo method for professional actors at Thespo19, the largest international youth theatre festival in Mumbai, India (2017).
-
Winning 2nd Prize at STRUS, the 1st International Competitive Festival for Children and Youth in Lviv, Ukraine, with the play The Emperor’s Dilemma (2021).
-
The participation of the play Strays at the For/With/By Festival of European Youth Theatre in Barrow-in-Furness, UK (July 2023).
-
Performing Strays at the 12th International Children's Theatre Festival ICTF BITOLINO in Bitola, North Macedonia (August 2023).
Timeline
2009 December
HIPPO THEATRE GROUP was founded
2010-2012 January
Nadia and the Magic Wand - tour in elementary schools and kindergartens all over Greece
2010 June
Nadia and the Magic Wand - tour in Greek schools of London
2011 - 2012
Karmantilos - tour in elementary schools and kindergartens all over Greece
2011 November
Nadia and the Magic Wand - tour in Greek schools of U.K.
2011 December
A Christmas story - designed and animated a Drama Workshop in Vellidion Cultural Center in Santorini, Greece
2012 January
Skroutz, designed and animated a Drama workshop in Kristiboni space in Thessaloniki, Greece
2012 April
The Alter Zoo - παιδική παράσταση που παίχτηκε στο Theatro Technis, London UK
2012 June
Nadia and the Magic Wand - tour in Greek schools of New York City, U.S.A.
2012-2013
Niara - tour in elementary schools and kindergartens all over Greece
2012 November
Niara - tour in Greek schools of U.K.
2013 April
Chaos.gr - an adult peformance in Soto Velez Cultural Center, New YorK City, USA
2013 April
Niara - performed for students of the Greek language learning class in YALE University, CT
2013 May
Niara - tour in the Greek schools of U.S.A.
2013 November
Futuria - tour in Greek schools of U.K. and Wales
2013-2014
Futuria - tour in elementary schools and kindergartens all over Greece
2014 April
Futuria - tour in the Greek schools of U.S.A. and Canada
2014 June
The crab and the fox - a weekly educational theater camp in San Francisco and New Jersey.
2014 November
Futuria - tour in Greek schools in central Europe.
2014 - 2017
Sleeping Beauty² - tour in elementary schools and kindergardens all over Greece and in Greek school in central Europe.
2015 - 2017
Once upon a...faither - tour in elementary schools and kindergardens all over Greece
2016 - 2018
Avgi and Anthos - tour in elementary schools and kindergardens all over Greece
2016 - 2018
How do we get out of the depths, please? - tour in elementary schools and kindergardens all over Greece
2017 - 2018
Mellonia - performed in venues Theatre CHOROS and RABBITHOLE in Athens and Theatre ANETON in Thessaloniki
2017 - 2019
The adventures of Pav - performed in Theatre 104 in Athens and Vis Mortix in Thesssaloniki - tour in elementary schools and kindergardens all over Greece and in schools
2018 - 2021
John and the Pine - tour in elementary schools and kindergardens all over Greece and in schools of central Europe
2018 - 2020
The Island of Emotions - tour in elementary schools and kindergardens all over Greece and in schools of central Europe
2019
Silence Speaks - performed in PORTA and National Theatre of Northern Greece