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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

2021 - 2023

The City of the Lost Robots - Theatro Stathmos Athens and Theatre Mikri Skini Thessaloniki - tour in elementary schools and kindergardens all over Greece

 2021 - October - November

Undead - performed in theatre 104 in Athens

2021 - 2025

The Emperor's Dilemma - Nemea Archaeological space - 2nd price in STRUS International Festival (Lviv, Ukraine, 2021)Theatro Stathmos Athens and Theatre Mikri Skini Thessaloniki - tour in elementary schools and kindergardens all over Greece. 

2022

The story of a prisoner - Jinjirli Temple in Serres and on tour in open summer festivals in Greece

2022 - 2024

Strays - Theatre STATHMOS in Athens and Theatre MIKRI SKINI in Thessaloniki - For/With/By Festival of European Youth Theatre 2023 (Barrow-in-Furness, UK) - 12th ICTF BITOLINO 2023 (Bitola, North Macedonia) - tour in elementary schools and kindergardens all over Greece and in Greek schools all over central Europe. (2022 - 2024)

2023 - 2026

Against the wind: Tira's flying adventure - Drama's Archaeological Museum - tour in open summer festivals in Greece

© 2025 Hippo Theatre Group

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