On This Day: Greek theatre director, Karolos Koun, dies

·

Karolos Koun was a Greek theater director. His real name was Karolos Koen and he was born in Bursa in 1908.

He completed his secondary education at Robert College in Istanbul and later studied aesthetics at University of Sorbonne. In 1929, he became a professor of English language at the College of Athens.

Along with his students at the college, he staged many works of Aristophanes (including The Birds, The Frogs, Cyclops and Plutus) and Shakespeare (A Midsummer’s Night Dream). He founded the People’s Theatre in 1934 and collaborated with various troupes.

In 1942, he founded the Art Theatre, where he staged works by Ibsen, George Bernard Shaw, Pirandello, and for the first time in Greece after the liberation from the German Occupation, Lorca, Tennessee Willilams, Arthur Miller, etc. In the same year, he also founded the Drama School at his theatre, in which studied some of the most important directors and actors of the post-war Greek generation.

Due to financial difficulties, the Art Theatre had to close down in 1949, and reopened in 1954 in the form of a theatre in the round.

Between 1950 and 1953, Koun collaborated with the National Theatre, directing works by Anton Chekhov (Uncle Vanya, The Three Sisters), Pirandello (Henry IV), etc.

After the reopening of the Art Theatre, Koun also decided to introduce the new trends of the foreign post-war theatre to the Greek audience, including Brecht, Ionesco, Beckett, Pinter and Dario Fo. He also staged the work of Greek authors, like Kampanellis, Kechaedes, Skourti, Anagnostakis and Efthimiadis, as well as the classic works of the Ancient Greek tragedians and Aristophanes.

In 1959, he staged Aristophanes’ The Birds at his theatre, causing a lot of controversy due to the progressive form in which it was presented. He later staged ancient drama in various festivals, such as in Athens and Epidavros, and later participated in the “Theatre of Nations”, staging plays in Paris, London, Zurich, Munich, Moscow, Leningrad, Warsaw, and Venice.

In 1984, the Greek government offered a lot in Plaka, in order to inaugurate the Karolos Koun Theatre.

He received various awards, including the Phoenix, the Silver Award of the Academy of Athens, and the Award of the Theatre of Nations.

Koun died at the age of 78 on February 14, 1987.

In his will, he bequeathed the title Art Theatre to three of his colleagues, asking them to continue their collaboration at the Karolos Koun Art Theatre.

Cretan Convention - Web Banner

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

The man for all jobs: How a Greek migrant turned setbacks into 7-figure success

When Christof Mantzanas stepped off the plane in Melbourne on 10 March 2015, he had just $1,000 in his pocket.

Jimmy’s Kitchen brings authentic Greek hospitality to The Rocks

Sydney diners can now experience the warmth, flavour, and soul of a traditional Greek taverna without the flight to Greece.

Greek Community of Melbourne enhances safety with defibrillator training seminar

The Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) took a notable step towards enhancing community safety by organising a defibrillator training seminar.

Wills without the Trojan War

After nearly 15 years in the legal industry, I’ve lost track of how many matters I’ve worked on involving family disputes over estates.

From tech to health: Greek Australians driving innovation in 2025

Australia’s Top 100 Innovators celebrate those who turn setbacks into breakthroughs. This year, three Greek Australians are among them.

You May Also Like

Newcastle parish raises funds for St Andrew’s Theological College

A major effort by the Parish of the Holy Apostles in Newcastle has raised $15,000 to support St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College.

Greek Minister says there’s no plan for Greece to welcome exiled Palestinians

The Greek Foreign Affairs Minister revealed that Greece has "absolutely no plan or intention" to welcome Palestinians facing expulsion. 

US Congress delegation visits Greek Chief of Defence in Athens

A delegation of US House of Representatives led by Congressman Jason Crow has visited the chief of Hellenic National Defence General Staff