Profile
A Greek-born London-based practicing architect and scenographer, I am founder of Performing Architectures, a studio that creates real and virtual environments by designing, devising and producing scenography-led performances, installations, and buildings.
I studied architecture at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, drama at Theatre Lab in Thessaloniki, and hold an MA in Theatre Design / Scenography from Wimbledon College of Arts.
I joined Central in 2013, having previously taught at the Theatre Studies Faculty, University of Peloponnese, and I often visit other universities and organisations giving lectures and workshops, in the UK and abroad.
Through practice, research and teaching, I explore ways of using different spaces and architectures as scenographic tools in theatre and performance.
I often work as a scenographer/-initiator/-leader of performances or installations, sometimes inspired by biographical and every-day-life subjects. Theatres, abandoned buildings, urban outdoors locations and landscapes, homes and flats, a bar and my olive grove, are all spaces that I have explored and used in designing for performance. I also collaborate with directors as a designer in theatre productions, investigating how to use a theatre building as a ‘found space’.
Recent architectural projects include A New Performing Arts Centre for the International School of Uganda, also shortlisted in the panel PQ TALKS - ACTS OF ASSEMBLY PROJECTS FROM THE PERFORMANCE SPACE EXHIBITION at PQ23.
Curatorial and exhibition design work includes GR@PQ23: A RARE GATHERING (national co-curator) and Staging Places: UK Design for Performance 2015-19 (associate curator and exhibition designer) at PQ23, PQ19 and the V&A.
Recent performance design projects include IN[A]HABIT in Athens, Antigone at the Ancient Epidaurus Theatre, and EU IMMIGRANTS EU CITIZENS in London.
My designs of the new studio theatre of Athens National Theatre, a flexible-retractable-transformable space won a ‘Gold Medal for Best Work in Theatre Architecture and Performance Space’ at the Prague Quadrennial 2011.
I am a RIBA Chartered Architect, a member of the Managing Committee of the Society of British Theatre Designers, a Fellow of the Advance HE (former Higher Education Academy), and member of the steering group of the Performance Design Educators Collective.
Areas of Expertise
- Performance Design and Scenography
- Improvised Scenography / Scenography 1:1
- Theatre Architecture and Performance Space
- Architecture of Cultural Spaces
- Scenography-led Performance Making
Practice
Selected projects (for more visit Performing Architectures - Andreas Skourtis)
2023 – June, GR@PQ23: A RARE GATHERING - PQ23 Exhibition of Countries and Regions, national co-curator, Greek Performance Designers National Exhibition, Prague, June 2023, and Athens, July 2023. Also co-editor of the printed catalogue [ISBN 978-960-87183-6-4] and website. Fully funded by the Greek Ministry of Culture.
2022 – December, THE HUMAN VOICE, performance designer (set and costume), Charing Cross Theatre, London, dir. Alejandro Bonatto.
2022 – June, IN[A]HABIT, Performance Designer (set and costume) of a new dance piece, CREO Dance Company, Synchrono Theatro, Athens, funded by the Greek Ministry of Culture.
2019-2020. Exhibition Designer and Associate Curator, ‘Staging Places: UK Design for Performance 2015-2019’, SBTD, Prague Quadrennial, Victoria & Albert Museum.
2016-2020. Leading Architect and Theatre Consultant, a new ‘Performing Arts Centre’ building for the International School of Uganda (ISU) in Kampala.
2018-2019. Scenographer, ‘Antigone’, Athens and Epidaurus Festival, and Mittelfest (director Konstantinos Ntellas).
2017. Scenographer, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, RCSSD, Webber Douglas Studio (director Stephen Hudson)
2016. Scenographer, Project Leader, EU Immigrants EU Citizens (chapter 3): A Building, 47-49 Tanner Street, in partnership with Ugly Duck – Creative Collaborations, London
2016. Scenographer, Project Leader, EU Immigrants EU Citizens (chapter 2): A Space, Roundhouse, part of We Are Now Festival, London
2016. Scenographer, Project Leader, EU Immigrants EU Citizens (chapter 1): A Bridge, a walking performance and soundscape, Millennium Bridge, (TCCE Walking the City Weekend 2016), London
2015. Scenographer, OLIVE GROVE SE1, Hotel Elephant, London
2015. Scenographer, Electra: The Last Blood, Technis Theatre, Athens and Epidaurus Festival 2015, Athens, (director Konstantinos Ntellas)
2014. Scenographer, Summer Harvest, site-specific theatre production, Corinth Greece (director Christos Chirtsis)
2014. Scenographer, Hellin Vrycolax, site-responsive performance, Santorini Arts Factory, Greece (director Konstantinos Ntellas)
2013. Scenographer, 02 Academic staff / Communi-ty-cation, scenography-led installation, RCSSD and Olive Grove in Greece
2011. Architect and Theatre Consultant, Nikos Kourkoulos New Studio, Athens National Theatre ( PQ11 Gold Medal ), The Prague Quadrennial 2011, with Studio75, Athens and Prague
Register of Interest
Nothing to declare.
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