Andreas Skourtis

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 works include the exhibition design of  Staging Places  at the Prague Quadrennial and the V&A; the design of Antigone commissioned by the Athens and Epidaurus Festival, directed by Konstantinos Ntellas, and performed in the Ancient Epidaurus Theatre; the architectural design of A New Performing Arts Centre for the international school of Uganda in Kampala - the new building will be completed at the end of 2021 and includes a 460-seat auditorium and new facilities for the drama, dance, music and visual arts departments.

I designed the new studio theatre of Athens National Theatre, a flexible-retractable-transformable space that 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 co-chair of the Performance Design Educators Collective (www.pdec.org.uk).

Areas of Expertise

• Scenography
• Theatre and Performance Design
• Improvised Scenography / Scenography 1:1
• Theatre Architecture
• Architecture of Cultural Spaces
• Scenography-led Performance Making

Practice

2019-2020. Exhibition Designer and Associate Curator, ‘Staging Places: UK Design for Performance 2015-2019’, SBTD, Prague Quadrennial, Victoria & Albert Museum 

2018-2019. Scenographer, ‘Antigone’, Athens and Epidaurus Festival, and Mittelfest (director Konstantinos Ntellas)

2016-2019. Leading Architect and Theatre Consultant, a new ‘Performing Arts Centre’ building for the International School of Uganda (ISU) in Kampala. Design to be completed in summer 2019, construction to be completed in 2020

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)

2015. Co-curator, Facilitator, The View From Here – UK’s National Student Exhibition, (ACTD, SBTD), The Prague Quadrennial 2015, Prague

2015. Scenographer, Ebola and Orphans Appeal, site-responsive event in Romsey Abbey (director Pauline Walsh)

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.