Women's Voices - Second Edition 2024-2025

Women from the community theater workshop

"... Our goal as theatre facilitators and artists is to cultivate a unique space for authentic expression, one that honors both the individuality and collective spirit of the group. We are committed to guiding and supporting a co-creative process, where every voice is heard and valued. Rather than imposing our own ideas, we focus on amplifying the voices of the participants, helping them shape their personal stories into cohesive and empowering performances..."

Angeliki Kasola, Irini Mela

community theatre workshop animators

Α HOLISTIC APROACH

OUR STORY

Building on the success of last year's inaugural Women's Theatre Workshop, which culminated in the powerful 5-day performance What I Want to Say in April 2024, we are thrilled to announce our second annual workshop for non-actors. In last year's deeply personal performance, the women of our group shared their stories of challenges, trauma, resilience, and triumph. This year, we through an open call in October 2024 we invited a new group of women to join us in this ongoing journey of self-expression and creative exploration.

Many women were given the opportunity to come and meet us at our studio in Athens, play games with us, see what this is all about. The group for 2024-2025 has been finalized with 11 women aged between 24-70 joining us in our weekly sessions, every Wednesday evening in our vibrant Athens studio, located in the fascinating Ano Petralona neighborhood, just a stone's throw from the city's historic center.

• we are Creating a Safe and Inclusive Space: We are dedicated to providing a supportive environment where every participant can express themselves freely, without judgment.

• we are Empowering Expression: Our workshop emphasizes the importance of empowered self-expression, allowing women to explore and share their personal stories and emotions.

• we are Building Strong Bonds: Through trust and mutual respect, participants form deep connections with one another, fostering a sense of community and solidarity.

• we have a Holistic Approach to Theatre: While we teach acting techniques and production skills, the workshop focuses equally on the transformative process of personal growth and self-discovery.

• we provide A Journey of Self-Exploration: This workshop is not just about performance skills; it is a transformative experience that encourages each participant to explore their inner world and embrace their voice.

• we create Impact Beyond the Stage: The effects of the workshop extend far beyond the final performance, creating lasting positive change in participants' lives through the entire creative process.

We have been involved in community theater animating with annual workshops since 2010 involving more that 400 men, women and young people in over 20 different community productions and original created performances. By trial and error, through continuous experimentation, feedback and evaluation, we have created our own holistic approach to running these workshops so that the experience ... Read more

Join a Community of Women Connected through Shared Experiences...

If you are interested in personal growth, artistic expression and being a member of a community, this workshop offers a unique and rich experience that goes beyond traditional theatre workshops.

WOMEN'S VOICES/ SECOND EDITION 2024-2025: Empowering Voices through Creative Expression

During these weekly gatherings, participants engage in a variety of activities including theatre games, improvisation, storytelling, and acting techniques. Together, we explore the art of performance while developing skills in acting, staging, and narrative creation. More importantly, we create a safe and nurturing space where women can share their emotions, experiences, and personal stories. Through this process, we build deep connections, uncovering shared challenges, and celebrating the diverse talents and life experiences each participant brings to the group.

Our work together is not just about creating a performance—it's about creating a community. We laugh, we cry, we reflect, and we empower each other. Through every exercise, we cultivate mutual trust, respect, and freedom of expression. The joy that emerges from this creative journey is palpable, as each woman discovers her own voice and contributes to a collective vision of empowerment.

At the same time, the women of our workshop have the opportunity to become actively involved in the other activities and productions of Restart Theater Athens, always aiming to bridge the gap between communities with artists and intellectuals. This includes participation in the STAGED READINGS of Theatre, Literature and Society, as well as in meetings, workshops and discussions with invited artists, writers, actors, stage designers, visual artists, directors, etc.

While practicing democratic dialogue and self-organization, the women of our workshop always find us willing to support technically, financially and practically their ideas for other activities. This year, our women organised a Socializing Party in November 2024, and a Christmas Bazaar in December 2025, where they exhibited their own personal creations.

The culmination of this year's workshop will be the public presentations of our collective theatre performance in early May 2025 and early June 2025.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue this empowering journey together.

what makes this workshop unique...

Our background...

”I came into the group rather tentatively...The big surprise and joy for me personally was that they do not follow the conventional ways... and somehow fate brought it so that a group of women with different ages and experiences managed to coexist with respect and solidarity and a beautiful female mystagogy was created... with the amazing Irini Mela whom I had enjoyed in performances, and our wonderful director Angeliki Kasola as coordinators. And so a beautiful fellowship was created where we share our fear, our pain, our joy, our laughter, our anxiety, our concerns... and what each one of us carries. Thank you so much for the wonderful gifts you give us..”

- Vanessa Vomva

”At Restart theatre I feel like myself. We are a group of people doing wonderful things. Improvisations, rhythms. analogies, group exercises, games. -if I may use the word Warmth, a hug, creation, expression, group. The girls are fabulous professionals. They inspired us to express, to experience, to be ourselves! They encourage the strength, the bravery of people, especially women!”

- Joanna Kosma

”Restart Theatre Athens: a theatrical workshop with excellent guidance from Angeliki Kasola and Irini Mella with real Knowledge! Love! and Respect! You trust them with your soul from the first meeting to take you to the roads and beautiful paths that only the theatre knows!!!! The groups that they create are so strong and tight that they make you feel like you are in a big warm HUG!!! It's been nine years since the first day I joined and I feel so blessed to be in this creative and warm FAMILY!!! in this GREAT group!!! for the Knowledge! the Emotions, the Power and the LOVE that you offer me I THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH!!!! ”

- Athina Koumarianou

”Restart Theater Athens: a wonderful theatrical workshop, led by Angeliki Kasola and Irini Mela, wonderful women, an open embrace... Walking between the pessimism of the current state of affairs and the optimism of collective visions, we strengthen our collective spirit, intensify our social actions and try to overcome the fatigue of the responsibilities we carry. By expanding our ties with society and our colleagues, we give voice to our experience, we work collectively to put forward our analysis and arguments, we fight for each "tree", always with a sense of being part of the big picture, in order to continue to be part of a current that shapes bright horizons in dark times. Always with creativity and tenacity. With a big heart and an open mind..”

- Mairy Lipkovits

”Restart Theater Athens theatrical workshop: new experiences, new interesting women who give you and who you give to support, care, laughter, companionship. All this through a theatrical game where you get out your thoughts, your truths without being judged. Angeliki and Irini, Irini and Angeliki special women guides and companions on my new journey.”

- Mary Douni

”Restart Theater Athens From different lives, from different professions, from all ages. Between texts, memories, coffee, lights, music, passions, objects, lessons, the beehive builds its vessel for a short journey..”

- Mary Trakaki

”Restart Theater, that place where you walk in and immediately feel at home?... Sometimes even better! It's not just a theater. It's the place where laughter becomes a bridge, emotion becomes an embrace and every meeting a little magical escape from the everyday. Actors don't just play roles, they live moments, they share them with you. Moments that make you laugh with your soul, think, feel. Which break down the walls of your routine and replace them with moments you will remember for a long time.”

- Marika Trambouli

”My dear theatre group, it's been eight years since I first walked through the door of the theatre workshop, and every moment I have experienced here has been unique. Theatre has become more than just an activity for me; it has become a refuge, an inspiration, a way of expression and, above all, a source of joy and creativity. Through our rehearsals, performances, endless conversations and laughter, I learned to see life with more sensitivity, self-awareness and, of course, humor. You, the people of this group, have become my second family, and every meeting is a precious gift. Thank you all and especially my teachers Irini Mela and Angeliki Kasola - for your cooperation, love, support and, above all, for the moments that fill my soul with light. I look forward to what we will experience together next! With love and theatrical greetings.”

- Dimitra Papadimitriou

”Strange times we live in and we need small suns to keep us from being swallowed up by the darkness. Such a small but bright sun is Restart Theater Athens and its girls. A source of light and an embrace of love and care that does not let the darkness spread. ”

- Eleni Christopoulou

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What our community members have to say about working with us