Stathis Livathinos was born in Athens, Greece. He is a graduate of the Pelos Katselis Drama School (1983) and holds a degree in English Literature from the University of Athens. He began his career in theatre as an actor with the Greek Popular Theatre (1981–1983), a company founded in 1955 by the legendary Manos Katrakis, one of Greece’s most celebrated actors in theatre and film.
In 1990, Livathinos completed his postgraduate studies at the Russian Academy of Theatre Arts (GITIS), earning both an M.A. in Theatre Directing (with distinction) and an M.F.A. in Acting, having studied under acclaimed mentors A. Goncharov and M. Zakharov. His thesis production, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard, was awarded the Moscow Critics’ Prize and entered the repertory of the Mayakovsky Theatre, where it remained for over a decade (1990–2001).
Upon returning to Greece, he established himself as a leading theatre director and educator. In 2000, he received the New Creator Award from the Hellenic Association of Theatre and Music Critics for his direction of Tony Kushner’s The Illusion. He went on to serve as Artistic Director of the Experimental Stage of the National Theatre of Greece (2001–2007), and later, from 2015 to 2019, as Artistic Director of the National Theatre of Greece. During his tenure, he founded the National Theatre’s Directing Department, initiated structural and organizational reforms, and launched a broad spectrum of educational and socially engaged theatre programs.
His recent work as a director includes major productions such as Homer’s Iliad (international tour), Verdi’s Aida at La Monnaie Opera (Brussels), Agamemnon by Aeschylus at the National Theatre of China, and Antigone at the Bulandra Theatre (Romania).
Livathinos is also an active member of the international theatre community. Since September 2019, he has served on the Board of Directors of the Union of Theatres of Europe (UTE). In June 2023, his book Three Seasons: Autobiographical Notes of a Theatre Director was published by Patakis Editions, and was nominated for the 2024 National Literature Award in the Biography category.
In December 2024, Livathinos was elected to the Academy of Athens, Chair of Theatrical Art in the Section of Letters and Fine Arts—the highest academic institution in Greece. His election was widely regarded as historic, as he became the first theatre director to join the Academy since its founding.
Teaching Experience
• Drama Teacher at the National Theatre Drama School – Department of Acting and Directing (2015–2021).
• He created and established the first Department of Theatre Directing at the National Theatre of Greece in 2018.
• Guest Lecturer in Directing and Acting Workshops at the Department of Postgraduate Theatre Studies of Harvard University (A.R.T.), in collaboration with the Moscow Art Theatre (2001–2003).
• His educational program at the Experimental Stage of the National Theatre of Greece laid the foundation for a lab in Acting and Directing for postgraduate students. In 2004, five young theatre directors graduated with distinction, and their thesis performances entered the repertory of the National Theatre for the 2004–2005 season, receiving wide critical acclaim.
• Workshop on Acting and Text Analysis based on Dostoyevsky’s Demons at the Centre of Ancient Drama, Athens (1997–2000).
• Workshops on Psychophysical Actions in Acting at the Centre of Ancient Drama, Athens (1997–2000).
• Theatre Directing Workshops at the Department of Theatre Studies, University of Patras (1997–1999).
• Drama Teacher at the Kostas Kazakos Drama School – Department of Acting (1995–1999).
• Lecturer in Acting Workshops at the Centre of Ancient Drama, Athens (1991–1993 and 1997–2000), invited by the renowned Greek tragic actress Aspasia Papathanasiou.
THEATRE SHOWS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF STATHIS LIVATHINOS
The Third Wedding Wreath – K. Tachtsis, Greek Art Theatre Karolos Koun, 2025-2026
Diary of a madman – N.Gogol, Kykladon Theatre, 2024-2025
Turandot, The Woman who hated men – C. Gozzi, Kefallinias Theatre, 2024-2025
Hellenic Association of Theatre and Performing Arts Critics: Best New Actress Award.
Mother Courage and Her Children – B. Brecht, National Theatre of Greece, 2024-2025
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead – T. Stoppard, Kykladon Theatre, 2024-2025
King Lear — W. Shakespeare, Kefallinias Theatre, 2023-2024
Casanova / Don Juan – M. Tsvetaeva / Lord G. G. Byron, Athens and Epidaurus Festival, 2023 Summer Season
Enemies: A Love Story – I. B. Singer, National Theatre of Northern Greece, 2022-2023
Berlin Alexanderplatz — A. Döblin, Kykladon Theatre, 2022-2023
3rd Prize for Best Production at the Greek Theatre Audience Awards
3rd Prize for Best Theatre Directing at the Greek Theatre Audience Awards
3rd Prize for Best Set Design at the Greek Theatre Audience Awards
3rd Prize for Best Costume Design at the Greek Theatre Audience Awards
3nd Prize for Lighting Design at the Greek Theatre Audience Awards
Antigone Sophocles – Bulandra Theatre, Romania 2021-2022
Woe for Wit – A. Griboyedov, Kykladon Theatre, 2021-2022
Moliere (The Cabal of hypocrites) – M.Bulgakov, National Theatre of Greece 2020-2021
Suppliants – Euripides, National Theatre of Greece. 2019 Summer Season
Part of the Hellenic Festival of Ancient Theatre in Epidaurus
Agamemnon – Aeschylus, National Theatre of China, 2018-2019
Timon of Athens – W. Shakespeare & T. Middleton, National Theatre of Greece, 2018-2019
Aida – G. Verdi, La Monnaie / De Munt, Brussels, 2017-2018
Antigone – Sophocles, National Theatre of Greece, 2016 Summer Season
Part of the Hellenic Festival of Ancient Theatre in Epidaurus
The Marriage of Figaro – P. Beaumarchais, Megaron Athens Concert Hall, 2014-2015
Picnic – T. Sakellaridis, Megaron Athens Concert Hall, 2013-2014
Ghosts – H. Ibsen, Keffallinias Theatre, 2013 – 2014
Iliad – Homer, Athens and Epidaurus Festival, 2013 Summer Season
World Tour 2013-2016
Erotokritos – V. Kornaros, Akropol Theatre, 2011-2012
Theater and Music Critics Awards – Karolos Koun Award for Best Stage Director for a Greek Play.
Nominations for Best Male Actor and Female Actress at the Theater and Music Critics Awards.
The Murderess (Fonissa) – A.Papadiamantis, Kefallinias theatre, 2011-2013
1st Prize for Best Show at the Greek Theatre Audience Awards
1st Prize for Best Theatre Directing at the Greek Theatre Audience Awards
1st Prize for Female Actress at the Greek Theatre Audience Awards
3nd Prize for Lighting Design at the Greek Theatre Audience Awards
Theater and Music Critics Awards – Best Female Actress Award
Danton’s Death — G. Büchner, Stegi — Onassis Foundation, 2010-2011
Büchner International Theatre Festival, Giessen, Germany, 2013
Beast on the Moon — R. Kalinoski, Poreia Theatre 2010-2011 (Rerun)
The House of Bernanda Alba — F.G.Lorca, Keffalinias Theatre, 2010-2011
Carmen — G. Bizet / P. Mérimée, Metaxourgeio Open Space, 2010 Summer Season
The Cherry Orchard — A. Chekhov, Keffallinias Theatre, 2009-2010
3rd Prize for Costume Design at the Greek Theatre Audience Awards
King Lear – W. Shakespeare, National Theatre of Northern Greece, 2009
National Theatre of Belgrade, 2009
Pallas Theatre, Athens, 2010-2011
Hellenic Association of Theatre and Performing Arts Critics – International Theatre Repertory Prize for the direction of the play
The Visit — F. Dürrenmatt, Keffallinias Theatre, 2008-2009
The Playboy of the Western World — J. M. Synge, Metaxourgeio Theatre, 2008-2009 Masquerade — M. Lermontov, Athens and Epidaurus Festival, 2008 Summer Season
Vasa Zeleznova — M. Gorky, Keffallinias Theatre 2007-2008
Games of Gods — E. Radzinsky, Katia Dandoulaki Theatre, 2003-2004
Marriage —N.Gogol, Poreia Theatre 2003-2004
Glengarry Glen Ross — D. Mamet, Poreia Theatre 2001-2002
The Museum and Study Centre of the Greek Theatre – Fotos Politis Award for Best Director of the 2000-2002 season
1st Prize for Best Male Actor at the Greek Theatre Audience Awards
1st Prize for Best Original Musical Composition at the Greek Theatre Audience Awards
3rd Prize for Best Show at the Greek Theatre Audience Awards
Handling Bach – Paul Barz, Keffallinias Theatre, 2001-2002
The Illusion — T. Kushner, Poreia Theatre 2000-2001
Hellenic Association of Greek Theatre and Music Critics – Best Young Creator Award
Dimitris Horn Award for Best Performance by a Young Actor
Homesick (Nostalgos) — A. Papadiamantis, Ypo Skian Art Space, 2000-2001
The Romancers — E. Rostand, Municipal and Regional Theatre of Patras, 2000-2001
Eve of Retirement — T. Bernhard, Keffallinias Theatre 1999-2000
The Museum and Study Centre of the Greek Theatre – Marika Kotopouli Award for Best Actress
Twelfth Night — W. Shakespeare, Jenny Karezi Theatre, 1999-2000
Graduation Performance of Final Year Students (1995-1999) of Kostas Kazakos Drama School.
Beast on the moon —R. Kalinoski, Apo Michanis Theatre 1999-2000
Slave Island – P. de Marivaux, Apo Michanis Theatre 1999-2000
Eleonora: Last Night in Pittsburgh — G. de Kiara with Aspasia Papathanasiou, Ilissia Theatre 1997-1998
The End of Casanova — M. Tsvetaeva, Amore Theatre 1996-1997
Participation in the International Festival Pontium in Moscow, April 1997
Little Tragedies — A. Pushkin, Amore Theatre, 1995-1996
Dying as a country — D. Dimitriadis, Kefallinias Theatre — Stage B, 1994-1995
Rosencrantz and Guildestern are Dead — T. Stoppard, Mayakovsky Theatre, Moscow, 1990-2001
THEATRE SHOWS AT THE EXPERIMENTAL STAGE OF THE GREEK NATIONAL THEATRE
The Idiot — F. Dostoyevsky, 2007-2008
Rerun at Acropol Theatre, 2011-2012
1st Prize for Best Show at the Greek Theatre Audience Awards
1st Prize for Best Theatre Directing the Greek Theatre Audience Awards
1st Prize for Best Set Design at the Greek Theatre Audience Awards
1st Prize for Best Costume Design at the Greek Theatre Audience Awards
2nd Prize for Best Lighting Design at the Greek Theatre Audience Awards
Isadora Dunkan — J. Dos Passos, Athens & Epidaurus Festival, 2006 Summer Season
Dark Man’s Gaze — I. del Moral, 2005-2006
A Dream Play — A. Strindberg, 2005-2006
Molière (The Cabal of Hypocrites) — M.Bulgakov, 2004-2005
3rd Prize for Theatre Directing at the Greek Theatre Audience Awards
1st Prize for Best Male Actor at the Greek Theatre Audience Awards
That Which Never Ends Version II, based on the Greek Poetry of the 20th Century, 2003-2005
Medea — Euripides, 2003 Summer Season
Part of the Hellenic Festival of Ancient Theatre in Epidaurus
Performed at the Greek Theatre, San Francisco, U.S.A.
That Which Never Ends Version I, based on the Greek Poetry of the 20th Century, 2002-2003
Love’s Labour’s Lost —W. Shakespeare, 2001-2002
1st Prize for Best Theatre Show at Ohrid Summer Festival
Part of the Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theatre
Nominations for Best Male Actor at the Greek Theatre Audience Awards