theatrical play
for children 4+
With a cartload of fairy tales from the Kids' Library, stories about all and sundry, games played in a circle, in a group, solo or in pairs; all kinds of games with imagination, for the imagination, with humour, glove puppets, stage props, fabrics, team spirit!
When we get together in a team we experience, through play, coexistence and the emotions it triggers, communication and acceptance.
Among other things, theatrical play helps in problem solving as it seeks and devises personal 'solutions' as part of various stories…
Painting, dance, music! The arts come together in our theatrical play, demonstrating the multifaceted nature of theatre through this first contact of preschool children with the art of drama.
We train in love!
* Through a mix of activities and games and techniques borrowed from the theatre, theatrical play is a step-by-step way of liberating the participants' personal ways of expression.
Above all it is about play, and as such it is based on the individuals' spontaneity, joy of personal expression and their tendency to socialise. It rewards children with instant satisfaction, using the ways and values of the theatre even if its purpose is not the staging of a play in itself.
Theatrical play provides a safe environment for children to explore different aspects of expression and develop a broad range of skills; it is a tool for both learning and personal growth.
It boosts self-confidence and social skills, emotional intelligence and empathy.
It encourages thinking outside the box and the exploration of new ideas.
It improves verbal and non-verbal communication, active listening and expressiveness.
It promotes cooperation and teamwork!
Rita Zikidou
Born in Thessaloniki in 1984, she is a graduate of the Theatre Studies Dept of the University of Peloponnese (Nafplio). She has studied at the University of Art and Design Helsinki and the Theatre Academy (Teak) in the context of the Erasmus programme. Since 2012 she works as designer and animator of theatre education programmes for children and teenagers. She has worked as stage and costume designer for the theatre and as assistant producer in dance-theatre productions. In the area of visual arts, she has worked with the Maria Gouma Art Gallery in Nafplio, ART ATHINΑ, and Τaf – Τhe Αrt Foundation in Athens, while in 2010 she curated an art exhibition as part of the Bicycle Film Festival Athens. Since 2013 she designs and runs theatre games and educational programmes for schools for the art workshops of Fougaro in Nafplio. She has co-created the educational programmes ‘…and History becomes a game’ — combined guided tours and theatrical play in archaeological sites. She participated as theatre educator in the project ‘Educating the public in ancient drama’ as part of the parallel events of the Athens Festival’s Lyceum of Epidaurus from 2017 to 2019. Since 2020 she has been training in outdoor education and Forest Schools as a mountain guide.
