Natalie Katsou
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Acting, Theatre and Performance, Performance Philosophy and Theory, Contemporary Dramaturgy, Directing, Devising
Natalie Katsou is a lecturer in Theatre and Performance and in Law, a theatre director and a writer. She recently launched her interdisciplinary post-doctoral research in Theatre and Performance and Law focusing on Refuge and Asylum Seeking in the UK and in Greece. Her PhD thesis 'Spectral figures in Contemporary Greek theatre from the 1975 Regime Change (Metapolitefsi) until 2020' combines contemporary continental philosophy, performance philosophy and theory, drama and theatre studies and dramaturgy. As a practitioner, she works on practice-led research, in contemporary opera and musical theatre, devising, new writing, and ensemble. Her research promotes the discussion between academic analysis and practice, space and heterotopias, presence, trauma and works of mourning, intermedial practice, embodied practice and social change. For more info: https://nataliekatsou.com/ and https://goldsmiths.academia.edu/NatalieKatsou
Academic qualifications
- PhD in Philosophy and Theory of Theatre and Drama at National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Distinction) 2023
- MFA (Master of Fine Arts) in Theatre Directing at East 15 Acting School, University of Essex, under the Minotis Scholarship by MIET 2012
- BA Theatre Studies Degree at National and Kapodestrian University of Athens (Distinction) 2010
- BA Acting Degree at Delos - Hatoupi Acting School of Athens 2009
- BA Law Degree at National and Kapodestrian University of Athens (Distinction) 2005
- Diploma in Piano and Advanced Music Studies at Athenaeum Maria Callas Conservatoire 2010
Teaching and supervision
Associate Lecturer in Theatre and Performance
Associate Lecturer in Law
Module Convenor for DR51015B/The Ensemble, DR51024A/Performance Praxis 1A: Action in the autumn term and LA53003A/Art Law in the spring term.
Tutor at DR51003D/Critical Dialogues A and DR51014/Introduction to Dramaturgy.
- Theatre and Performance
- LLB Law
Featured publications
2021:
From Hell to Heterotopia, Castellucci’s Inferno
Performance Research, 19 (2). Forthcoming article, under publication.
2020:
Theatre Heterotopias: Sea on Stage
The sea is discussed as a heterotopia per the term by M. Foucault, as a liminal ‘other place’ on stage, challenging the perception of theatre and reality.
Theatre Heterotopias: Sea on Stage
Grants and awards
2023:
Post-doc Bridging Award
Post-doc briding fund at Goldsmiths for my Post-doc research project on Theatre Studies and Law
2021:
Research Scholarship by the Special Research Grants Organisation of Greece
A scolarship granted for the completion of a research project on the playwright Iakovos Kampanellis, focusing on research, editing and proof-reading a series of essays by Professor G. P. Pefanis
2019:
Research Residency
Research Residency at the Museum and Archive of Hydra, research for the play ‘Wireless’, July 2019, commissioned by the International Analogio Festival.
2012:
Alexis Minotis Scholarship
Postgraduate studies sholarship granted by the Cultural Foundation of the National Bank of Greece that covered the fees for my two-year postgraduate course at East 15 Acting School.
2011:
Bursary by East 15 Acting School
Bursary granted by East 15 Acting School, University of Essex for the Moduel 'Meyerhold-Chekhov' in GITIS, Moscow
2010:
Bursary by East 15 Acting School
Bursary granted by East 15 Acting School, University of Essex for the Module 'East Asian Traditional Theatre' in Bali, Indonesia
Professional projects
Natalie has directed a variety of large and small-scale performances in theatre and opera in the UK and abroad, in venues such as Arcola Theatre, Old Red Lion Theatre, Blackheath Halls, Peacock Theatre, Proud Archivist, Etcetera Theatre, The Wallace Collection Museum, Talihmane Theatre in Istanbul, Miskolc National Theatre in Hungary, the National Theatre and Aggelon Vima in Athens.
In 2014 she founded the company Operaview producing and directing contemporary opera. The principle is to merge opera with dance, puppetry, circus arts, video and architectural installations, to blend disciplines, traditions and cultures, and to form strong collaborations with highly skilled international artists. One of the most successful productions was the tango opera ‘Maria de Buenos Aires’ featuring Deco Ensemble under the musical direction of Ricardo Gosalbo at the Grimeborn Opera Festival 2016 (Arcola Theatre) and at the Bartok Plus Opera Festival at Miskolc National Theatre in Hungary (June 2017).
As a director and a dramaturg, she has collaborated with a wide range of artists and professionals in the UK and abroad. In 2014, she directed a double-bill of contemporary Spanish plays at the Arcola Theatre. ‘Wolf Kisses’ by P. Pedrero, featuring original compositions and live music by Andrei Ionescu on stage received an Arts Grant by the Arts Council and had a second run at the Old Red Lion Theatre (July 2014).
Natalie has organised and managed theatre festivals in London and in Athens. In 2014, she organised and co-ordinated the 6+1 Festival for Theatre Lab Company, celebrating some well-known contemporary Greek playwrights in English. This included 7 small-scale productions at the Riverside Studios (March 2014). In 2019, she was the Guest Artist at the Analogio International Festival in Athens, where she curated the tribute to the prominent playwright Chrysa Spilioti. The project included 7 different productions directed by established women directors with the participation of 50 actors in total, all presented in the same evening at Stathmos Theatre (September 2019). Additionally, she organised a very successful collaboration with the University of Athens, offering internship and practice placements in assisting directing and stage management for the students.
Conferences and talks
2023:
‘Aeschylus’ Eumenides: seeking refuge, seeking justice’
Lecture presented at the Goldsmiths Law Summer School, hosted at Harokopeion University of Athens on 26 June 2023
2023:
Intermediality and Contextual Studies. Contemporary Approaches in Pedagogy for Performing Arts Programmes.
Presented at the Conference Global Connections: Performance Pedagogy and Practice,organised by LASALLE, May 2023
2023:
‘Theatre without space or the hyperstructure of the virtual stage’
Prousali, E. (Ed.). (2023). Performing Arts in 21st Century. Contemporary Practices and New Perspectives. Athens: Evrasia Publications, pp. 259-266
2021:
‘Spectral figures in contemporary theatre and methods of investigation. A Classification’
Conference Paper for: “Research Sources in Contemporary Greek Theatre Studies”, National and Kapodestrian University of Athens, 2021, pp. 287-294.
2022:
‘ “Let them speak”. Haunting figures in the dramaturgy of Iakovos Kampanellis’
Conference Iakovos Kampanellis in the 21st Century, National and Kapodestrian University of Athens, Theatre Studies Dept, November 2022
2021:
‘Chaldoupis and Velissaropoulos: The revolution of simulacra in the work of Andreas Staikos’
Conference Greek Revolution and Theatre, National and Kapodestrian University of Athens, Theatre Studies Dept, November 2021
2019:
‘Ghosts in stage directions. Their appearance in text and the danger of their disappearance in practice’
Conference Greek Theatre in Publication from 19th to 21st Century, National and Kapodestrian University of Athens, Theatre Studies Dept, 2019