This year, the UoI Theatre Group (THESPI) is celebrating twenty- seven years of active and responsible involvement in theatrical events.
A students’ amateur theatre group, or rather a group of friends, THESPI has been an outlet for creativity and expression.
Motivated by this need back in 1976, a group of students found the theatre as a way to freely and creatively express with their soul and imagination: thus THESPI was unofficially ‘born’. However, it was officially established in 1983, when the district court of Ioannina recognized it as a legal entity.
That year, the great hall of the old University in Doboli hosted its first theatrical play, and 12 years later, in 1995, the Theatrical Group was given its own space in Dourouti, where it is housed to this day.
Throughout these years, the THESPI members have been performing plays written by Greek or foreign playwrights, experimenting with their own scripts, preparing tributes to playwrights, and most of all, feeling the magic of theatre in their own special way.
At this point, we should note that the group consists of amateurs, not in terms of sketchiness, but in that their purpose is not to make a living. Students are in charge of everything, including direction, lights, makeup, props, costumes, music, programmes, acting; they do it all out of pure love for theatre and do not hesitate to spend long hours to that end, setting their personal life aside. The University of Ioannina has always been supportive of this effort, with its valuable contribution in technical and material resources.
THESPI members use these physical and mental resources every time to stage plays that express their concerns and opinions, with a view to communicating with their audience.
We would like to wish all those who left a piece of their soul and themselves in this ever-growing group, a good trip in the magic of theatre. Because THESPI is those who’ve left, those who are here, and those who’ll come.
Ultimately, THESPI is “us”.
http://users.uoi.gr/thespi/