Natalie Katsou

In regard to my professional experience in theatre and opera, I have directed a variety of large and small-scale performances 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.

Whilst working as a freelance director and a workshop leader, in 2014 I 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. The show sold out at the Grimeborn Opera Festival 2016 (Arcola Theatre) and was then invited at the Bartok Plus Opera Festival at Miskolc National Theatre in Hungary (June 2017), where it received standing ovations.

As a director, I have collavorated with Arcola Theatre since 2013.
In 2014, I was invited to direct two plays as staged readings for the Spanish Golden Age Season on a limited budget. I started working with a team of emerging artists and talented actors, and soon I developed the project into a full-scale double-bill (February 2014). One of the two plays that I directed, ‘Wolf Kisses’ by P. Pedrero, featuring original compositions and live music on stage, was met with enthusiasm by reviews and audience alike. The production received an Arts Grant by the Arts Council and had a second run at the Old Red Lion Theatre (July 2014).

I have organised and managed some independent festivals.
In 2014, I 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, I was invited as a Guest Artist at the Analogio International Festival in Athens, where I organised 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, I organised a very successful collaboration with the University of Athens, offering internship and practice placements in assisting directing and stage management for the students.