Natalie Katsou
Staff details

My PhD focuses on 'Ghosts and Spectral Figures in Contemporary Theatre' and the main fields of investigation are Performance Philosophy and Theory, Dramaturgy and Contemporary Practice. I also study the work of Contemporary Greek Playwrights (from 1975 until today) and I am very interested in the relationship between dramaturgy, writing and directing. As a practitioner, I am working on practice-led research, mainly in contemporary opera and musical theatre, devising, community work and ensemble practice. My papers promote the discussion between academic anamysis and practice, including the use of elements (ex. water) on stage, the perception of space, the theatre of the future including virtual realms, the work of international practitoners and approaches to training and education. For more info: https://nataliekatsou.com/ and https://goldsmiths.academia.edu/NatalieKatsou
Academic qualifications
- MFA (Master of Fine Arts) in Theatre Directing at East 15 Acting School, University of Essex, under the Minotis Scholarship by the Cultural Foundation 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
Featured publications
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.
2021:
From Hell to Heterotopia, Castellucci’s Inferno
Performance Research, 19 (2). Forthcoming article, under publication.
Professional projects
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.
Conferences and talks
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.
Grants and awards
2012:
Alexis Minotis Scholarship
An honorary 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.
2021:
Research Scholarship by the Special Research Grants Organisation of Greece
A scolraship 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
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
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.