The Laboratory of Stage Practice and Speech of the Department of Theatre Studies of the University of Patras, under the scientific supervision of Maria Fragki, Ph.D., Theatrologist–Director, designs, curates, and implements the program “Engravings and Colors with Music” in collaboration with the Municipal Public Benefit Enterprise of Aigialeia (D.H.KE.PA) and the Black Theatre of Patras by Kostas Makris.
This program, held under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, aims to train artisans in shadow theatre construction—such as figures, the screen (berntes), and lighting—with the ultimate goal of creating artists who embrace a collective spirit and preserve a transferable element of intangible cultural heritage.
D.H.KE.PA of the Municipality of Aigialeia contributes to the promotion of this important cultural asset with a museum, the “House of Karagiozis,” which comes alive through original creative activities for children and has become a point of attraction for the city and beyond.
The “House of Karagiozis,” hosted at the Aigio Cultural Center “Alekos Megaris,” includes a wide range of scenic objects and shadow theatre figures that illustrate historical events and information about the 20th-century Karagiozis tradition of Aigio. It features promotional leaflets of Vasilarios, who performed at the “Oasis” theatre in Kalliantaris and other places; designs and carved figures made of cardboard, leather, and gelatin; two promotional posters from his performance “Karagiozis the Hunter”; and notes he wrote on figures and notebooks (diaries). His tools date from the late 1920s to the late 1960s.
The space also includes fabric stage backdrops and shadow theatre figures made from gelatin and cloth-backed cardboard painted by Christos Psarianos, created approximately between 1930 and 1950. These were crafted for Karagiozis performers Vasilaros and Orestis.
It further contains several figures from the 1950s and 1960s crafted by Takis Palaiothodoros, as well as leaflets from performances with his father, Kostaros. There are also rare figure sketches painted on rice paper.
Displayed are figures of important shadow theatre performers from Achaia (Giannaros, Kostaros, Alexopoulos, Orestis, Mitsakis, and Kostas Makris), along with rare figures and scenic material from notable artists in Athens (Karampalis) and Kalamata (Avraam).
Finally, the House of Karagiozis includes photographic material of the performer Vasilaros, depicting the screen and the “Apotheosis” scene (a live reenactment with actors of the final act of the play) from Kalliantaris’ theatre. It also features unique photographs of Takis Palaiothodoros in his youth, when he played the bouzouki, as well as moments from his shadow theatre screen.
Exhibition Curators: Ioannis Moschos, Aristotelis Makris
Artistic Consultant: Kostas Makris
Archival Material: Kostas Makris
Educational–Theatre Activities: Aristotelis Makris
Opening Days & Hours: Monday to Friday, 10:00 – 13:00.
School, organization, and group visits by appointment at 26910-28210 (contact: Dimitris Zoitsoudis), morning hours.
