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STAVROS NIARCHOS FOUNDATION
CULTURAL CENTER
364 Syggrou Avenue, Kallithea
TEL.
Box Office:
+30 213 0885700
Box Office email:
boxoffice@nationalopera.gr
Daily 09.00-21.00
info@nationalopera.gr
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Music: Giuseppe Verdi
Original libretto: Francesco Maria Piave
Musical adaptation: Lina Zachari
Text: Dimitris Dimopoulos, Alexandros Melissinos
Lyric translation: Dimitris Dimopoulos
Cast: Manos Kokkonis, Giannis Selitsaniotis, Marilena Striftombola
Shadow puppeteer: Alexandros Melissinos
Christos Sakellaridis (29, 30/8), Markos Kotsias, Marilena Souri (25, 27/11) piano
Tour Schedule:
29, 30 August 2025 – Akronafplia Festival, Akronafplia Theatre "Evangelia Deilaki"
6 November 2025 – Kalamata Dance Megaron – Main Stage
Morning performances for schools at 9.30 & 11.00
> Schools can apply to attend the performance from 23 to 31 October by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For more information about the application process, please contact the numbers 2721083086 & 2721180868 (10.00-13.00, Monday-Friday).
8 November 2025 – Malliaropoulio Theatre of Tripoli
Morning performances at 10.00 & 12.00
11 November 2025 – Municipal Theatre of Kiato
Morning performances at 10.00 & 11.30
13 November 2025 – Trikala Municipality Cultural Centre
Morning performances at 09.00 & 11.00
15 November 2025 – Municipal Conservatory of Larissa
Morning performances at 10.00 & 11.30
18 November 2025 – Municipal Theatre of Volos “Vangelis Papathanasiou”
Morning performances at 09.00 & 11.00
20 November 2025 – Municipal and Regional Theatre of Kozani
Morning performances at 09.00 & 11.00
22 November 2025 – Giannitsa Cultural Centre
Morning performances at 11.00 & 12.30
25 November 2025 –Arts Centre, Veria
Morning performances at 10.00 & 11.30
27 November 2025 – Municipal and Regional Theatre of Serres
Morning performances at 09.30 & 11.30
29 November 2025 – Antigoni Valakou Theatre, Kavala
Morning performances at 11.00 & 13.00
2 December 2025 – Komotini Concert Hall
Morning performances at 09.30 & 11.30
* The tour will continue in 2026 at additional venues that will be announced later.
* Two morning performances
Shadow Puppet Opera • A Greek National Opera Alternative Stage production

Lead GNO & Tour Donor

The most famous and beloved hunchbacked jester in shadow puppet theatre, Karagiozis, is called upon to carry out… an operatic mission: to portray the most renowned hunchback in opera, Rigoletto! In the new shadow puppet opera production Karagiozis as Rigoletto, written by the prolific comedian, director, and librettist Dimitris Dimopoulos and the experienced shadow puppeteer Alexandros Melissinos, Karagiozis unexpectedly finds himself playing the lead role in Rigoletto at an opera house founded by the Vizier’s daughter in the saray (palace), all while learning with humour and a disarming innocence everything required to stage an opera.
The performance combines traditional shadow puppet theatre with excerpts from Giuseppe Verdi’s masterful opera Rigoletto, performed in Greek by three opera singers, humourously revealing the backstage of an opera house while imparting knowledge and abundant laughter in an alternative way!
The character of Karagiozis is brought to life with liveliness and originality by Alexandros Melissinos, making this performance a fresh and interactive take on shadow puppet theatre. Karagiozis as Rigoletto is a production suitable for both young and older audiences, promising to entertain and educate while demonstrating that tradition and the art of opera can be combined with humour and creativity.
STAVROS NIARCHOS FOUNDATION
CULTURAL CENTER
364 Syggrou Avenue, Kallithea
Box Office:
+30 213 0885700
Box Office email:
boxoffice@nationalopera.gr
Daily 09.00-21.00
info@nationalopera.gr