The opening ceremony of the 6th International Online Radio Amateur Theater Festival: Theater in Front of a Microphone took place successfully on Saturday, May 3, 2025, via Zoom. This event celebrated theater and culture, uniting diverse talents and creativity from Greece, Cyprus, and Australia as part of the ongoing Youth Theater on Air initiative.
Since its inception in 2020, the festival has become a beloved tradition. This year, it showcased the artistic achievements of over 500 children and young people from 27 theater groups—11 from Greece, 12 from Cyprus, and 4 from Melbourne—offering audiences a variety of unique performances.
During the ceremony, a distinguished ten-member jury revealed this year’s award winners:
Awards
Primary Education
1st Prize: Peace — Amygdalonas Primary School, Kavala, Greece
2nd Prize: The Little Beaver and the Echo — 1st Primary School of Arta, Greece
3rd Prize: The Selfish Giant — Maroni-Psematismenos Primary School, Cyprus
Secondary Education
1st Prize: Monoyios — Aradippou Gymnasium Theatre Group, Cyprus
2nd Prize: The Melody of the Forest — TH.Ei.K.K. “Poupoulo,” Greece
3rd Prize: Our Lady the Midwife — Greek Language & Culture Schools of GCM Melbourne, Australia
Commendations
Primary Education
1st: Birds — Grade 4, Chalkiades Primary School, Arta, Greece
2nd: The Forest of the Wooden Sharpener — 13th Primary School of Volos, Greece
3rd: The Moon Coverer — Psathopyrgos Primary School, Greece
Secondary Education
1st: Lost Along the Way — Teatro Angelico Theatre Group, Cyprus
2nd: The Red Scooter — Artistic Gymnasium of Ampelokipi, Greece
3rd: The Idiots — Livadia Regional Gymnasium, Cyprus
Distinctions
- Primary Education Editing: The Selfish Giant — Maroni-Psematismenos Primary School, Cyprus
- Secondary Education Editing:
(a) The Legend of Nian — Alphington Grammar School, Melbourne, Australia
(b) The Red Scooter — Artistic Gymnasium of Ampelokipi, Greece - Greek Language & Theatre in the Diaspora: The Locket — Greek Language & Culture School, Balwyn, Australia
- Primary Education Sound Effects: The Selfish Giant — Limassol Primary School XIII (KV) – Agios Spyridon A’, Cyprus
- Secondary Education Sound Effects: The Melody of the Forest — TH.Ei.K.K. “Poupoulo,” Greece
- Primary Education Music Score: The Little Beaver and the Echo — 1st Primary School of Arta, Greece
- Secondary Education Music Score: The Legend of Nian — Alphington Grammar School, Melbourne, Australia
- Secondary Education Creative Writing: Lost Along the Way — Teatro Angelico Theatre Group, Cyprus
- Primary Education Theatrical Expression: Peace — Amygdalonas Primary School, Kavala, Greece
- Secondary Education Theatrical Expression: Lost Along the Way — Teatro Angelico Theatre Group, Cyprus
- Audience Award: Monoyios — Aradippou Gymnasium Theater Group, Cyprus
The jury, comprised of esteemed professionals from the arts and education sectors, meticulously evaluated the performances:
- Mr. Asterios Peltekis, Artistic Director of the National Theater of Northern Greece, director and actor
- Mr. Kyriakos Pastides, radio producer at RIK and educator
- Dr. Stavroula Nikoloudi, lecturer and coordinator of the Modern Greek Studies program at La Trobe University, Melbourne
- Mr. Spyros Kavakopoulos, sound engineer at ERT
- Mr. Themis Kallos, Director of SBS Greek Radio
- Mr. Yiannis Aivazoglou, musician, educator, and composer
- Dr. Renata Dalianoudi, Associate Professor, Department of Audio and Visual Arts, Ionian University
- Dr. Andri H. Constantinou, Associate Professor, Department of Education, Frederick University
- Dr. Katerina Brentanou, theatre studies scholar and philologist
- Ms. Smaragda Papadopoulou-Mantadaki, author and professor at the International Hellenic University
A key moment of the ceremony featured a presentation by Ms. Natasa Vissarionos, titled “Theater and Hellenism of the Diaspora — Radio Theater as a Cultural Bridge”, emphasizing the festival’s essential role in connecting Hellenic culture across borders.
The festival activities will continue on May 7, where theater groups and schools can participate in an in-person meeting and mini workshop in Thessaloniki, with live Zoom access for those outside of Greece — enhancing our collective theatrical experience.
This festival, a collaboration between the Theatrical Visual Arts Center “Poupoulo” (Thessaloniki), the Motivation in Arts Foundation (Paphos), and Creative Drama & Arts (Melbourne), will return in 2026 with new initiatives, fresh performances, and the same commitment to connect Greek youth worldwide!
Because “Theater in Front of a Microphone” is more than just a festival — it’s a celebration for all of us!
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