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Stavros Economidis
Speaker Profile Προφίλ ηχείου
Stavros Economidis
| Language: English
Stavros Economidis

Speaker background

Occupation: Artistic Director of Hellenic Art Theatre, Businessman, Mortgage BrokerYear of arrival: 1960Method of transport: Ship

Stavros Economidis is a Greek Cypriot, born in Cairo, Egypt in 1945. He migrated to Australia in 1960 with his mother and siblings after the death of his father. His older brother had emigrated to Australia a few years earlier, paving the way for the remaining family members. In 1965 he met his mentor, Chrysostomos Mantouridis, who introduced him to the theatre. In 1983, the Hellenic Art Theatre was established with Stavros as its Artistic Director.

Place of birthCairo, Egypt
Location in AustraliaKillara

Interview summary

In this interview, Stavros recalls his early life in Cairo. His father assisted theatrical groups coming from Athens to Egypt to perform. After his father’s death, the family moved to Athens, before migrating to Australia. Stavros talks about meeting his mentor Chrysostomos Mantouridis in 1965 and the influence he had on his life and work. He discusses the role of theatre in society and his efforts to keep the Greek language alive through both Ancient Greek classics and contemporary theatre productions.

Interview highlights

highlight
Stavros talks about the early days of his family’s arrival and the assistance they received from the Greek owners of the local corner shop

Stavros: My brother managed to buy one of those terraces that are very expensive now, but at the time were cheap and he managed to buy one in Chippendale.

Interviewer: How long had he been here before you and the family arrived?

Stavros: Possibly about two or three years. But he had a very good job at Qantas as an electrical engineer and managed to get a deposit, and, with us, we were already having a house here in Sydney.

Interviewer: What do you remember of the neighbourhood at the time? What was Chippendale like back then?

Stavros: It wasn’t the best neighbourhood. I mean everyone was friendly and the corner shop was Greek and very friendly too. They would help you with any questions. They became like an agent here that you could ask them anything and they’d direct you. My first question was: ‘Where do you do theatre here?’

Interviewer: And they were able to answer that question?

Stavros: And they were able to answer. At the time they told me there were two people that do theatre, one was George Payzis and the other one was Chrysostomos Mantouridis.

Timecode 24:30 - 26:14
highlight
Stavros describes those responsible for introducing theatre to early Greek migrants in Sydney

Stavros: I must admit that Payzis, the other person that I mentioned, was doing theatre thirty years before Mantouridis in Sydney, he was one of the earliest persons. But although he had the knowledge and actually did few successful plays, he didn’t have, let’s call it, the charisma that Mantouridis had. You look at him and he managed. Mantouridis managed to do continuous plays where Mr Payzis used to do maybe one, then have a rest for five years then do another couple. This type of thing. He didn’t have the ability to hold the people with him.

Interviewer: But Payzis made the start in Sydney and Mantouridis continued, basically.

Stavros: Mantouridis started his theatre directing and studying from Egypt. He was from Egypt. From Cairo, in fact, and a lot of people know him from Cairo.

Timecode 35:51 - 37:24

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