The “Golfos Festival” and the “Workshop of Stage Practice and Speech” of the Department of Theatre Studies at the University of Patras, with the support of the I.&E. Topalis Foundation, have for the first time this year announced a nationwide competition for writing a theatrical play referring to the Achaean creator Spyridon Peresiadis. Through the establishment of these awards, they aim to strengthen contemporary Greek dramaturgy.

This year’s inaugural competition is titled: HOTEL HELMOS – In its rooms, almost a century of modern Greek life spent the night.

The call for submissions focused on a creative, reflective, and perhaps innovative reinterpretation of the legendary “Golfos,” with the goal of creatively renewing contemporary theatrical work in Greece.

Contestants approached recent historical issues, addressed matters of stage language, explored the limits of theatrical speech, and highlighted themes that touch on current issues such as gender-based violence, social inequality, lack of dialogue, and acceptance or rejection of the other.

The judging panel, after reviewing all proposals, identified many merits in the submitted works and noted their rich variety. Based on the emphasis on stage language, original storytelling, relevance to the competition’s theme, and poetic handling of language, five proposals were selected.

The first prize was awarded jointly to the plays “Golf-ω” by Meropi Papastergiou and “Lost Sheep in a Strange Fold” by Mavra Kazaki-Samouri. The second prize went to the play “Three in Ferforje” by Konstantinos Lakis.

The top three awarded plays will be directed by graduates of the National Theatre’s Directing School and performed by the new generation of actors from drama schools including those of the National Theatre, Athens Conservatory, DILOU, and the Municipal and Regional Theatre of Patras (DIPETHE Patras).

Additionally, two distinguished plays — “Chelmos 207” by Giannis Asdrachas and “Would You Commit Suicide for Me?” by Georgia Stefanopoulou — will be presented as theatrical monologues.

All five plays, out of the fifty-five submitted, will be presented to the theatre-loving public of Patras and Athens in January 2026.

The official award ceremony will be held in Mesorrougi, the birthplace of Peresiadis, as part of the 2nd Tribute to the author of the play Golfo, on Saturday, September 6, 2025.

AWARDS

1st Prize “Spyridon Peresiadis” Theatrical Work 2025
“Golf-ω” by Meropi Papastergiou

1st Prize “Spyridon Peresiadis” Theatrical Work 2025
“Lost Sheep in a Strange Fold” by Mavra Kazaki-Samouri

2nd Prize “Spyridon Peresiadis” Theatrical Work 2025
“Three in Ferforje” by Konstantinos Lakis

DISTINCTIONS

Distinction “Spyridon Peresiadis” Theatrical Work 2025
“Chelmos 207” by Giannis Asdrachas

Distinction “Spyridon Peresiadis” Theatrical Work 2025
“Would You Commit Suicide for Me?” by Georgia Stefanopoulou

The judging panel selecting the works consisted of Akis Dimou (playwright), Giannis Kalatzopoulos (actor-director), and Lina Rozi (Assistant Professor, Department of Theatre Studies, University of Patras).