The opening ceremony of the 6th International Online Radio Amateur Theater Festival: Theater in Front of a Microphone was held with great success on Saturday, May 3, 2025, via Zoom. A celebration of theater and culture, the event brought together voices, talent, and creativity from Greece, Cyprus, and Australia as part of the ongoing initiative Youth Theater on Air.

Since its launch in 2020, this festival has become a cherished institution. This year, it showcased the voices of more than 500 children and young people from 27 theater groups: 11 from Greece, 12 from Cyprus, and 4 from Melbourne. Each group offered audiences a unique theatrical experience.

During the ceremony, the festival’s ten-member jury announced 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 ten-member jury, composed of distinguished figures in the arts and education, evaluated the works with great care and professionalism:

• 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 special highlight of the ceremony was the presentation by Ms. Natasa Vissarionos, titled “Theater and Hellenism of the Diaspora — Radio Theater as a Cultural Bridge”, which underscored the vital role of the festival in connecting Hellenism across borders.

The activities continue on May 7, when theater groups and schools will have the opportunity to participate in an in-person meeting and mini workshop in Thessaloniki, with live Zoom access for schools outside of Greece — further enriching our shared theatrical experience.

The festival is the result of 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, new works, and the same passion to unite Greek youth from every corner of the world!

Because “Theater in Front of a Microphone” is not just a festival — it’s a celebration that belongs to all of us!