Youth Theatre on Air (“Theatre in Front of a Microphone”) is an international online and radio festival of theater for children, teenagers and young people, jointly organized by three arts organizations: Poupoulo in Thessaloniki, Motivation in Arts in Paphos and the Creative Drama & Arts Centre in Melbourne. Its aim is to bring Greek language, culture and theatrical expression to Greek communities worldwide through radio and the internet. Open to everyone, the initiative connects Greek children from different parts of the world.
Every year since 2020, theater workshops and schools around the world have submitted their radio plays and performances. More than 4,000 primary and secondary school students have participated to date, from Greece and Cyprus, alongside children from recent Greek migrant families and first-, second- and third-generation Greek communities in Melbourne, Poland and the Czech Republic.
The festival has received consistent support from three major public broadcasters—ERT, SBS Australia and the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC)—which have carried children’s voices to Greek communities abroad for seven years. Festival supporters include the National Theatre of Northern Greece, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the International Hellenic University, the Laboratory of Language, Language Teaching and Culture at its Department of Early Childhood Education and Care, and La Trobe University in Australia.
Among the award-winning radio productions at the 7th Youth Theatre on Air was “Irene – The story of a refugee child,” created by Class D1 at the 1st Primary School of Arta, which received first prize in the primary education category for Greece.
This podcast is more than a story on a page: it is a deeply human experience brought to life by the voices of the children of Class D1 at the 1st Primary School of Arta. The students approached a difficult yet timely subject with sensitivity and respect. With open hearts and sincere emotion, they gave a voice to a child searching for peace, safety and a fresh start. Their determination, love and talent are the driving force behind every word you will hear. Perhaps, through their voices, we can all be reminded of something very simple, yet profoundly important: our humanity.
Text adaptation: Zinovia Mitsi, Vangelitsa-Melina Katiou
Music selection: Vangelitsa-Melina Katiou
Editing and soundscapes: Andreas Kovi
The music featured in the podcast was used exclusively for educational, nonprofit purposes as part of a school activity.
The idea for the podcast grew out of a seminar organized by the Hellenic Theatre/Drama & Education Network.
Media partner: Voice of Greece – ERT