Art is our comfort, our passion, our inspiration, our refuge

Does something of me pass on to you out there—to you individually or to you as a crowd—who are united with me like bees with their queen? …Are you searching for your memory, which lies close to me? Do you want us to approach each other, traversing the endless rooms like stars, step by step, image by image? And will we ever meet, at some point or outside of time?

— Michael Ende, Mirror in the Mirror, 1984

In every manifestation of life, human beings observe, imitate, and learn from nature, gaining wisdom about the universal character of love, solitude, pain, passion, union, distance, and separation. And of isolation. The recent experience of the pandemic etched within us, in the most indelible and painful way, the feeling of distance, division, and an insatiable desire to meet, gather, and coexist.

Princeton University conducted a laboratory experiment aimed at investigating the reaction of “social insects,” such as bees, under conditions of isolation. Upon returning to their hive, they appeared to have a greater need for social contact, seeking it more frequently and intensely. And just like the bees from the experiment’s isolated group, we too passionately desire to return together to our HIVE (Kypseli)!

For DROMOS Theatre and the MEDEA Theatre Group, the binding element of all the above is art. The constant refrain of the human condition, the clearest reflection of our nature, our comfort and inspiration, our passion, purpose, and refuge. To find the path to our shared home together, to restore our common orientation, and to collectively trace our route. And even if we fail to find the way, at least we will have lost ourselves together. And right there, we can build our new HIVE!

The 1st BE-HIVE THEATRE FESTIVAL by DROMOS Theatre is a reality. Devoid of complex rules and constraints, as much as it seeks subversion as a scenic component, it encourages the proposals participating in its festival to be equally free. Let us attempt to view theatre genuinely; let us dare to rewrite the rules and experiment with new forms and communication codes. In addition to its competitive character, it will feature book presentations, lectures, dramatic readings, theatrical performances, dance (outside the competition section), film screenings, and music.

We are opening our doors to all professional actors, dancers, directors, and artists to test themselves on stage with their artistic proposals, present their work to the public and critics, and become active participants in a fertile, creative dialogue on new challenges, new themes, and open forms.

The festival is competitive in nature and open to any scenic form of expression, which—indicatively and not restrictively—may include: theatre, dance, dance-theatre, musical, cabaret, shadow theatre, pantomime, stand-up comedy, etc., with the sole restriction being the theme: HIVE (Kypseli). The duration of the performances must be between 60 and 90 minutes. The festival provides venue availability for two performances, technical equipment, an entry in the festival catalog, and 30% of box office proceeds (minus 6% VAT). Six Honorary Awards will be presented by a five-member Committee composed of acclaimed professionals in the field, which will be announced a few days before the start of the Festival.

DROMOS Theatre provides its space, technical support, promotion, PR, and staff for the performances—for a theatre that concerns us all!

More information on the general and specific terms of the festival and its execution can be found by visiting the DROMOS Theatre website here, as well as by contacting the theatre by phone at +30 210 88 18 906 or via email at behivefestival@gmail.com.

The application and submission file for the festival can only be submitted electronically here.

Within the framework of the festival, proposals from artists and performing arts scholars interested in presenting their work through seminars or lectures are also welcome. In this case, interested parties should send their proposals directly via email to behivefestival@gmail.com.

• The ultimate goal of DROMOS Theatre’s BE-HIVE THEATRE FESTIVAL is to establish itself as an institution, repeating annually, continuously improving, and gradually expanding to host guest artists from both within and beyond national borders—serving as a venue, place, and means of gathering, interacting, and coexisting. For a NEW Kypseli (Hive).
• Artistic Director Emmanouil G. Mavros
• PR & Communications: Eirini Lagourou
• Organization – Production: MEDEA: Images Theatre and Cultural Actions NPO (Medea Pictures)