Galery

1

Of, course, my hobby in high school was the theatre troupe. I found myself. My roles were increasingly more significant. People were eagerly waiting for our performances. Teachers and students, they all convinced me that I should play. And right here, between the second and third class, appeared the theatre or University dilemma...
 
Likely at is it might be, my parents understood that I liked theatre while I was playing in the troupe, but the idea that it might be my profession did not fascinate them. My father agreed but my mother did not. And because everything depends on her in our family I had a serious dilemma and...I got scared. I got very scared. I was afraid to go against their wishes...which cost me a lot. It cost me two years of exams...because I wasn’t able to read. I didn’t take in the university the first time but the third. The reason for this was that I did not care where I would go and what I would do. I chose a discipline that was the easiest for a man who does not care about anything. Economics. I was admitted in Patras. If I read more, I could be admitted in an Athens university. But I was working against myself then.

I found myself in Patras and realized that theatre was over for me. Whatever it was, it was. I decided that this is not for me. I was not dealing with it at all for 4 years. It was all very strange; it was like I was deliberately walking against myself. I was trying to convince myself that economy is my vocation. I was another man during these four years without theatre. I closed. The circle I was in seemed strange, I did not like it. I had crisis moments when it came to exams. I was even concerned if I’d graduate at all. I could not explain why these things were happening. I was not involved in my life. I was watching myself from afar. It was like I was a spectator of myself. My parents asked me when I will finally graduate. They could not support me financially any longer. And I owed exams ...

Vividly has changed my life when they called me from the old theatre troupe at the end of my studies and told me they want to act again. They wanted to make a troupe of school graduates. My dream revived again. I spent a whole year traveling between Patras and Athens to rehearse.

Eventually I realized that when you like something nothing can stop you from doing it. Neither distance nor fatigue.

Then I returned to Athens. I started working, I prepared for the rest of the exams and at the same time I went to rehearse with the theatre troupe. I was tired but the fact that the theatre was still present in my life gave me incredible strength. I felt fulfilled. At one point, however, our troupe fell apart and theatre disappeared from my life again

Here was I, however, 25 years old already and I said to myself: 'This is the end of it, I have to get a job paying a secure salary.’ It was clear that my desire to deal with theatre was not particularly appreciated at home and I did not want to go against my family. Especially when I realized that these people have greatly sacrificed for me. They told me that actors hardly earn. But after I’ve been working with my specialty for 3-4years I realized that I was not able to go on. To wake up at 9 o’clock in the morning, to do things mechanically most of which have no meaning for me, but ... should just happen. And to do a job that I do not want from the bottom of my heart...

Evidently, I'm a lucky guy because a woman appeared in my life...a woman who knew me since I was a child. This was the mother of my good friend from school. She witnessed my childhood development and knew a lot about my love for theatre. One day she said: "Why do you go so much against yourself and against what you want to do?" I was terribly scared. I acted like a rock. I did not want to admit at all that this was true. Then she told me that if I do not do something now there will come the time when I can not do anything and that I must act while it is time for not to be unhappy in life. Not to become someone who does not enjoy anything, who is not excited by anything. To be 30 years old but to feel like 40. She told me also that she has seen in me another person when I got on stage before, not the child who played with her son.

Look, it was sad that I continued to struggle with myself and with her. To oppose I told her that I decided to continue to study. She told me that she would support me only if I really wanted to do the masters, and not because I have to do it...

I then saw my fighting during all those years to flash red. But if I didn’t fight we probably wouldn’t be talking right here and right now. I was very afraid of my parents; they have sacrificed so much for me. I thought it would ruin them. But they knew I wasn’t happy after I came home from work. This was a crucial moment. Life itself came to say: "Hey, buddy, this is your last chance. Either you make a decision now or forget about theatre forever. There won’t be fourth chance!"

Figure it out – I was still running against myself after this conversation. I studied for master degree!!! I, however, had to drop the master degree and my work to become a soldier. There I considered the situation. I came out in May and in June I had already submitted my documents for acting. A different Yannis was born!

 
                  I began to live the life I wanted to live!

 

End. I'm a different person now. I'm happy!