Vassilis Papavassiliou, a distinguished presence in Greek theater, has passed away at the age of 76 in Thessaloniki, following a period of serious illness.
Born in Thessaloniki in 1949, Papavassiliou began his academic path in medicine at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki before shifting to the performing arts. He enrolled in the Drama School of Theatro Technis in Athens, setting the stage for a prolific and distinguished career.
Over three decades, Papavassiliou directed thirty productions, embracing classical and modern playwrights, from Sophocles and Shakespeare to Luigi Pirandello, Moliere, and Edward Bond.
He was also an accomplished playwright, actor, and translator, bringing into Greek the voices of Carlo Goldoni, Roland Barthes, and Marquis de Sade, among others.
Papavassiliou’s contributions earned him numerous accolades, including the title of Knight of Arts and Letters from the French Republic, as well as honors from the Municipality of Athens, the Municipality of Halandri, the Greek Theatre and Music Critics Association, and the Syracuse Theatre Festival in Sicily.
Papavassiliou also occasionally taught at drama schools and at the University of Thessaloniki’s Department of Theater.
