CREATIVE WORKSHOP FOR PROFESSIONAL ACTORS

Mario Banushi – (b. 1998) is an award-winning theatre director whose work has been presented internationally in cities including New York, London, Berlin, Milan, Vienna, Montreal, and Taipei. His practice moves between intimacy and myth, memory and family, articulated through a rigorously visual and non-verbal theatrical language.

Born in Greece and raised in Albania until the age of six, when he moved back to Greece, his artistic universe is shaped by displacement, family narratives, and a distinct visual sensibility. His works have been noted for their visual poetry and emotional depth, unfolding without words and inviting audiences into a sensory experience that transcends conventional theatre.

He studied acting at the Drama School of the Athens Conservatory, graduating in 2020. That same year, he directed his first short film “Pranvera”, which was selected for the Tirana International Film Festival. His theatrical debut, “Ragada”, was created and presented in Athens during the pandemic lockdowns, marking the beginning of a practice developed outside conventional theatrical spaces.

In 2023, Banushi premiered “Goodbye, Lindita” at the Experimental Stage of the National Theatre of Greece. The work quickly resonated with audiences and critics alike, leading to sold-out performances and invitations to major international festivals, including the Vienna Festival, the International Theatre Amsterdam, the Adelaide Festival, and BITEF in Belgrade, where he received both the Jovan Ćirilov Special Award and the Politika Award for Best Director.

His subsequent work, “Taverna Miresia – Mario Bella Anastasia”, premiered at the Athens Epidaurus Festival and has been touring internationally in multiple cities, including London, Montreal, and Taipei. Together with his earlier works, it forms the triptych referred to as “Romance Familiare”, a cycle exploring family memory through image-driven, text-free theatrical storytelling. His work has been featured in The New York Times and BBC, and reviewed by The Guardian, Le Monde, and Libération, reflecting the growing international attention surrounding his work.

Banushi’s most recent production “MAMI” is an international co-production with leading European festivals and institutions: Onassis Stegi, Berliner Festspiele, FOG Festival / Triennale Milano Teatro, Espoo Theatre, Festival d’Avignon, Grec Festival Barcelona, Théâtre de Liège, and Noorderzon Festival / Grand Theatre Groningen. Premiering in 2025 in Athens, the work deepens his poetic and visual language and was met with widespread acclaim following its presentation at the Festival d’Avignon, where critics praised its emotional precision and visual excellence.