Underwater has taken over the streets of Belfast! /  by Mayou Trikerioti

Underwater has taken over the streets of Belfast!

Book your tickets for the 12-13/03 Belfast Children’s Festival Young at Art Lyric Theatre Belfast or catch us on our next stops 16th Mar Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, 17-19th Mar Theatre Royal Bath, 26th Mar Wonder Arts, 15-16th April Sadler's Wells

Co-directors Xenia Aidonopoulou & Georgia Tegou

Creative producer Lia Prentaki

Composer Jeph Vanger

Performers Lydia Walker and Ellyn Hebron

R&D Performer Artemis Stamouli

Design Consultant & Costume Designer Mayou Trikerioti

Lighting designer @edwardjamessaunders

Puppet artist @alison.puppets

Costume & Props maker @rachelmagicalstuff

Photo by Nikolas Louka Trailer by Enya Belak

Co-produced with the Greek National Opera – Εθνική Λυρική Σκηνή Alternative Stage

Commissioned by Belfast Children’s Festival Young at Art Belfast Watford Palace Theatre and The Lowry, Salford.

Supported by Arts Council England

#dance #theatre #dancetheatre #babyshow #earlyyears #underwater #acefunded #earlyyearstheatre #artscouncilengland #puppet #octopus #ballerina #dream #magic #london #gno #greeknationalopera #gnoalternativestage #belfastchildrensfestival #thelowry #watfordpalacetheatre #sadlerswellstheatre #choreography #xeniaaidonopoulou #georgiategou #underwatershow #underwater

Covid Brain Newsletter /  by Mayou Trikerioti

It has been a massive two years that passed by both in a blink and a century.

My last newsletter finished with "HAPPY CHRISTMAS and bring on 2020” and, oh my, where are we now. This one is pandemic-long and somewhat more personal roundup..

Serendipity has always been one of my favourite words and 2021 would not be 2021 without this.. The DREAM that was to Costume Design a favourite iconic director’s film: David Cronenberg’s Crimes of the Future, dressing Viggo Mortensen, Léa Seydoux and Kristen Stewart, Scott Speedman, Tanaya Beatty. Lihi Kornowski, Don McKellar, Weket Bungué amongst many incredibly talented humans and working alongside an equally uber-talented and heartwarming group of below-the-line-but-in-my-heart professionals.

But back to the beginnings and 2020:

The Process opened to great success. A play that mixed BSL with spoken English in a seamless way and marked the Bunker’s final show; a space that is no more, at least as it was before.

Blue Jasmine (that gave me a best set design award in 2019) came down after a successful sell out year and a half and was stored and ready for a transfer that 'pandemically' never happened..

Koini Isihia (mixing performance with spoken word along with Vasilis’ Papakonstantinou incredible singing voice and stage presence opened in Athens, only to close after 2 weeks when lockdown happened and reopen a year and a half later in "almost-post-pandemic” times. Macbeth had the same luck.

A fab new play by Dare Aiyegbayo, ironically clad full in PPE was also about to open in Chichester.. It actually opened a year later with a new cast in a world that had carved a place for that PPE.


Covid also killed a beloved opera in Denmark after twice postponing..

The SBTD’s exhibition ‘Staging Places’ was coming to an end at the V&A. My (controversially semi naked) costumes for Lysistrata subsequently transferred to the National Centre for Craft and Design during Covid times.

So the world turned upside down. Brexit and Covid and Covid and more Covid in all the letters of my beloved Greek alphabet, most famously Delta and Οmikron. And with everything closed, connecting became important.

The past year and a half was a time of terrific lows and incredible highs. Fear was a constant theme -not just of Covid -personal stuff, four days in ICU, losing people close to me, fear about really. basic. things. A new friend recently told me that when things were low and gloomy, going somewhere high up melted any depression away. The analogy is so beautifully real it makes it poetic. A phoenix always rises up. The highs and the love and support of precious humans held my head above water.

I also looked at the sky. A lot. I did not enjoy watching theatre on line or on a screen, but watching Lungs made me cry.

My two work hats, that of theatre and film came in useful as plays were designed to be filmed, zoom plays were popping up, and the boundaries of stage and screen became fluid for the first time. Knowing what can work in both worlds was encouraging and empowering. R&D’s became my limbo playground and safe place for a while. Freedom, creativity, sharing, openness; the digging-in the play-pie with other creative minds, creating open-ended mood boards, connecting with actors earlier rather than later in the process. LISTENING.

In May 2020 and out of a great sense of urgency for cross-pollination I started this group to join up the dots of the performing arts across the globe so that we can learn from each other and what each country is doing as COVID spread, but in reverse. A springboard platform to share thoughts, strategies, fears and how to go about things in order to hopefully re-invent and re-define the future. Artists have always been so generous with the audience. In this group we were generous with each other.
-in other words it was just my way of keeping sane and trying to make sense of it all and look into the Future with optimism.

I spoke here about all things Global Theatre Pandemic, in an OISTAT Global Conference and in Iceland and Portugal too. All through zoom, meeting so many like minded professionals along the way. Indulged in an interview to tell all...

In autumn 2020 I put together 1 that became 3 global zooms, The Stage of Things, hosting 40 speakers from 27 countries across 5 continents. Incredible and totally generous theatre professionals sharing their experiences on touring during this time and giving a timeline of their countries’ opening/closing of theatres and covid response/funding and artists' initiatives.

Watch them here

And Homeschooled. Well, more like worked-alongside-on-the-same-kitchen-table or together in the studio, seeing a 7-year-old become 8 and 9 but actually becoming a teenager. Covid times maturing her so much beyond her years. Most silver of all linings to be able to spend 24/7 with this precious, extraordinary, beautiful, talented and extremely smart human.

Pari opened at the Berlinale and went on to win many many awards in subsequent film festivals and gave me a nomination for Best Costume Design.

I Will Cross Tomorrow, a bitter sweet journey of a Syrian refugee managed to find its way to cinemas in France and Luxembourg during the pandemic.

Costume department in Covid times can prove to be more than a challenge. And this Italian Period DocuFiction is now in Post Production without me actually making it to Italy due to lockdowns and subsequent Covid related difficulties.. Grateful to my number one, Matina, for being on the other side of every video call and doing miracles in making me feel like I were there as she filmed(!) fabrics in shops and channelled me remotely.

…and drew little 1 metre circles around humans on stage for safe signing, acting, playing. And workshopped this baby show..Underwater #Underwaterbabyshow (coming in spring 2022).

2021 meant finally back to making models, with Sweeney Todd leaving East London to go to Oxford -bring on covid restricted zoom tech (doh!) followed by a facemask to facemask dress rehearsal.

I was able to dip my toes a little deeper into Creative Directing, Copywriting and the Marketing World and loved it.. Bring on conjuring up virtual award ceremonies, playing godmother and curating a spiced rum and a bubbly wine, writing speeches for radiant humans and finishing 2021 with some Green Screen magic..

Some of the most fulfilling and heart warming projects are sometimes those out of the box. A commission to make a Pollock-style Victorian Theatre kit and Christmas Carol for kids for WEIS. And hosting Mindful Doodling and drawing zooms during lockdown for humans seeking sanctuary.

My love for community and bringing people together formed in many many ways during the pandemic. The highlight being that after 2 years, in December 2021 I managed to organise the first almost-post-pandemic Wapping Open Studios (Christmas ’21 mini edition) which saw 7 spaces and more than 20 artists open studios, sell art and offer free workshops.

Distance is healing. Back in March 2020 all I could see was the shows that were closing or the work that was stopping. The uncertainty. Now I realise how very lucky I was to be surrounded by resilient humans that kept projects going, or more adventurous humans who invited me to inspiring R&Ds and kept my muscles flexed.

Being able to be in a theatre or shoot again brought back a very old, forgotten feeling: the straight-out-of-theatre-school rush of “being and working in a space for real”. Full circle on serendipity as I was sent this paper clipping by a precious friend: the dreamy 1997 memory of Fool for Love.
First EVER job: Stage Manager (and DSM) and timidly trying on a Costuming hat because our wonderful designer Helen did not enjoy costumes.

I could not be more grateful.

Love to you all, with all my heart, and for all the pleasant crimes we can have together and what may come in 2022.


Mayou x

sold out /  by Mayou Trikerioti

...our first six shows are now Sold Out!!!

Feeling so excited!

Welcome to Underwater! A magical dance theatre piece created especially for babies aged 0-2. This gorgeous multi-sensory show is sure to engage your baby’s imagination – and there’s plenty for adults to enjoy too!

Co-directors @xenia.aidonopoulou and @georgia_tegou

Creative producer @lprenouk

Composer @jephvanger

Consultant designer & Costume designer @mayoutrikerioti

Lighting designer @edwardjamessaunders

Puppet artist @alison.puppets

Costume and props maker @rachelmagicalstuff

Photos @nikolaslouka @ceetop

Trailer @enyabelak

Performers @lydiajeannelea and @ellynhebron

Co-produced with the GREEK NATIONAL OPERA Alternative Stage @gnoalternativestage

Commissioned by Belfast Children’s Festival @youngatartbelfast @watfordpalace Theatre and @the_lowry, Salford.

Supported by Arts Council England @aceagrams

#dance #theatre #dancetheatre #babyshow #earlyyears #underwater #acefunded #earlyyearstheatre #artscouncilengland #puppet #octopus #ballerina #dream #magic #london #gno #greeknationalopera #gnoalternativestage #belfastchildrensfestival #thelowry #watfordpalacetheatre #sadlerswellstheatre #choreography #xeniaaidonopoulou #georgiategou

The "you can’t really fall asleep when you are dreaming" Newsletter /  by Mayou Trikerioti

When We Dead Awaken, Coronet Theatre, 2022

It has been, again, two years since my last newsletter (here), and so so much has happened!

So back then, I was looking forward to 2022, with great collaborations on the way.

Little did I know that the next two years would be filled with soul and heart fulfilling projects, projects that only remind you what deep joy this industry can bring! And by “this industry” I mean both theatre and film all intertwined in my heart.

But first thing’s first - with childish joy I can jump up and down and say in May 2022: "I went to Cannes and walked the red carpet” with the most loving film family one could ask for, Serendipity and Crimes of the Future

Rewinding back to the beginning - I spent Boxing Day and New Year alone on my sofa, Covid ridden. 

I can now fully disclose that as of the New Year and with a faint red line, I snack down the river during evening tides to get some air. I felt so alive.

I can only feel humbled by the collaborations that came my way - projects chose you as much as you chose them, after all, and when the stars align, they lead to long lasting bonds and friendships.

That is what happened with both The Coronet and the Norwegian Ibsen Company. Working with prolific Norwegian director Kjetil Bang-Hansen was a dream, even if I had to design the play in less than a week (yes, bloody covid was still leaving his print on jobs! What started as a minimal modern design needed up bringing old fashioned back in fashion

A journey of trying to be sustainable started too, rebuilding the stage with a twist as I believe we mostly reused reclaimed and repainted..

Fun fact one that many a member of the audience actually thought that was the stage of the coronet with a heap of stuff and a stream…

Fun fact two, I got an Offie Nomination.

..and a tour in Oslo

"Designer Mayou Trikerioti’s set looks like an artwork in itself, and cleverly incorporates a running stream alongside the aforementioned rubble pile." The Stage

Things started falling to place, as shows reopened after having stopped during lockdown. Koini Isihia (mixing performance with spoken word along with Vasilis’ Papakonstantinou incredible singing voice and stage presence opened again in Athens. And while Koini Isihia started its tour all over Greece

Underwater #Underwaterbabyshow finally opened in 2022 to sold out performances a long touring journey that is still happening! So that meant Xenia and I could dive from water to air, with Skydiver (all puns badly intended). A design born out of exploration and research and channelling Richter through fabric. With the Wonderful artistry of Caroline @rollinginfabric

 and Skydiver has now also opened with Dance Umbrella at the `unicorn theatre and is touring.

I was part of this immensely important piece of theatre, with Lisa Goldman at the helm

Back in the theatre and a hugely important piece of theatre #dictatingtheestate #dtte #maxilla #specialmeasures

“This is no abstract enterprise. It’s a powerful piece of community theatre.” The Times

“Dictating to the Estate is an original documentary play about events leading up to the Grenfell Tower fire. Using only council minutes, emails and blog posts, it tells the story of the refurbishment of the tower and of residents' attempts to hold the Council to account.”

I built a camp compete with real smelly turf, twigs and fire on the stage of Chichester Showroom

And a sauna for a VR experience in a Victorian Horse Hospital!

“the Queer East Film Festival presents this work in a uniquely immersive way by transforming parts of The Horse Hospital venue into an actual sauna that viewers must enter to watch the film. Having to step into the physical sauna space before entering the virtual one creates a layer of “double immersion”, allowing audiences to become more fully a part of In the Mist’s world.”

https://clotmag.com/news/insight-in-the-mist-exploring-chou-tung-yens-surreal-vr-experience-for-the-queer-east-film-festival

2022 and 2023 was also about actually visiting Oxford -something I was not able to do during Covid -even Sweeney was done with me isolating in London. So these two years found me revisiting my favourite Oxford for Othello in 2022, Chicago 2023 and Christmas Carol last month. Once again the joy of working with friends that are also talented, dedicated nutters.. There is nothing like creating a safe environment to be playful!

As 2021, so 2022 and 2022 was sewn with lovely R&Ds. Some of these -I am so excited- will fully flower and bloom in 2024! That is not to say that with minimum R&D days and money we did not create magic..

I became Tamed in Norwich Theatre Royal, I felt the joys of a new opera at the Arcola with talented composer Kristina Arakelyan’s Penelope, found myself plotting an unexpected storytelling with After That and hanging bloodied handed people in Electra Untitled. I also created a fabric, I think.

…I dag deep into a precious piece of theatre: Eleni Randou’s My Life’s Party, a piece so close to my heart and a new collaboration with Anestis Azas, who’s cool and calm demeanour created wonders.

"Η Μαγιού Τρικεριώτη έχει φτιάξει ένα συγκλονιστικό σκηνικό που ίπταται είναι όλα στον αέρα γιατί είναι σαν τις μνήμες. Όλα τα έπιπλα είναι στον αέρα όπως και η μνήμη που είναι πιο αόρατη, πιο ρευστή.  Είναι σαν να βρίσκεσαι στο βυθό και να βλέπεις προς τα πάνω. Είναι όλο τόσο ρευστό γιατί η μνήμη είναι ρευστή. Καμιά φορά θυμάσαι πράγματα έτσι, τα θυμάσαι αλλιώς και τελικά το παρελθόν καθορίζεται από το πώς θυμάσαι τη ζωή σου, δεν καθορίζεται από την ίδια σου τη ζωή. Το ίδιο πράγμα δύο διαφορετικοί άνθρωποι το θυμούνται αλλιώς ανάλογα με το ποιος είναι ο καθένας. Με τους υπέροχους φωτισμούς της Χριστίνας Θανάσουλα αλωνίζω την τεράστια αλάνα- σκηνή με απόλυτη ελευθερία και απόλυτη χαρά μαζί με τους μουσικούς που παίζουν ζωντανά.” Ελένη Ράντου

Ενα ευφυές σκηνικό της Μαγιούς Τρικεριώτη, ως επίφαση σπιτιού, οικογένειας ταυτοποιημένο με τη διάλυση.”

“A brilliant stage set by Mayou Trikerioti, as an epitome of a home and a family in dissolution.

Thank you Rea Vitali

A totally sold out 6-month run, followed by a transfer to Cyprus and currently on a second sold out season, wishing this one a long life!

2023 started with a bang! George Takes Allegiance, the chance to work with a true legend, amazing talent and the best director/choreographer a musical could ever ask for, Tara Overfield Wilkinson and an incredible cast. And it is true as it was rewarded with full houses and standing ovations over and over again. And, oh, my, what a great joy is working on a musical!

Heart warming and feel good as nothing else, a show I really want to come back, Onjali Q Raúf’s first stage play, The Hero Next Door, staged but the magical Face Front Inclusive Theatre.

And a fabulous collaboration for Sergi belbel's Blood and BSA

“The staging is a triumph. At first, it is simply dressed with a slightly raised square stage piece above an astro-turfed ground, consisting of mosaic tiles bordered by drains – not unlike what you’d find in a changing room. While initially a dark and scary space, it is amazing how versatile the stage becomes with only a simple few changes.” Bristol 247

Film was part of the journey these two years. Costuming Cynthia Erivo on the UK leg of Drift, to open in Sundance 2023, a film by Anthony Chen. Covid also flipped this one on its head, and I could not be more grateful for the costume team I had.

And Fantasmi in Viaggio finally opened -And this Italian Period DocuFiction is now in Post Production without me actually making it to Italy due to lockdowns and subsequent Covid related difficulties a cross between fiction and documentary, period and contemporary but so much fun designing during lockdowns. Grabbing the best film award at the 35th Panorama, it also gave me a nomination for Best Costume Design.

Free from Covid restrictions, I spent a lot of time in Angels and the National Costume Hire, the next best thing next to bookshops and the smell of books..

2023 is also going away with a bang. A most amazing meeting with Chris Evans and Gecko I will cherish forever. An R&D/Performance collaboration with East15 that pushed the boundaries of what can be expected..

I found myself in great company of theatre makers in Russell Luca’s interview:

And in the Rare Gathering at the Prague Quadrennial 2023 - my design for Captain Corelli’s Mandolin part of the Greek Pavilion.

Out of the box I begun a lovely collaboration with The Wine Place in Covent Garden. Proof again that working with lovely people is key (and the panettone is to die for!)

These two years did not come with challenges and difficulties. Relocating in order to make my flat structurally sound. For all you parents out there,  preparation and transitioning between Primary and Secondary. Possibly one of the bigger stresses of parenting in the UK - lol.

Finally, funny how the brain rules out the bad stuff, but there is always room to mention them as a cautionary tale, my very own #metoo moment in 2022 with the worst verbal and emotional abuse I have ever encountered. From a person I actually never met Something that left me in deep fear of that person, emotionally and physically scarred,

It was two years with too many huge losses, Peter Brook, Marcello Magni, Mina Adamaki, Adam Brace, Μαρία Κωβαίου.. 

These two years also came with amazing and funky nominations..

Highlight must be my nomination for Best Costume Design for Crimes of the Future for the Canadian Oscars.

Funky alternative my nomination for the Sangria Chainsaw Awards for Costume Design for Crimes of the Future.

An Offie Nomination for the set of When We Dead Awaken.

A Greek Film Academy Nomination for Fantasmi in Viaggio

A Theatre Audience Nomination for the Set of Eleni Randou's My Life’s Party in Greece.


…And 2023 marked the year I was reminded the joy of teaching, sharing, and fostering ideas. I came to realise that in order to be a good educator you need to firmly have your feet on the ground and feel good in your own skin. It is the generosity and openness, something which also defines a good actor or performance. I am going to use the work serendipity and luck once again, as I always found myself in education by being asked to do something.. This time however I owe a mind changing shift to Donatella Barbieri. She is the one that reminded me of all of the above, that it is ok to be an artist and an educator, and to laugh out loud.

My love for community and bringing people together continues strong.. The highlight being that after 2 years, in December 2021 I managed to organise the first almost-post-pandemic Wapping Open Studios (Christmas ’21 mini edition) which saw 7 spaces and more than 20 artists open studios, sell art and offer free workshops.

So the stars ali

n again, and you may come to Open Studi

So this is it, Mary Christmas, with two words of advice: One from my daughter when she was 9: "you can’t really fall asleep when you are dreaming.” And the second one:

mayou trikerioti

e. mayoutrik@gmail.com
m. +44(0)7706101933

www.mayoutrikerioti.com
imdb.com/name/nm2840008/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayoutrik/

crimes and rabbits /  by Mayou Trikerioti

I jumped in the rabbit hole 6 years ago, with 48h notice and a week before fittings to condense preprod in 7 sleepless days. Hang (costume pun intended) with Jim Carrey, Charlotte Gainbourg and Agata Kulesza, and came out again on this day, with a script, a cigar and a chopped tie as a memento. #darkcrimes

opening at TFF! /  by Mayou Trikerioti

Proud Costume Designer!

Προβολή-φάντασμα

Τα φαντάσματα έρχονται στην πόλη της Θεσσαλονίκης με την ίδια επιθυμία που έχουν οι άνθρωποι να αφηγηθούν ιστορίες!

Σάββατο 13 Νοεμβρίου στις 21.00

Αίθουσα Τζων Κασσαβέτης

#ghostscreening #ghostfilm #thessaloniki #filmfestival #greekcinema #fantasia Mansarda Production Srl

reflection /  by Mayou Trikerioti

We whinge about our work. We work in theatre. We are overworked and underpaid. But in lockdown it was theatre people that saved my daughter’s day to day. Little Creatives thought of daily check ins for kids. And Theatre of Science was also a theatre person enticing kids into fun science.

And, in the most difficult year of my life, my theatre and film work kept me sane, safe and almost sound. I am not sure how else I could have navigated through personal trauma. I feel bleesed to have a job that is so heart warningly fulfilling. We are blessed in what we chose to do. And what we do is important.

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