The historic Soutsou Mansion in central Athens will become the new home of the Greek Theater Museum’s archive, the Culture Ministry announced this week.
The project, budgeted at 9 million euros, marks a major step in preserving and promoting Greece’s modern theatrical heritage. It follows the completion of the museological study for the restoration and conversion of the landmark building at 47 Stadiou Street into the Library and Archive of the Theater Museum.
Once renovated, the mansion will house the museum’s library and archive, a reading room, educational spaces, digital collections, and a permanent exhibition titled “Aspects of the Revival of Ancient Drama in Modern Greece”.
Photo: Greek Culture Ministry
The exhibition will serve as a precursor to the larger permanent display planned for the Culture Ministry’s cultural complex at 260 Piraeus Street.
The ministry has also completed a preventive conservation study covering the collections of both the Theater Museum and the Center for the Study and Research of Greek Theater. Spanning Greek theatrical activity from the 19th century to the present day, the archive comprises more than 4,100 storage units containing manuscripts, theatrical costumes, photographs, artists’ personal effects, press archives, and audiovisual material.
“The Library and Archive document, through exceptionally important material, the history of modern Greek theater,” Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said. “The completion of all the studies is a crucial step toward the effective management of this unique cultural heritage, ensuring its preservation while making it accessible to researchers and the public, and documenting the history and evolution of Greek theater for future generations.”
Founded in 1938, the Theater Museum – Centre for the Study and Research of Greek Theater is currently not open to the public. The relocation of its collections to the restored Soutsou Mansion is expected to significantly improve public access to one of the country’s most important theatrical archives.
