On the afternoon of October 2, 2025, the Youth Troupe Electra of the Sino-Hellenic Performing Arts Alliance visited St. Catherine’s British School in Athens, marking the second stop of its international school tour. The young actors brought to life the ancient Greek tragedy Electra by Sophocles, captivating nearly 200 students and teachers with their powerful performance.
Following the troupe’s acclaimed premiere last December and their successful first school tour performance at ACS Athens earlier this year, this production once again drew enthusiastic response. According to producer Winnie Liu, one of the key highlights of this tour stop was the students’ full participation in every stage of production — from venue coordination and rehearsal planning to prop preparation and on-site management. “They didn’t just perform,” Liu noted, “they learned what it takes to bring a show to life from start to finish.”
For many young performers, the experience extended beyond the stage. Youyi, a St. Catherine’s student and a new member of the troupe, shared her excitement: “It was an incredible opportunity to be involved both in the performance and in organizing the event at my own school. It helped me understand how teamwork makes theater possible.”
Under the direction of acclaimed Greek actress and theater director Marianthi Kyriou, the troupe’s 22 young Chinese actors demonstrated remarkable growth in language, expression, and stage presence. Performing in fluent English with emotional authenticity, they delivered a compelling interpretation of Electra that resonated deeply with their peers.
St. Catherine’s teachers and students praised the production as an inspiring cross-cultural experience. The school, known for its strong emphasis on drama education, hosted the performance as part of its theater program and intercultural learning initiative. Students from Grades 7 and 8 attended the performance, many commenting afterward that it was “incredible to see peers our age performing in English with such passion and depth.”
Emmanuela Voutsadakis, Head of Drama at St. Catherine’s, remarked: “Our school is proudly international, with a vibrant Chinese–Greek community. This collaboration was a meaningful experience for everyone involved — it brought cultural learning to life.”
Producer Winnie Liu emphasized that the performance reflected not only the artistic growth of the young actors but also the invaluable support of their families. “Behind every confident child on stage is a family that believes in them,” she said.
The performance at St. Catherine’s marked another milestone in the Youth Troupe Electra’s growing influence as a bridge for cultural exchange between China and Greece. Looking ahead, the troupe plans to continue its tour of Electra and future productions across international schools in Greece and Europe, working closely with educational institutions to build new platforms for intercultural dialogue and creative growth among overseas Chinese youth.
