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<ref>IMDB,State theatre of Northern Greece,ARTE France ANTENNA TV, ERT, HELLENIC TV

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2191591/

DINOS TAVRIDIS

TV Producer, Broadcaster, Artistic Director.

Born in Thessaloniki, Greece (in Greek Ντινος - Kωνσταντινος Ταυριδης) Though at the age of six, all his teachers discovered his talent in acting, his family insisted to guide him to follow an academic career but Dinos was dreaming to be initially an actor/director or a producer from his early years in the secondary school. Following his artistic visions, he entered the official exams to the State Conservatory’s Drama School and he triumphantly succeeded. He graduated with a prize in 1970.

THEATRE In 1968 - at the beginning of his second year as a student at the drama school - he was selected to play Cardinal Riselieu in the epic production of E. Rostand’s play. That was a turning point in his theatre career as he was offered a job for 9 years by the NATIONAL THEATRE OF NORTHERN GREECE playing successfully with rave reviews, a wide range of classic and modern characters at the theatre’s repertory in Thessaloniki and in venues like the ancient theatre of Epidaurus, the ancient theatres of Philippi, Thasos, Dion and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens. As an actor, his dream-role was Pontius Pilate in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, when he first saw the musical in London in early 70s. He decided to end his acting career, after playing that very role in the 1978 Greek production of it, in Athens.

TELEVISION & RADIO In 1977 he moved to Athens and lived there for more than 30 years. He also spent a lot of time in New York and in Paris during the 80’s. Meanwhile, he started his career in the TV industry as a broadcaster doing a weekly 15 minutes show in ERT-2 National TV channel “EXPRESS 315” for the National Railways Organisation. Being successful, they offered him one more show: a 20 minutes travel show with special guests, “FLIGHT AT 10,000 FEET” for OLYMPIC AIRWAYS. At the same time, he presented a weekly 30 mins radio programme about the latest pop/rock hits for WEA (Warner Electra Atlantic) RECORDS. Travelling the world, he had the chance to meet and have friendships with a lot of stars and celebrities, including the WARNER’s Vice President and mogul record producer Jerry Wexler and the famous Hollywood’s director Elias Kazan.

TV PRODUCTIONS & CO-PRODUCTIONS In 1984 he got the decision to become a TV Producer. In 1985, he founded his own company ACT PRODUCTIONS and in 1986 he had his first two productions: in ERT-1 “WITHOUT FLASH”(Horis flas) starring the Greek stars Yannis Fertis and Pemy Zouni; in ERT-2 the quiz- show “TRAVELLING IN THE MYTHS & THE HISTORY”. He was the first Greek TV Producer who focused on European TV co-productions. He worked a lot with the famous French TV director Andre Flederic. In 1988, he was the co-producer in “NANA CLASSIQUE”, a show starring the worldwide famous singer Nana Mouskouri and special guest-stars (the famous French singer Charles Aznavour, among them), filmed totally in ancient Greek locations and was broadcasted as the Christmas Eve show both in the French National TV Channel FRANCE -2 and the Greek National TV Channel ET-2, directed by Andre Flederic. In 1990, he secured the rights for the famous TV daily French programme BEBETE SHOW – a 5 minutes satirical chat show with all the politicians transfigured in charming puppet animals and commenting on the daily current affairs. The programme would have been broadcasted on the National TV Channel ET-2 and was proudly announced the star comedian Lakis Lazopoulos would present it and write the satirical scripts with his popular humour. After months of preparations, the then government took by storm and decided to ban the show and its premiere. It was a political scandal and it was debated in the Parliament. Among his other TV productions was the rom-com “YOU MUST SPEAK TO MY LAWYER”(Tha miliseis me to dikigoro mou) starring Yannis Bezos and the costume drama “STRASS” written by Elena Akrita/George Kyritsis, with a brilliant cast starring Kostas Arzoglou, Elena Akrita, George Kyritsis, directed by Reina Eskenazy. A LIFE, A CINEMA, a weekly variety show and a contribution to the film industry, with world - famous guest-stars, directed by Andre Flederic, was cancelled as Aliki Vouyouklaki – the greatest Greek star that should have been the presenter, was suddenly sick and passed away shortly after. In ET-1 he produced the quiz-show “THE LUCKY FLIGHT”. Also, in ET-1, he produced a six episodes documentary titled “MEDITERRANEAN TRADITIONAL FOLK SONGS” – a French-Spanish- Italian- Greek co-production directed by Sonia Cantalapiedra. He exclusively secured for broadcasting in Greece and Cyprus the whole COUSTEAU LIBRARY – 120 TV documentary series by the legendary oceanic explorer Jaques Yves Cousteau. He was the executive producer to Melina Mercouri’s last tv portrait, a production for the French (FR 3)TV series LES GEANTS DU MUSIC HALL, directed by Andre Flederic. In 2004, Dinos was the executive Producer to the epic period production LE DERNIER SEIGNEUR DES BALKANS (LAST BEY OF THE BALKANS), directed by Michel Favart. A massive historical French- German – Polish – Spanish – Greek co-production of 360 minutes, where he was also the casting Director for the Greek part, as well as the music Supervisor to Mikis Theodorakis’ music. In London he has also produced “THE EVER-LASTING LIGHT”(Anesperon Fos), a weekly programme for the HELLENIC TV.

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR In 1997, he founded the FESTIVAL OF ANCIENT OLYMPIA in the birth-place of the Olympic Games. At a 4500 seats amphitheatre – a miniature copy of the famous Epidaurus ancient theatre, built by the president and the habitants of a small community – he launched its first season with the dance legend Mikhail Baryshnikov and his ballet in an acclaimed performance. He was the Artistic Director of the Festival for two years, and during that time the elite of the Greek music and theatre had performed there, along with some international artists such as the Japanese drummers KODO and the famous soloists of the legendary BOLSHOI and MARIINSKY Russian ballets, in a special tribute to the divine Russian ballerina Galina Ulanova. Due to his success, in 2001 he was offered again the job for another two years. He launched the 2001 season with an exclusive concert by the famous opera-singer Dame Kiri Te Kanawa accompanied by the Athens State Symphonic Orchestra. For the 2002 season, he secured an exclusive performance of legend tenor Placido Domingo. The tenor generously agreed to sing in the finale the OLYMPIAN HYMN, as a contribution to the forthcoming Olympic Games in Athens. The Ministry of Culture declined to fund the Festival for this event.

OTHER ACTIVITIES He was the promoter of the prolific soprano Julia Migenes’ exclusive concert at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens. She starred as Carmen with Placido Domingo in the film version of Bizet’s opera CARMEN, directed by Francesco Rosi. Dinos was the co-promoter to Sir Elton John’s concert. Due to the phenomenal public demand a second concert was added - at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus for the ATHENS FESTIVAL. He was once in his life involved in the night club industry, launching in summer 1985 the very first Greek private night-club “PRISON”. For the opening night, he invited the French film star Annie Girardot, to co-host the event. The crème de la crème of the Athens society packed the club, and among them the legendary collector Alexander Iolas and the thespian of the Greek theatre Alexis Minotis. The remarkable event was a highlight covered by the national and international Press. In the club, a lot of Greek and international celebrities enjoyed the Athens nightlife and among them the British rock band The Stranglers, the Pink Floyd’s Richard Wright and the well-known German stage director Peter Stein. Dinos also worked as a journalist for 2 years in the weekly magazine FANTAZIO.

RECENT YEARS Since a teenager, London was his favourite destination and his perennial love. He used to regularly visit it till he got the decision to live there. Judi Dench was his very favourite actor and in 2009 he finally met her in person and she honoured him with her friendship. Minos Volanakis – a world distinguished stage director and translator, who has worked at the London ROYAL OPERA HOUSE and with actors Judi Dench, Glenda Jackson, Susanna York, Vivien Merchant and others - was his mentor and dear friend, who nurtured Dinos’ passion for the Greek tragedies. Recently Dinos Tavridis is working on the production of the epic play THE THRONE OF BLOOD by writer Constantine D. Alexander, based and inspired by the tragedies of the Greek classic authors.