Robin, the heart of the forest

Poster for the theatrical performance “Robin Hood: The Heart of the Forest”. Against a red background, bold black lettering reads: Little National, “Robin Hood: The Heart of the Forest”, Dimitris Kouroumpalis, Direction: Dimitris Kouroumpalis and Froso Korrou. A diagonal tear running from left to right cuts through the red background, revealing a black-and-white photograph of a dense forest underneath.

The new season of liminal’s collaboration with the National Theatre of Greece opens with two accessible performances of “Robin, the heart of the forest” presented by the NTG’s Children’s Stage. On November 26 and 27, we are designing and implementing accessibility services for audiences with sensory disabilities for this new work by Dimitris Kouroubalis, co-directed by Dimitris Kouroubalis and Froso Korrou.

A theatrical narrative rooted in environmental awareness and the spirit of solidarity, combining music, songs and stage combat with cinematic intensity. A performance that transports audiences of all ages into a vibrant forest filled with scents, sounds and colours.

Photograph by Karol Jarek from the performance “Robin Hood: The Heart of the Forest”. In the foreground, a dark-haired, bearded man holds a long bamboo staff and faces forward in a poised, ready stance. He wears earth-toned clothing in a variety of textures and layers, with a hood framing his face and giving him a rugged appearance. In the background, three other men, also dressed in stylised, layered garments, stand with their arms interlaced, as if backing him up. Tall, slender poles topped with yellow-green discs are scattered throughout the space, creating the impression of a contemporary, minimalist forest.

The theatrical experience extends beyond the stage with an interactive music and theatre workshop. Designed to be accessible to children with sensory disabilities as well, the workshop features adapted educational materials and an environment that supports equal participation, developed by the liminal team.

The plot

Rob is a young ranger. It’s a job he does because he loves the forest. His boss, the Commissioner, who holds sway over the region, doesn’t love forests, though. He loves profit. And his plan to “modernise” the area involves destroying all the woodland to make way for roads, factories, hotels, mines, and zoos.

On a stage set featuring reeds and green discs evoking abstract trees, a woman stands on a small raised platform, holding a bamboo staff like a sword against the neck of a dark-haired, bearded man, who stretches his arms out to the sides in a gesture of surrender. She wears a voluminous dress with ruffles in camouflage colours. The man wears a vest with knitted green and blue patterns, a long-sleeved top and light blue, puffed leg warmers. On the left, four men in equally striking and elaborate costumes watch the scene with concern.
On a dark stage set with vertical blue strips of light, a tall man with dark, slicked-back hair and dark makeup around his eyes and lips is wrapped in a loose black-and-white striped dressing gown with black fur on the shoulders and black gloves. He holds the dressing gown closed with one hand spread across his chest and the other resting on his abdomen, gazing upwards with a serious expression. Beside him, a shorter woman with a blonde bob and round glasses, wearing a grey blazer over a checked shirt, leans towards him with her hands clasped, looking at him expectantly. A round showerhead is visible behind them, while soap bubbles float in the darkness to the left.
On a stage illuminated with pink floor lighting, against a blue backdrop featuring a large purple circular disc resembling the moon, eight performers stand side by side in a row. Most wear beige jumpsuits with belts and boots, while others stand out: one wears a pink perforated shirt, another a purple headband, and a third a dark vest with camouflage trousers, gazing upwards in surprise. The remaining performers look to the right, where a curly-haired actress whispers into the ear of a man wearing a green suit and light blue ruffled leg warmers, who smiles in response. In the background, bamboo reeds are interspersed with fluorescent green discs and thin fabrics arranged in cylindrical or conical shapes, evoking trees.

When Rob attempts to thwart the Commissioner’s grandiose ambitions, he is declared an outlaw. He’s not alone, though. Amidst the trees, a community is founded by people who have followed their hearts there, and Rob becomes Robin.

Within this enchanting setting, the forest is presented not as a natural wonder to be preserved behind glass, but as a living, breathing ecosystem that both gives and asks something in return.

-Dimitris Kouroubalis

The workshop

The experiential music and theatre workshop accompanying the performance invites young audience members to take part in a shared experience centred on caring for the forest, collaboration and the power of community. Through storytelling, music and movement, children create landscapes inspired by the performance and build their own community in the “heart of the forest”, engaging their imagination and senses.

The workshop aims to raise children’s environmental awareness, foster empathy and highlight the importance of active participation and engagement in environmental issues. Children will discover how each of us can make a positive impact on the world around us and contribute to protecting Robin’s Forest.

Workshop design and facilitation: Sandy Makropoulou and Eleni Michailidou

ℹ️ On November 26 and 27 the workshop becomes accessible to children with sensory disabilities.

A moment from the performance “Robin Hood: The Heart of the Forest”, captured in a photograph by Karol Jarek. A curly-haired woman with green eye makeup and a costume in shades of green and yellow smiles as she leaps high into the air, performing a flying kick. Behind her, four men dressed in dark clothing have fallen backwards onto a sloping surface, clinging tightly to one another as they watch her impressive jump.

Robin’s…accessible forest!

In collaboration with liminal and in the framework of the “Culture for All” programme by Alpha Bank, the two performances will be accompanied by accessibility services for audiences with sensory disabilities. These include

  • Guided Touch Tour and Audio Description for children with visual disabilities as well as
  • Interpretation in Greek Sign Language and SDH Supertitles for D/deaf and Hard of Hearing people
This year, for the first time at the National Theatre, accessibility services are integrated more seamlessly into the onstage action. The interpreters’ presence is thoughtfully incorporated into the visual landscape of the performance, becoming an integral part of the work itself.

Credits

Direction: Dimitris Kouroubalis — Froso Korrou
Set design: Thalia Melissa
Costume design: Niki Psychogiou
Music: Alex Sid
Choreography: Froso Korrou
Lighting: Karol Jarek
Sound design: Mikes Billis
Fight choreography: Joanna Toumpakari
Music coach: Melina Peonidou
Production dramaturg: Nefeli Vlachopanagioti
Directing : George Moustakas
Costume design assistant: Maria Alexandrou
Set design assistant: Paris Paraskevopoulos

Cast: Andreas Votikas, Christiana Katsimpraki, Katerina Kranidi, Nikos Konstantopoulos, Fotis Mikroulis, Nadia Baida, Dimitris Oikonomidis, Nefeli Padermali, Titos Pinakas, Apostolos Praftsiotis, Kyriaki Solomidou

Photographs: ©Karol Jarek ©Mavra Gidia
Video: ©Nikos Pastras

Accessibility credits

Surtitling for the D/deaf and Hard of Hearing: Grigoris Stathopoulos
Audio Description Script: Maria Thrasyvoulidi, Alexandra Georgovasili
Audio Description Narration: Maria Thrasyvoulidi
Greek Sign Language Interpretation: Tonia Papandonaki, Andreas Plemmenos, Androniki Xanthopoulou
Quality Check: Andreas Plemmenos, Anna-Maria Foskolou
Surtitling software: supertitles.gr
Accessibility Services Design: liminal
Co-ordination: Christos Papamichael

Useful information

Days and times of accessible performances: Thursday and Friday, November 26 and 27 2026 at 10:00
Guided Touch Tour: 1 hour before the start of the performances
Location: REX Theatre, Eleni Papadaki Stage
Duration: 80′
Tickets for disabled people – Escorts: 5€
Participation in the workshop: 5€

How to book tickets

  • Via email at: paidikiskini@n-t.gr
  • Telephone reservations at Group Sales Office: 2107001468 [Monday to Friday: 09.00-15.00]
  • NTG box offices (Ziller Building), Agiou Konstantinou 22-24 [Wednesday to Sunday: 09.00-21.00]