When I went to Munich in 1962, to enroll at the Academy of Fine Arts, I first took a walk round the University campus and on the Law Faculty notice board there was an announcement, inviting those interested to attend the meeting of the members of the "Studiobühne", the student theatre of the University, where I went the same evening. The "Studiobühne" playhouse was in the basement of a large building with the horrible name Haus des Rechts -House of the Justice- but I liked the place because it had a concrete column in the middle that reminded me of the Karolos Kuhn's "Art Theatre" in Athens, where I used to go faithfully since I was sixteen. The assembly met for elections and after the director, the dramaturge and the cashier were chosen by acclamation there was no candidate for technical director, so I raised my hand. The assembly looked at me pitifully and the newly-elected board asked me where I was from and what I had studied. In the absence of other nominations they elected me unanimously. When I saw the condition of the backstage area, which was used for dressing room, wardrobe, lighting console and storage of sets and props I understood the reason for their mockery...
The play approved by the assembly was "In the Jungle of Cities" by Berthold Brecht, and Charlie Tauss, director and actor, entrusted me with the execution of sets and costumes... Things were that simple back in 1962. I worked two years -manually- in the Studiobühne. Among the many people, who became known actors and directors of the "New German Cinema" were Otto Sander, Peter Stein, Alf Brustellin, Bernhard Sinkel and Roland Gall between others.
In 1964 a group from "Studiobühne" started mounting plays in the Schwabing theatre district, first in the little Theater 44 and later in the larger "Theater in der Leopoldstrasse", which also ensured us a small wage.
The following plays, for which I did the designs give a little idea of the decade's repertoire:
- 1963 Im Dickicht der Städte, Berthold Brecht
La Giara, Luigi Pirandello
Le sacrifice du bourreau, René de Obaldia
Le Défunt, René de Obaldia
Le Grand Visir , René de Obaldia- 1964 Le bel indifférent, Jean Cocteau
Poivre de Cayenne, René de Obaldia
Nacht mit Gästen, Peter Weiss
Die Kurve, Tankred Dorst
The Knack and How to Get It, Ann Jellicoe
Arden of Feversham in Kent, Anonymous- 1965 La Nouvelle Mandragore, Jean Vauthier
Endgame, Samuel Beckett
Delitto all'isola delle capre, Ugo Betti
Les Maxibules, Marcel Aymé- 1966 Look Back in Anger, John Osborne
Filumena Marturano, Eduardo De Filippo
- 1970 Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams
La Foire d’Empoigne, Jean Anouilh
Α Taste of Honey, Shelagh Delaney- 1971 Les Justes, Albert Camus
Uncle Vanya, Anton Chekhov