Meet Danai Gkanasou: Red, resilient, and unapologetically theatrical

In our latest interview from the Theatre in Palm Residency in Sofia, we sat down with Despoina Danai Gkanasou – a Greek actress, singer, performer, and writer whose creative spirit knows no bounds. Hailing from the vibrant city of Athens, Danae brings together her love for art, communication, and storytelling to forge performances that are as bold and vibrant as her favorite shade of red.

With a background in communication and media studies, she skillfully infuses her theatrical work with modern elements like mixed media, short videos, and music – channels that capture the pulse of today’s digital age without losing the raw honesty of live performance. In our conversation, she reflects on her most memorable moments, including a deeply vulnerable scene in “Breaking the Borders” that resonated powerfully with both performers and audience alike.

Can you tell us a little more about who you are?

My name is Danae Gkanasou, I am a Greek actress, singer, performer and writer. I live in Athens which I adore. I always choose some type of art to be able to express myself fully. I love the colour red, the sea, strong coffee and travelling! I have a wonderful team with which we create performances and a dream to live in Spain for more than a year at some point in my life.

With your background in communication and media studies, how do you leverage those skills in your artistic work, particularly in storytelling and audience engagement?

I truly believe that at the core of arts, particularly in Theater and performing the most intrinsically prominent need is that of communication. As a well-versed person in the field I like to incorporate in my storytelling the channels that will deliver my message to my audience the fastest and most precise way without compromising my personal way of expressing. For example, in our day-to-day life social media shape our way of receiving information and entertainment, so mixed media in my performative world are prominent with usage of short videos and music.

What was the most memorable moment for you during the performance of “Breaking the Borders” that contributed to it receiving the second award for Best Performance?

What I feel was the most memorable moment was also the most vulnerable moment for us, the performers, and the most brutal for our audience, as per our intention. There is a part where we display the way psychosomatic symptoms manifest in the body after certain societal pressures and there was a raw but honest manner of conveying that. It elicited different kinds of reactions both from ourselves as well as the audience, but it also came from our bond and our personal truth and I wholeheartedly think that that honesty was one of the main reasons we got that award.

Reflecting on your journey through performances, what’s one moment you experienced that made you realize the true power of theatre and its ability to transform both the performer and the audience?

I took part in a very interesting performance centered around morals, ethics and how people’s perceptions of objective situations change depending on those personal beliefs. There was a very high tension moment around the culmination of the plot, where we broke the fourth wall and we could collectively feel the energy, the audience gasped, people were mumbling, crying and that experience is such an intimate and privileged possession to have lived through. I’m certain no one walked the same at home that night. I know I didn’t.

Is there a role you really want to play? Which one and why?

This is going to sound a bit cliche, but the whole repertoire of Shakespeare. And by whole, I mean it. I believe you are a very lucky actress or actor to be able to experience the majority of these mesmerizing roles the Bard wrote. You can approach them again and again and always find something new, interesting and adventurous.

What do you hope to learn or accomplish by collaborating with artists from different cultures during this residency?

It is my strong belief that a person can widen their horizons significantly by immersing themselves in cultures different from their own and enrich their acting palette by collaborating with artists from different backgrounds. I’m hoping to learn to adapt beyond my way of thinking and utilize the different experiences and information in order to emerge a more well rounded artist. But also, international friendships, yeah!

How do you plan to incorporate your experiences from this residency into your long-term career goals in theatre?

A first step towards that incorporation is already done because this residency already taught me that I am able to create something really beautiful and well-rounded in a very short time period. This knowledge will certainly be useful for me and for a possible team I could be a part of. Also, time management, nurturing working relationships and creativity at a very fast pace is something that I gained from this experience that will certainly influence my future collaborations and my way of working.

For the final – share with us a favourite quote of yours from a performance in which you’ve participated.

“I’m a damsel. I’m in distress. I can handle this. Have a nice day!” from an adaptation of Hercules. I honestly love that quote.

Article by Niya Andonova