“I am not afraid to exist”

maro lesioti

friday 2nd october: 2:30pm to 5:30pm

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“I Am Not Afraid to Exist” explores one of the most essential - and very much “present” in many conversations - skills in improvisation: the radical act of acceptance. Going beyond the mechanics of “yes, and,” this workshop invites participants to embrace themselves and their partners fully, without using acceptance as an excuse to overstep boundaries. Through exercises that cultivate presence, trust, and deep listening, performers will practice saying “yes” not only to their teammates but also to their own impulses, emotions, and identities. The focus lies in discovering how true acceptance - of self and others - creates a foundation for fearless play, stronger connections, and authentic, sustainable performance. By learning to honor boundaries while embracing existence, participants will unlock a more expansive sense of freedom on stage and in life.

Learning Goals

  • Deepen understanding of acceptance as the core of improvisation.

  • Learn to affirm both teammates and oneself without crossing boundaries.

  • Distinguish between authentic agreement and forced compliance.

  • Build trust and safety within the ensemble.

  • Develop confidence in personal presence: claiming space without apology.

About Maro Lesioti

Maro  is an actress, improviser, director, musician, and dedicated educator. She studied at the Hellenic Conservatory, Modern Times Drama School, and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts.

In 2018, she founded the improv group Raining Cats And Bats (THE VILLAGE, INTERROGATION), which has participated in several international festivals. She is the creator and director of the formats EDMOND-JEAN-WILLIAM, HIERONYMUS BOSCH, CHORUS, WORLDS APART (co-created with Tim Hearn), THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS, ANIMISM,  MEMORIES (co-created with Time Hearn) and EAGERLY WAITING… (co-created with Gabriel Caropreso).

Immediately after graduation, she starred in the plays: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (2023), EXTREMITIES (2023), THE LAST BIRD (2023-2024), WHITE ROSE (2024), THE ISLAND OF SLAVES (2025) and in the short films SYMPHYSIS (2025), 26 CIGARRETES (2025), THE REAL THAT WAS (2025).

She has directed the plays WHITE ROSE by Team Selas (Athens - Instabul, 2024) THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS (IRREVERENTE International Improv Theater Festival, Lisbon, July 2025), THE ISLAND OF SLAVES by Pierre de Marivaux (Athens, September 2025) and EAGERLY WAITING… (Premiered in Athens and Sao Paolo, premiering in December 2025).

As an educator, she has been teaching improvisation and theater workshops since 2020 in Greece, the U.S.A., the Netherlands, Portugal and Italy, fostering creativity in performers of all levels and abilities, focusing on each individual’s needs. She is a member of the organising team of I.TH.A.C.A. Improv Festival in Athens, Greece and was the co-artistic director of 2025’s edition.

She is the producer of Improv Nights and one of the artistic directors of the Worlds Apart Residency. She is also a board member and instructor of ImproSynthesis School of Improv (Athens, Greece).