takis is an international performance designer based in London, whose innovative and diverse body of work encompasses West End and Leading UK Theatre, International Musicals, Opera, Ballet, Circus, Fashion and Commercial productions.
takis holds a PhD from Aalto University, Helsinki, where he developed the concept of the META-SUIT: an interchangeable costume where the form and design adjust in order to perform different expressions of masculinity in everyday life.
Production photographs: takis.design/work · Download: CV (PDF)
Opera
| Production | Company | Director | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nabucco | Savonlinna Opera Festival | Rodula Gaitanou | 2024/2026 |
| Un Ballo in Maschera | Opera Holland Park | Rodula Gaitanou | 2019/2026 |
| Roméo et Juliette | State Opera South Australia / West Australian Opera | Rodula Gaitanou | 2025/2026 |
| Death in Venice | Teatri di Opera Lombardia | Rodula Gaitanou | 2026 |
| Johannes Passion | Theater Aachen | 2026 | |
| Ratsumies / The Horseman | Finnish National Opera | Jussi Nikkilä | 2025 |
| The Merry Widow | Scottish Opera / Opera Holland Park | John Savournin | 2025 |
| Trial by Jury / A Matter of Misconduct! | Scottish Opera / Opera Holland Park | John Savournin / Laura Attridge | 2025 |
| Madama Butterfly | Estonian National Opera | Rodula Gaitanou | 2024/2025 |
| La Bohème | Minnesota Opera | Rodula Gaitanou | 2024/2025 |
| La Traviata | Norwegian National Opera | Rodula Gaitanou | 2023/2025 |
| Andrea Chénier | St. Galler Festspiele | Rodula Gaitanou | 2023 |
| Madama Butterfly | Opera Lombardia | Rodula Gaitanou | 2023 |
| Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor | Staatsoperette Dresden | Noa Naamat | 2022 |
| Le Roi Arthus | Tiroler Festspiele Erl | Rodula Gaitanou | 2022 |
| La Voix Humaine | Finnish National Opera | Jussi Nikkilä | 2022 |
| Onegin | Opera Holland Park | Julia Burbach | 2022 |
| Carmen | Opera Holland Park | Cecilia Stinton | 2022 |
| Margot la Rouge / Le Villi | Opera Holland Park | Martin Lloyd-Evans | 2022 |
| HMS Pinafore | English National Opera | Cal McCrystal | 2021/2025 |
| Le Comte Ory | Garsington Opera | Cal McCrystal | 2021 |
| The Marriage of Figaro | Opera Holland Park | Oliver Platt | 2021 |
| Don Giovanni | Finnish National Opera | Jussi Nikkilä | 2020 |
| Phaedra | Royal Opera House | Noa Naamat | 2019 |
| Don Quichotte | Wexford Festival Opera | Rodula Gaitanou | 2019 |
| Iolanta | Opera Holland Park | Olivia Fuchs | 2019 |
| Il Segreto di Susanna | Opera Holland Park | John Wilkie | 2019 |
| Semele | Royal Academy of Music | Olivia Fuchs | 2018 |
| Dialogues des Carmélites | Guildhall School of Music & Drama | Martin Lloyd-Evans | 2018 |
| Isabeau | Opera Holland Park | Martin Lloyd-Evans | 2018 |
| La Rondine | Opera Holland Park | Martin Lloyd-Evans | 2017 |
| Die Fledermaus | Opera Holland Park | Martin Lloyd-Evans | 2016 |
| Ulysses’ Homecoming | English Touring Opera | James Conway | 2016 |
| La Calisto | English Touring Opera | Tim Nelson | 2016 |
| Ottone | English Touring Opera | James Conway | 2014 |
| Life on the Moon | English Touring Opera | Cal McCrystal | 2014 |
Musicals
| Production | Company | Director | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grease The Musical | Liseberg Rondo, Gothenburg | Klas Wiljergård | 2026 |
| Wicked | GöteborgsOperan | Samuel Harjanne | 2023/2026 |
| If/Then | Savoy Theatre | Bill Buckhurst | 2025 |
| Moulin Rouge | Helsinki City Theatre / Reykjavík City Theatre | Anders Albien | 2024/25 |
| Hairspray | UK & Ireland Tour | Paul Kerryson / Drew McOnie | 2024/25 |
| A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum | Lido 2, Paris | Cal McCrystal | 2023 |
| Moulin Rouge | Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo | Anders Albien | 2023/26 |
| Jersey Boys | Chateau Neuf, Oslo | Tore Sergei Myklebust | 2022 |
| West Side Story | Chateau Neuf, Oslo | Mattias Carlsson | 2020/21 |
| Optimist | Chateau Neuf, Oslo | Mattias Carlsson | 2019 |
| Ain’t Misbehavin’ | Mercury Theatre / Southwark Playhouse | Tyrone Huntley / Oti Mabuse | 2019 |
| Flashdance | Chateau Neuf, Oslo | Mattias Carlsson | 2018 |
| Sweet Charity | Nottingham Playhouse | Bill Buckhurst | 2018 |
| Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | Kilworth House | Andrew Wright | 2018 |
| Five Guys Named Moe | Marble Arch Theatre – West End | Clarke Peters / Andrew Wright | 2017 |
| The Toxic Avenger | Arts Theatre – West End | Benji Sperring / Lucie Pankhurst | 2017 |
| Hairspray | UK & Ireland Tour | Paul Kerryson / Drew McOnie | 2017 |
| Flashdance | UK / South Korea Tour | Hannah Chissick | 2017 |
| Side Show | Southwark Playhouse | Hannah Chissick | 2016 |
| Spring Awakening | Curve Theatre – NYMT | Nikolai Foster | 2016 |
| In the Heights | King’s Cross Theatre – West End | Luke Sheppard / Drew McOnie | 2015 |
| Oliver! | Curve Theatre | Paul Kerryson / Andrew Wright | 2015 |
| The LKY Musical | Marina Bay Sands Theatre, Singapore | Steven Dexter | 2015 |
| Grease | Haugesund Theatre, Norway | Erik Schøyen / Belinda Braza | 2015 |
| In the Heights | Southwark Playhouse | Luke Sheppard / Drew McOnie | 2014 |
| The Sound of Music | Curve Theatre | Paul Kerryson / Drew McOnie | 2014 |
| Chicago | Curve Theatre | Paul Kerryson / Drew McOnie | 2013 |
| West Side Story | NYMT – Victoria Warehouse, Manchester | Nikolai Foster / Drew McOnie | 2013 |
| Kiss of the Spider Woman | Arts Ed | Nikolai Foster / Drew McOnie | 2013 |
| Aristophanes Now | European Tour | Stamatis Kraounakis | 2013 |
| Choruses | Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus | Stamatis Kraounakis | 2010 |
| In the Light of the Night | Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus | Froso Korrou | 2006 |
Theatre
| Production | Company | Director | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mother Courage and Her Children | Shakespeare’s Globe | Elle While | 2026 |
| Lysistrata | Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Athens | Stamatis Kraounakis | 2026 |
| The World of Abdulhussain Abdulredha | Kuwait National Theatre | Diana Sfeir | 2024 |
| A Midsummer Night’s Dream | Shakespeare’s Globe | Elle While | 2023 |
| Jane Eyre | Tampere Theatre | Jussi Nikkilä | 2021 |
| The Cat and the Canary | UK Tour | Roy Marsden | 2020–21 |
| Tonight, the Eighties | Kuwait National Theatre | Jassim Alqames | 2018 |
| Arming the World | London Street Performance | Sophie Austin | 2017 |
| The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe | Sherman Theatre | Rachel O’Riordan | 2015 |
| Am I Dead Yet | Bush Theatre, Soho Theatre & Tour | Amy Hodge | 2014 |
| The Memory of Water | New Vic Theatre, SJT | Nikolai Foster | 2014 |
| The Jungle Book | Citizens Theatre | Nikolai Foster | 2013 |
| The Good Person of Sichuan | Mercury Theatre | Nikolai Foster | 2013 |
| Bacchae | Royal & Derngate | Laurie Sansom | 2012 |
| Clytemnestra | Sherman Theatre | Amy Hodge | 2012 |
| Measure for Measure | Sherman Theatre | Amy Hodge | 2012 |
| Rover | Hampton Court Palace | Amy Hodge | 2012 |
| Fear | Bush Theatre | Dominic Savage | 2012 |
| Dick Whittington | Gatehouse Theatre | Nona Shepphard | 2011 |
| His Teeth | Only Connect | Maggie Norris | 2011 |
| Lidless | Trafalgar Studios | Steven Atkinson | 2011 |
| The Early Bird | Finborough Theatre | Donnacadh O’Briain | 2010 |
| Stovepipe | National Theatre – Bush Theatre | Michael Longhurst | 2010 |
| Ditch | Old Vic | Richard Twyman | 2010 |
Dance / Ballet
| Production | Company | Choreographer | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Little Mermaid | Finnish National Ballet | Kenneth Greve | 2015 |
| 7-75 | The Place | Amy Hodge | 2015 |
| Reminiscence | Rambert Dance Company | Dane Hurst | 2013 |
Circus
| Production | Company | Director | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterfield | Giffords Circus | Cal McCrystal | 2026 |
| Laguna Bay | Giffords Circus | Cal McCrystal | 2025 |
| Avalon | Giffords Circus | Cal McCrystal | 2024 |
| The Hook | Caesars Atlantic City | Cal McCrystal | 2023 |
| Les Enfants du Paradis | Giffords Circus | Cal McCrystal | 2023 |
| Carpa! | Giffords Circus | Cal McCrystal | 2022 |
| The Hooley | Giffords Circus | Cal McCrystal | 2021 |
| Atomic Saloon | The Venetian, Las Vegas | Cal McCrystal | 2019 |
| Xanadu | Giffords Circus | Cal McCrystal | 2019 |
| My Beautiful Circus | Giffords Circus | Cal McCrystal | 2018 |
| Any Port in a Storm | Giffords Circus | Cal McCrystal | 2017 |
Fashion
| Work | Venue | Year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plus or Minus, Suit Yourself | Helsinki Design Museum | takis | 2014 |
| Forgotten Peacock | Design Museum London | takis | 2008 |
Film
| Title | Director | Year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Widow’s Walk | Feature film | Alexandra Boyd | 2019 |
| Narcopolis | Feature film | Justin Trefgarne | 2015 |
| The Half-Light | Short film | Prasanna Puwanarajah | 2010 |
| Eve | Short film | Thanos Psichogios | 2007 |
Commercial & Architecture
| Project | Venue | Year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opera Holland Park Theatre | Opera Holland Park | takis | 2021–2022 |
| Centrepoint 50th Anniversary Gala | Roundhouse | takis | 2019 |
| Toyota C-HR | Printworks | The Department / takis | 2017 |
Nominations & Awards
| Production | Category | Awarding body | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Opera Season | Designer of the Year | International Opera Awards | 2025 (nomination) |
| Trial by Jury and A Matter of Misconduct! | Achievement in Opera | UK Theatre Awards | 2025 (nomination) |
| Nabucco – Savonlinna Opera Festival | Opera Festival of the Year | International Opera Awards | 2024 (won) |
| La Voix humaine – Finnish National Opera | Sustainability | International Opera Awards | 2024 (won) |
| Moulin Rouge – Denmark | Best Musical | Reumert Award | 2024 (nomination) |
| HMS Pinafore | Outstanding Achievement in Opera | Olivier Awards | 2022 (nomination) |
| Atomic Saloon | Best Las Vegas Acrobatic Show | Las Vegas Review-Journal | 2022 (won) |
| Phaedra – Royal Opera House | Outstanding Achievement in Opera | Olivier Awards | 2020 (nomination) |
| Iolanta / Il Segreto di Susanna – Opera Holland Park | Best Opera | International Opera Awards | 2020 (nomination) |
| Don Quichotte – Wexford Festival Opera | Best Opera | Irish Times Theatre Awards | 2020 (nomination) |
| Optimist | Best Set & Costume Design | BroadwayWorld Oslo | 2019 (nomination) |
| Flashdance | Best Set & Costume Design | BroadwayWorld Oslo | 2019 (nomination) |
| Ain’t Misbehavin’ | Best Costume Design | BroadwayWorld UK | 2019 (nomination) |
| Ain’t Misbehavin’ | Best Set Design | Off West End Awards | 2019 (nomination) |
| Isabeau – Opera Holland Park | Rediscovered Work | International Opera Awards | 2019 (nomination) |
| Five Guys Named Moe – Marble Arch | Family & Entertainment | Olivier Awards | 2018 (nomination) |
| Side Show – Southwark Playhouse | Best Set Design | Off West End Awards | 2016 (nomination) |
| In the Heights – King’s Cross | Best New Musical | Olivier Awards | 2016 (nomination) |
| In the Heights – King’s Cross | Best Set Design | WhatsOnStage Awards | 2015 (nomination) |
| In the Heights – Southwark Playhouse | Best Set Design | Off West End Awards | 2014 (nomination) |
| Fear – Bush Theatre | Best Set Design | Off West End Awards | 2012 (nomination) |
| His Teeth – Only Connect | Best Set Design | Off West End Awards | 2011 (nomination) |
| Lidless – Edinburgh Fringe | Fringe First Award | Edinburgh Fringe Festival | 2010 (won) |
| Stovepipe – National Theatre / HighTide | Best Off West End Production | WhatsOnStage Awards | 2009 (nomination) |
| Stovepipe | Best Set Design | WhatsOnStage Awards | 2009 (nomination) |
| The Meta-Suit · Aalto ARTS Books | Scientific Books | International Creative Media Awards (ICMA) | 2022 (Gold award) |
| The Meta-Suit · Aalto ARTS Books | Non-Fiction and Textbooks | The Finnish Book Art Committee | 2021 (The Most Beautiful Book award) |
Education
| 2012–2021 | Aalto University – Department of Film, TV & Scenography | PhD |
| 2005–2011 | London College of Fashion | Practice-based research |
| 2002–2004 | Royal Academy of Dramatic Art | Theatre Technical Arts Course |
| 1998–2002 | Romanian National University of Arts | Fine Arts, specialisation in Costume & Set Design |
Scholarships
| 2014–2017 | Scholarship of the Aalto University, School of Arts, Design and Architecture – PhD studies at Aalto University |
| 2006–2009 | Scholarship of the Onassis Foundation – Practice-based research studies at the London College of Fashion, University of the Arts |
| 2003–2004 | Scholarship of the Greek Society of Music Friends “Kiveli – Horn” – Studies at RADA |
| 1998–2002 | Romanian Ministry of Education – Studies at the National University of Arts, Bucharest |
Publications
| 2021 | The Meta-Suit; De-Re-Constructing The Ultimate Masculine Attire | Aalto ARTS Books, Aalto University |
| 2014 | The Apotheosis of Man, the Forgotten Peacock | Scene 2.1 & 2.2, Intellect |
| 2014 | The Masculinity of the Male Peacock | The Contested and the Poetic: Gender and the Body, Inter-Disciplinary.Net |