Yannis Kokkos is one of the most famous art designers and directors of plays, operas, ballets. He was born in Athens and since 1963 he has been living in Paris. He studied at the School of National Theater of Strasbourg. Kokkos' professional debut was made in 1965 with the designs for Goldoni's "La Locandiera", presented at the Comedie de L' Est. From 1960 to 1990, he worked regularly with the director of the French Theater, Antoine Vitez, first at the Theatre d' Ivry, then at the Theatre National de Chaillot, at the Comedie Francaise, at the Avignon Festival and at the Piccolo Teatro di Milano. Kokkos is also directing plays and operas. He staged Boris Gudunov in Bologna, "La Damnation de Faust" at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, "Zelmira" for the Rossini Festival in Pesaro, "Norma" for the Opera Bastille, "Tristan and Isolde" for the Welsh National Opera and for Covent Garden. His first set of costumes for the ballet was for Jihn Neumeier's "Ondine". Kokkos was awarded the gold medal of the Laurence Olivier Prize for staging, set and costumes for "La Clemenza di Tito". He also received numerous awards, such as the Prix Dy Syndicat de la Critique for his most famous production of "Electra". The French Republic also named him a Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters.