Irina Kastrinidis

Irina Kastrinidis is an internationally working actress, author, and artist. She is known for her versatile work in theatre, film, performance, and contemporary art. Her artistic practice combines acting, writing, and interdisciplinary formats and is shaped by biographical, social, and political themes.

Theatre and Film Actress

Irina Kastrinidis trained as a professional actress at the Bern University of the Arts (University of Music and Theatre Bern). After graduating, she was engaged at renowned German-speaking theatres, including the State Theatre of Braunschweig.
She gained international recognition through her long-standing work at the Volksbühne Berlin at Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz and Schauspielhaus Zürich, where she performed in numerous productions over many years and collaborated with prominent directors. Guest performances took her to international theatre stages across Europe and beyond.
Alongside her theatre career, Irina Kastrinidis is also active as a film actress. She has appeared in cinema and television productions and was most recently seen in the feature film The Palace by Roman Polanski, which premiered at the 2023 Venice International Film Festival.

Author and Playwright

Irina Kastrinidis also works as an author and playwright. She develops her own theatre texts and performance formats that combine personal narratives with historical and social themes.
Her stage play Black Sea (Schwarzes Meer) premiered at the Lower Austrian State Theatre. In this work, the author explores family history, Europe’s past, migration, and identity. The text blends poetic language with documentary and mythological elements.

Artist & Interdisciplinary Art Projects

As a contemporary artist, Irina Kastrinidis creates interdisciplinary projects at the intersection of theatre, performance, dance, music, and digital media. Her works are often developed through international collaborations and address themes such as memory, the body, politics, and cultural belonging.
One of her notable projects is the international performance project Clash – Digital Resurrections, which has been presented at various venues across Europe.

Teaching & Artistic Mediation

In addition to her artistic work, Irina Kastrinidis is active as a lecturer in acting and performance. She teaches at universities and art institutions, including the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) and Film Z.. In her teaching practice, she mentors young artists on their professional paths.

Enquiries for lessons / coaching: ikastrinidis@gmx.ch