George Sallis - Founder & Artistic Director

George founded Giant Olive in 1977 after hearing a story.  In the Summer of 2008 he founded Giant Olive Theatre Company.

Out of curiosity for being an actor, he worked for six months with Dee Cannon from RADA. He subsequently trained at East 15 Acting School on the Contemporary Theatre Course. During this time he performed with The Principle Theatre Company in Romeo and Juiliet and played Multiple Roles in Henry IV parts 1 and 2 directed by Christopher Geelan from the Young Shakespeare Company. 

Leaving East 15, George worked on the first series of Ashes to Ashes for the BBC. He went on to perform in the obscure 'The Checkhov Farces' and 'Ward Six' by Anton Checkhov and the sinister role of Pierre in 'Invitation to a Beheading' by Vladimir Nabokov to critical acclaim, which he also co-produced at the Lion and Unicorn Theatre.

He was invited to produce his own show at the theatre in the summer of 2008 and chose Moliere's 'Le Bourgeoise Gentilhomme'. The play sold out and soon after Giant Olive Theatre Company became resident company at the theatre. Productions of 'Adult Orgasm' by Dario Foe, 'Antigone' by Sophocles, 'The Hostess of the Inn' by Carlo Goldoni and 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens soon followed. 

George has been responsible for all of the artistic programming at the Lion & Unicorn Theatre over the last three years whilst also producing all of the Giant Olive productions.  He also runs the educational, community and young people's theatre projects in the borough of Camden.

Contact George

Searching for the Giant Olive...

"I can still vividly remember the chaotic Sunday lunches we used to have with my huge Greek family over thirty years ago. As my grandmother brought out plate after plate of wonderful food, I'd be waiting to pounce on the giant green olives - which I would then proceed to devour, hidden under the dinner table.

My uncle John, to whom I looked up with immense awe, would then pull me aside and announce (so all could hear): "Georgie, if you are a very good boy, next summer I will take you to our family home in Cyprus - and to a very special place, where the Giant Olive grows!" I remember being so excited I could barely contain myself. Every week I would wonder whether uncle John had decided if I had been a good boy, and if I could indeed get my very own giant olive.

Alas, every week it was the same story: “Sorry son; your mother tells me you have been a naughty boy - and naughty boys are not worthy to walk upon the sacred ground and see the Giant Olive.” I felt gutted, but kept asking, week after disappointing week. I am ashamed to admit that it was only many years later that I finally discovered he had been lying to me: there was no Giant Olive. Uncle John had lied to me. 

But I bear no ill-will to Uncle John, not really. For none of us should be denied to long for the impossible. So when I had to find a name for our fledgling theatre company, I named it Giant Olive - in honour of the little boy that I was and my Uncle John, who taught me the importance of myth, imagination and the capacity to keep dreams alive."

George Sallis