Pepper moved briefly from Thessaloniki to Athens, where he found himself for the needs of a theatrical performance. The popular and highly active robot also made his way into the acting world some time ago, making his mark as one of the first “robot actors” to take to the stage.
In the performance, presented at the Athens Concert Hall, written and directed by Alexandros Grammatopoulos, the robot of Ortem Hellas A.E. proved that technology can not only serve, but also participate in storytelling, art and the creation of an experience that stays with the audience.
The performance moved between fantasy, music and interactivity, with the audience watching with interest as people and Pepper interacted on stage in an experience that showed how innovation can coexist with art.
“Robots are no longer limited to tourist spots, classrooms and exhibitions. They have already made their artistic passage. With robots that guide, educate, welcome and inform, but now also take to the stage, we want to show that robotics is not something cold, distant or impersonal. It can have a voice, presence, humour, movement, a social footprint and personality, always with respect for human resources and workers. After all, especially in the theatre, no matter how much emotion and acting talent a robot can deliver, nothing can replace a human being,” say the Thessaloniki-based makers of Pepper, who have given him a small role to start with and will probably soon play a part in the next show.
Distinctions and awards for the robotics “gang” of Thessaloniki
The theatrical stage was the latest step for the company’s robots. The robots programmed in Thessaloniki have made a strong entrance in recent years and have earned, in addition to looks, smiles, thousands of selfies and awards.
“The company won a Bronze Award at the Tourism Awards 2026 for implementing an advanced digital tour platform based on robotics and artificial intelligence. The solution turns the robot into an interactive digital tour guide, capable of informing, answering questions and guiding visitors in real time, offering information on attractions, beaches, activities, services and points of interest. This is a modern tourist information experience that enhances the image of a destination and offers visitors a more direct, intelligent and experiential way of interacting,” noted Mr Icas ,legal representative of the company that imports the robots from abroad and fills them with knowledge and information.
At the same time, the company was awarded a Silver Award at the Best City Awards 2026, in the category “Responsibility & Solidarity Programs”, for educational robotics action with social impact. The action was implemented in collaboration with school units, municipalities and public bodies of the Greek region, with the participation of hundreds of children, bringing social robotics into education in an experiential, modern and accessible way.
“These awards are for us an important confirmation that robotics and artificial intelligence can bring real value to society, tourism, education and modern cities. Our goal is not to replace humans. After all, nothing can replace the human smile, empathy and personal contact,” Icas said, noting that robots are here to support, facilitate and enrich the human experience, giving people more space to do what only they can do, namely communicate meaningfully, build relationships and provide authentic care.
Not long ago, robot Billy instructed a florist on how to water plants and what choices customers can make, while robot Mini informed tourists — and beyond — about what they can see and do in the municipality of Volvi. The robots also participated in various exhibitions and conferences, demonstrating in practice the potential of robotics and artificial intelligence in real environments of interaction with the public. At TIF, the Nova robot was at the DAPEP booth, enhancing interactive information for visitors, while the Pepper robot was hosted at the EYATH booth, offering a modern and friendly experience of communication with the public, and they are preparing for more activities … and surprises.
