Glory days revived
Passion, love, revenge and greed come to Cyprus with the ancient Greek drama festival (some of which is in English)
In an effort to revive the glory of ancient Greek drama, theatre companies from Cyprus, Greece, England and Germany take to the stage this July and August. There will be much passion, love, hatred, revenge and greed coming to life at venues across Cyprus.
Tradition has it that ancient Greek drama evolved from the songs, folk tales and dances offered to Dionysos, the god of fertility and wine. As one of the earliest theatrical forms in the world to emerge, Greek plays have had a lasting impact on Western drama and culture and have inevitably attracted the international community. “There has recently been an updated interest in Greek drama across the world. This is the tenth festival of this kind taking place on our island with great success… Greek tragedies are always very popular with locals and tourists alike,” said President of the Cyprus International Theatre Institute, Christakis Georgiou.
This year’s programme kicks off on July 5 with the Cypriot production of The Ecclesiazusae staged by THOK. Here you can enjoy women playing leading roles, with the classic beauty of the Paphos Ancient Odeon as a fantastic backdrop. Written by Aristophanes in 392 BC, the play deals with the issue of the fairer sex, and satirises society’s ideals and principles regarding the position of women. The plot focuses on the women of Athens, under the leadership of wise Praxagora, who resolves to reform the constitution. To this end, they don men’s clothes and take seats in the Assembly, commanding a majority to carry through a series of revolutionary proposals. They institute a pro-Communist government in which the state feeds, houses, and generally takes care of every Athenian woman. The main part of the comedy deals with the difficulties that inevitably arise from this new state of affairs.
In Euripides’ Bacchae, a far more dramatic piece, the tragic outcomes of the long-drawn Peloponisian war are depicted. Performed by ‘Anixi’ Theatre Company from Greece, expect to see destruction, corruption and killings galore. This is the last work written by Euripides, and was influenced by his contact with a local type of Dionysian cult unknown to him in Macedonia. The performance plays upon notions of death and regeneration, at a point where the world is in absolute chaos.
England’s ‘Thiasos’ company will then bring the oldest surviving Greek drama to life with Aeschylus’ Persians. Set in the Persian court of Sousa, the play represents the reaction of the Persians to the destruction of their fleet by the Greeks at the battle of Salamis. Performed in English, this is a great chance for the audience to experience foreign actors interpreting Greek drama.
“This festival provides the opportunity for Cypriot actors, directors and the general theatre loving public to see other approaches to Greek drama” said Georgiou. “Last year it was quite amazing to see how foreign actors adapted Greek drama and they received much applause from the audience”. This year, the In the Blood theatre company will also be staging a performance in English, of Euripides’ Medea. Much passion is guaranteed as the story of jealousy and revenge of a woman betrayed by her husband unfolds.
For a taste of Greek mythology expressed through dance, the Mecklenburg State Ballet will be putting on a show to remember with Oresteia. This German dance theatre is choreographed by well-known Cypriot, Dominique Efstratiou. Fighting for power and the theme of revenge is taken to its limits when Agamemnon, leader of the Greek fleet in the Trojan war, sacrifices his daughter in order to achieve success. His wife kills him out of revenge when he finally returns from Troy, and is later killed herself by her own son Orestes.
The festival draws to a close in August with Birds by Aristophanes, staged by the Cypriot Scala Theatre group. Here two men frustrated with life in wartime Athens find their way into the domain of the birds, determined to escape from the many hostilities they have suffered. As their journey evolves, the audience is drawn into a world full of bold and rich imagery. Amusing poetic dialogue combined with pleasing lyrical interludes brings two months full of action and drama to a graceful end.
WHAT’S ON WHEN
Ecclesiazusae by Aristphanes. Staged by THOK
July 5 and 7. Paphos Ancient Odeon.
Bacchae by Euripides. Staged by ‘Anixi’ Theatre Company, Greece
July 8: Paphos Ancient Odeon
July 9: Curium Theatre
July 10: Makarios III Amphitheatre, Nicosia
Persians by Aeschylus. Staged by ‘Thiasos’ Theatre Company, England
July 14: Paphos Ancient Odeon
July 15: Curium Theatre
July 17: Makarios III Amphitheatre, Nicosia
Helen by Euripedes. Staged by Larissa Municipal Theatre, Greece
July 21: Paphos Ancient Odeon
July 22: Curium Theatre
July 24: Makarios III Amphitheatre, Nicosia
Hercules by Euripides. Staged by Vivi Theatre Company, Crete
July 28: Paphos Ancient Odeon
July 29: Curium Theatre
Medea by Euripides. Staged by ‘In the Blood’ Theatre Company, England
August 1: Paphos Ancient Odeon
August 2: Curium Theatre
August 3: Makarios III Amphitheatre, Nicosia
Oresteia by Aeschylus. Staged by Mecklenburg State Ballet, Germany
August 4: Paphos Ancient Odeon
August 5: Curium Theatre
August 7: Makarios III Amphitheatre, Nicosia
Birds by Aristophanes. Staged by Skala Theatre, Cyprus
August 6: Paphos Ancient Odeon
All performances start at 9pm. For further information Tel: 99-542165/ 22-674920. For Tickets: Paphos: Moufflon Bookshop 26-934850, Stokkos 26-947037, Time Out 26 949522. Limassol: J.M.Z Copy Centre 25-352858. Nicosia: Municipal Theatre, 77772717, Ticket Sales Centre THOK. 22-879099
