THE CYPRUS Symphony orchestra has cut Paphos from its current season of performances, saying theatre facilities in the town were not up to scratch, it emerged yesterday.
A spokesperson for the state orchestra said that they had decided to “suspend performances” at the Markedion Theatre until upgrading work had been completed.
Their list of complaints includes health and safety issues as well as a lack of dressing rooms, and unclean toilets.
They are reported as saying that “to invite international performers, such as soloists to the venue in Paphos would be embarrassing”.
Meanwhile Ermina Mais,the cultural officer of Paphos municipality hit back by saying, not including Paphos in the orchestras performances for the coming season was disrespectful to Paphos audiences.
Mais said that tickets for the symphony’s performances at the Markedion were always sold out and that they played to crowds of hundreds.
“In other towns there are sometimes only fifty or so people in the audience.Paphos is the most successful audience for them and they have a loyal following.”
According to Mais, revamping work at the theatre has been due for some time and delays were down to bureaucracy and the sourcing of funds.
“I am pushing for this work to go ahead as its most necessary; actually its not down to me, but the technical department of the municipality. They are in charge,” she said.
Although Mais did say that she would continue to put pressure on the relevant bodies, she added that the work the orchestra is demanding could not be sorted out “in only a couple of days”.
“The work…will take some time. Even for a private company, upgrading the stage and the building, and increasing the number of dressing rooms, would take time.”
The cultural officer pointed out that as a municipality, there were certain specific procedures which must be followed and then the funds for the project had to be found from ‘somewhere.’
Mais said that two separate committees and the mayor of Paphos must all give their approval before the upgrading scheme can go ahead.
The cultural officer added that she has been so upset by the stance taken by the orchestra that she will write them a letter explaining how their decision to cut out Paphos was “turning their back on the Paphos audience”.
“The upgrading work is necessary, I agree, but these things do take time sadly. Actually although we do need to improve the existing theatre, we do need a new theatre in Paphos.”
An orchestra spokesman said last week, that audiences from Paphos should attend their concerts in Limassol until the upgrading work at the Markedion was completed.
Paphos mayor Savvas Vergas recently announced the town’s decision to be considered as a candidate for the cultural capital of Europe in 2017. In light of this, Mais said she believed it was imperative that facilities were greatly improved.
