Performances of ancient Greek drama will be presented in July, as every year, in the context of the “International Festival of Ancient Greek Drama” that is co organised by the Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Cyprus Centre of the International Theatre Institute (CCOITI) and the Cyprus Tourism Organisation.
From the 2nd until the 28th of July 2017, five theatre groups from Cyprus, Latvia, Greece and Israel will present performances of ancient Greek drama at the “Skali” Amphitheatre in Aglantzia, the Kourion Ancient Theatre and the Pafos Ancient Odeon.
Website: www.greekdramafest.com
A diverse programme has been developed by the organisers, focusing on the priority for quality rather than quantity, emphasizing the multicultural dimension of the Festival and giving step of creation to the Cypriot artists.
All the performances of the “International Festival of Ancient Greek Drama” are included in the official events program of the Organisation “European Capital of Culture – Pafos2017”, this year also.
Satiriko Theatre will open the 21st edition of the Festival at the “Skali” Amphitheatre in Aglantzia on the 2nd of July, presenting Electra by Sophocles, directed Neoklis Neokleous. The Mikhail Chekhov Riga Russian Theatre (RRT), one of the oldest Russian theatres in the world outside Russia, founded in 1883, will then present Medea by Euripides, directed by Vladislav Nastavšev, one of Latvia's most prominent directors and composers. Following these productions, the National Theatre of Northern Greece will present the tragedy of Aeschylus, Seven against Thebes, directed by the renowned Lithuanian director, Cezaris Graužinis and translated by the Greek poet George Blanas and the Theatro Dentro from Cyprus will present Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, directed by Andy Papadimitriou. The Festival will close with The Bacchae by Euripides, produced by Yair Sherman Ensemble from Israel, directed by the award-winning director Yair Sherman.
The last years, the “International Festival of Ancient Greek Drama” is developing significantly and it has been twice honored with the EFFE Label (2015/2016 and 2017/2018), as one of the best Festivals in Europe. Each year the Festival broadens its scope, while opening a dialogue with contemporary international and European stages and it has expanded its audiences, local and foreign, by presenting performances with English and Greek surtitles. Diachronic desire of the organisers is the widest possible attendance of the Cypriot audience, as well as foreign visitors, to the festival’s performances since they offer the opportunity every year to theatre friends to enjoy spectacular productions from various countries of the world, in low performance ticket prices.
The 7-member Selection Committee consisted of two members representing the Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education and Culture: Nantia Stylianou, senior cultural officer/chair of the Committee and Aristodimos Anastasiades, cultural officer A’, two members representing the Cyprus Centre of the International Theatre Institute: Marinos Anogyriatis, director and Maria Mannaridou-Karsera, director, one member representing the Cyprus Tourism Organisation: Irena Epaminondou, tourism officer and two ex officio members who appointed by the Minister of Education and Culture: Anthi Antoniadou, actor, archaeologist and Stefanos Athienitis, Set and costume designer.
From Sunday, July 02, 2017
To Friday, July 28, 2017
