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6 productions
14 performances
3 venues

A diverse and expansive programme, with significant international and national productions has been developed this year by the organisers of the “International Festival of Ancient Greek Drama”: the Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Cyprus Centre of the International Theatre Institute and the Deputy Ministry of Tourism.

Emphasizing on the quality and collaboration with major theatre institutions, and encouraging -for yet another year- local creation, an interesting programme is offered to the spectators, locals and foreigners, with performances of contemporary aesthetic and artistic approach to ancient drama.

52 proposals were submitted to participate at this year’s edition, including 8 proposals by Cypriot theatre groups and 44 proposals by theatre groups not-residing in Cyprus, specifically from 24 countries.

Six theatre groups have been selected by the seven-member Selection Committee to participate in the 23rd edition of the “International Festival of Ancient Greek Drama”, presenting performances at Paphos Ancient Odeon, Curium Ancient Theatre and “Skali” Amphitheatre in Aglantzia, from the 28th of June until the 27th of July 2019. 

The six productions of this year’s edition

The official opening of this year’s edition will take place at Paphos Ancient Odeon on the 28th of June 2019 with the first Slovenian production of Euripides’ tragedy The Trojan Women, produced by the Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica and directed by Jaša Koceli. A performance of the same production will follow on June 30th at “Skali” Amphitheatre.

Following that, the Cypriot theatre company Eros Ammochostos Theatre will present Hecuba by Euripides directed by Giorgos Mouaimis, with Annita Santorineou in the first role. Hecuba performances will be held at Curium Ancient Theatre on July 2nd, at Paphos Ancient Odeon on July 4th and at “Skali” Amphitheatre on July 6th.

The Festival’s programme continues with Hippolytus by Euripides directed by Emilio del Valle, a co-production of Maltravieso Teatro and La Almena Producciones of Spain, in collaboration with the Mérida International Classical Theatre Festival. The Spanish production will be presented at Paphos Ancient Odeon on July 8th and at “Skali” Amphitheatre on July 10th.

The National Institute of Ancient Drama (Fondazione INDA) of the Syracuse Greek Theatre Festival in Italy, returns after 5 years to the Festival presenting Aristophanes’ comedy Lysistrata directed by the distinguished Tullio Solenghi, for two performances at Curium Ancient Theatre on July 12th and 13th.

The internationally award-winning Izumi Ashizawa directs the second Cypriot participation in the Festival, Bacchae by Euripides, a Belacqua Theatre production. Bacchae will be presented at “Skali” Amphitheatre on July 18th, at Curium Ancient Theatre on July 20th and at Paphos Ancient Odeon on July 22nd.

Iphigenia in Aulis by Euripides, directed by Ioannis Kalavrianos and produced by the National Theatre of Northern Greece, marks the closing of this year’s Festival programme, with two performances at Curium Ancient Theatre on July 26th and 27th.

 

For another year, the aim of the organisers, is the continuation of the rising and successful course that the “International Festival of Ancient Greek Drama” already has on its record, the artistic quality assurance of the performances’ programme, the substantial contribution to the international and local cultural landscape and an approach towards all audience genres.

Furthermore, a desire of the organisers has always been the greatest possible attendance of Cypriot and foreign audience, that will result in the upgrade and cultivation of theatrical education, as well as the promotion of cultural tourism, through the provision of surtitles in English for all the Greek-language productions and in both Greek and English for the foreign-language productions.

  • Please check the PROGRAMME page for this year’s full programme.