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A note from the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Centre of the International Theatre Institute

Dear spectators,

The International Festival of Ancient Greek Drama opens its gates for another year.

Keeping as our main asset your love and the support of our sponsors, the three organizers, the Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Cyprus Centre of the International Theatre Institute and the Cyprus Tourism Organisation have tried again to present to our public a diverse and quality program. We have tried, as we often repeat, «to embrace innovation through classical works and contemporary creation through staging ancient plays”.

Your own increased demands and your own lively response the last years has encouraged us to present, as a gift in return, entertainment of high aesthetic standards.

Moreover, your own great interest and your mass (yes, mass) attendance to the Cypriot productions have established and strengthened the participation of new and older Cypriot theatre groups at the Festival and this has created a space for a creative dialogue on stage, between our theatre people and their colleagues from abroad.

In the context of the slogan “all Cyprus is Pafos17” all our performances are included in the official program “European Capital of Culture – Pafos2017”.

Unfortunately, the continuously decreasing state funding does not allow a broader international participation to accompany the quality upgrading. This is the reason the program is limited to only five productions this year also, two from Cyprus, one from Greece and two European. We hope that this also will change with your support.

Dr Giorgos Neophytou
President of the Board of Directors
of the Cyprus Centre of the International Theatre Institute