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 for 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 Trojan Women, produced by the Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica and directed by JašaKoceli. 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 GiorgosMouaimis, with AnnitaSantorineou in the homonymous 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 MaltraviesoTeatro and LaAlmenaProducciones 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 TullioSolenghi, 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, aBelacqua 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 IoannisKalavrianos 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 aimofthe 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.

The seven-member Selection Committee consisted of two representatives of the Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education and Culture: Aristodimos Anastasiades, Cultural officer A’/ chair of the committee and Georgia Hoplarou, Cultural officer; of two representatives of the Cyprus Centre of International Theatre Institute (CCOITI): LakisYenethlis, Set and costume designer, public relations manager of the Board of Directors of the CCOITI and Lea Maleni, Director, actress, member of the Board of Directors of the CCOITI; of one representative of the Deputy Ministry of Tourism: Irena Epaminondou, Tourism officer and of two ex officio members by the Minister of Education and Culture: AntonisTsakmakis, Associate Professor at the Department of Classics and Philosophy, University of Cyprus and ElladaEvangelou, Theatrologist, dramaturge.


PERFORMANCE PROGRAMME


Slovene National Theatre Nova Gorica
The Trojan Women by Euripides
▪    Friday, June 28, Paphos Ancient Odeon
With Greek and English surtitles

Eros Ammochostos Theatre, Cyprus
Hecuba by Euripides
▪    Thursday, July 4, Paphos Ancient Odeon
With English surtitles

MaltraviesoTeatroand La Almena Producciones, Spain
Hippolytus by Euripides
▪    Monday, July 8, Paphos Ancient Odeon
With Greek and English surtitles

Belacqua Theatre, Cyprus
Bacchae by Euripides
▪    Monday, July 22, Paphos Ancient Odeon
With English surtitles

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▪ Info: 7000 2414 │www.greekdramafest.com

▪ Performances start at 21:00

Tickets prices:
€12 │€6 (Students, Senior Citizens, National Guard, Citizens with unemployment benefits)
▪    Festival pass €45 (per person for attending six performances)
▪    Free admission to people with disabilities. Please show proof at ticket gate.
▪    Free admission to the members of CCOITI. Please show the updated International ITI Member Card for 2019 at ticket gate.

Ticket sale starts on May 10th, 2019 by Sold Out Tickets