Performance programme presentation of the 2025 International Festival of Ancient Greek Drama

Four productions comprise this year’s programme of the “International Festival of Ancient Greek Drama”, which is organised by the Department of Contemporary Culture of the Deputy Ministry of Culture and the Cyprus Centre of the International Theatre Institute.

The 28^th edition of the “International Festival of Ancient Greek Drama” will take place from July 9 until August 2, 2025, at the Makarios III Amphitheatre in Lefkosia, the Curium Ancient Theatre in Lemesos and the Ancient Odeon in Pafos. The audience will have the opportunity to enjoy four productions from Italy, Greece, and Cyprus, each offering its own unique artistic vision and approach to ancient Greek drama.

The productions of the Festival

• THE BACCHAE by Euripides |Dide Cultural Association – Amenanos Festival, Italy

Daniele Salvo, one of the most authoritative Italian directors in the reinterpretation of Greek tragedies, returns to the Festival and directs Euripides’ “The Bacchae”, delving into the savage world of Euripides with a select cast of Italian actors, produced by Dide Cultural Association – Amenanos Festival.

The Italian production, which marks the opening of this year’s Festival, will be presented at the Makarios III Amphitheatre on July 9 and at theCurium Ancient Theatre on July 12.

• PHILOCTETES by Sophocles| Methexis Theatre Productions, Greece

Christos Tripodis’ “Methexis” company presents “Philoctetes” by Sophocles, the tragedy that masterfully deals with the victory of the collective over the individual, directed by George Kimoulis. George Kimoulis (as Philoctetes), Dimitris Gotsopoulos (as Neoptolemus) and Thodoris Katsafados (as Odysseus/Merchant) co–star in the leading roles, creating a field of profound interpretive depth in a production that highlights the perpetual conflict between morality and expediency.

The Sophoclean tragedy will be presented at the Curium Ancient Theatre for two performances on July 18 and 19.

• IPHIGENIA IN TAURIS by Euripides |Theatriki Stegi Kyprou & Anyhow Theatre Ensemble, Cyprus

The Euripidean tragedy “Iphigenia in Tauris”, a story of redemption and survival, illuminated by the strength of the sibling bond, is the Cypriot production of this year’s Festival, directed by Onisiforos Onisiforou and co–produced by Theatriki Stegi Kyprou and Anyhow Theatre Ensemble. Supported by a remarkable team from Cyprus’s contemporary theatre scene, Onisiforos Onisiforou, in his first direction of ancient Greek drama, entrusts the lead role of Iphigenia to Myrsinie Christodoulou, who is joined on stage by the director himself and by Konstantinos Tsitsios, Vasilis Vasilakis, Panos Makris, Kristie Charalambous, Eleni Anastasiou, Maria Kasinou, Ioanna Kordatou, Semeli Kyriazi, Maria Constantinou, and Andrea Mavrou.

The Cypriot production will be presented for two performances at the Paphos Ancient Odeon on July 25 and 26 and then at the Makarios III Amphitheatre on July 29.

• ELECTRA by Sophocles | Poreia Theatre, Greece

Poreia Theatre returns to the Festival three years later with “Sophocles’ Electra” under the direction of Dimitris Tarlow, the Artistic Director, and an exceptional cast and artistic team, creating a performance of artistic density. Loukia Michalopoulou performs the title role of Electra, while the artistic ensemble is further enriched by Anastasis Roilos (as Orestes), Ioanna Pappa (as Clytemnestra), and Nikolas Papagiannis (as Aegisthus), among others. With a translation by Giorgos Chimonas and music by Fotis Siotas, the production weaves a poetic and harsh world where the quest for justice crashes upon the ruins of morality.

Poreia Theatre’s production of Electra will be presented for two performances at the Curium Ancient Theatre on August 1 and 2, concluding this year’s Festival performance programme.

Ticket sales are now open:

• SOLDOUT TICKETS
• STEPHANIS stores in all cities

Info: 7000 2414 │ www.greekdramafest.com

Ticket prices:

• €15 regular
• €10 concessions (for students, senior citizens, National Guard, large families, unemployed)
• €50 festival pass (per person for attending all four performances)

Performances start at 21:00 |Please arrive at the theatre at 20:00

FESTIVAL’S PROGRAMME

DIDE CULTURAL ASSOCIATION – AMENANOS FESTIVAL, Italy

THE BACCHAE by Euripides

▪ Wednesday, July 9 │ Makarios III Amphitheatre [official opening of the Festival]

▪ Saturday, July 12 │ Curium Ancient Theatre

With Greek and English surtitles

METHEXIS THEATRE PRODUCTIONS, Greece

PHILOCTETES by Sophocles

▪ Friday, July 18 │ Curium Ancient Theatre

▪ Saturday, July 19 │ Curium Ancient Theatre

With English and Greek surtitles

THEATRIKI STEGI KYPROU & ANYHOW THEATRE ENSEMBLE, Cyprus

IPHIGENIA IN TAURIS by Euripides

▪ Friday, July 25 & Saturday, July 26 | Pafos Ancient Odeon

▪ Tuesday, July 29 │ Makarios III Amphitheatre

With English and Greek surtitles

POREIA THEATRE, Greece

ELECTRA by Sophocles

▪ Friday, August 1 | Curium Ancient Theatre

▪ Saturday, August 2 | Curium Ancient Theatre

With English and Greek surtitles

The organisers’ goal and aspiration remain the continued prominence of the “International Festival of Ancient Greek Drama” within the cultural life of Cyprus, with a focus on advancing theatre education, ensuring access to performances for both local audiences and foreign visitors, and contributing to the development of cultural tourism in Cyprus.

Selection Committee

The Selection Committee for the 2025 Festival, consisted of two representatives of the Deputy Ministry of Culture: Georgia Hoplarou, Cultural Officer A’ at the Department of Contemporary Culture/Chair of the Committee and Kyriaki A. Ioannidou, Cultural Officer at the Department of Contemporary Culture; two representatives of the Cyprus Centre of the International Theatre Institute (CCOITI): Emilios Charalambides, Academic, Director, Secretary of the Board of Directors of the CCOITI and Stavros Stavrou, Cultural Manager, Lyrics-writer, Philologist, Member of the Board of Directors of the CCOITI, and three members according to merit, appointed by the Deputy Minister of Culture: Ellada Evangelou, Theatrologist, Dramaturge, Antonis K. Petrides, Associate Professor of the B.A. Programme “Studies in Hellenic Culture” at the Open University of Cyprus and Antonis Tsakmakis, Associate Professor of Greek of the Department of Classics and Philosophy at the University of Cyprus.

(EK/KA/IA)

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