With the verse by Michalis Pasiardis “…but these are the songs and the myths”, Nicosia 2030, candidate for European Capital of Culture, embraces the tradition, myths and fairy tales of Cyprus, highlighting the intangible cultural heritage of our country. It presents the theatrical performance “Once upon a time”, with traditional Cypriot fairy tales. The performance will be presented on 16 November 2024 (16:00) and 17 November 2024 (11:00 and 16:00), at the Nicosia Municipal Theatre, as part of the Nicosia International Festival.
The fairy tales were recorded by the researcher Nearchos Clerides in his book “Cypriot Fairy Tales”, published by the Nearchos Clerides Cultural Centre. Back then, when the villages still spoke the rough Cypriot dialect. Nearchos Clerides compiled the collection of these tales through narratives of 19 men and 14 women from many regions of Cyprus, from Paphos to Yialousa. The tales are told by the storytellers at the time of the grain harvest, when they are gleaning the pampaki, at the fireplace during the winter months and in the village café (kafeneio).
Alpha Cyprus has created an innovative audio podcast based on the Cypriot fairy tales from the book by Nearchos Clerides, directed by Klitos Klitou, music composed by Kostas Kakogiannis and lyrics by Pambos Kouzalis. Through these podcasts, the idea for a performance “Once upon a time” was born in a dramaturgy by Stavros Stavrou. For this purpose, the following fairy tales were chosen: “The dragoness tziai i Vasilopoulla”, “The Pittortos”, “Triantafyllene”, “Dkiamantis” and “Stachtoula”.
Creative team
Dramaturgy: Stavros Stavrou
Cypriot dialect editing: Andreas Tsouris
Music Credits:
Music: Kostas Kakogiannis
Lyrics: Pambos Kouzalis
Interpretation (in alphabetical order): Mariam Venizelou, Andrea Markou, Andrea Neocleous, Georgia Neocleous
Participants:
Anthi Papaphilippou Children’s Choir and the Nicosia Municipality Children’s Choir
Address: Anthi Papafilippou
Choir Assistant: Abraam Kontos
Musicians playing:
Percussion: Andreas Davison
Lute, mandolin, bouzouki, lute: Pambos Theodorou
Guitar, bass, piano, voice: Avraam Kontos
Pithkiyail, violin, flute, piano, voice: Kostas Kakogiannis
Friendly participation: percussion, voice: Pambos Kouzalis
Sound design: Konstantinos Charalambous
Lighting design: Christos Charalambous
Choreography: Fotis Nikolaou
Sets/ costumes: Lakis Genethlis
Animation/visual design: Black Dog Creative Agency
Actors: Andreas Tsouris, Astero Kyprianou, Semeli Kyriazi
Participants: Androula Eracleous, Anthi Antoniadou
And in a special appearance Andri Karantoni
Directed by: Klitos Klitou
Masks: Martha Foka
Duration: 70΄
Source: Nicosia International Festival/Nicosia for Art Ltd
Also read: Nicosia 2030 “Art in Democracy” exhibition curated by the European Parliament
