January is typically a rather quiet month events-wise, following the Christmas mayhem, and although the cultural calendar sees a slight drop exciting productions are approaching.
At the Nicosia Municipal Theatre, six performances are happening this month as the Nicosia International Festival continues its journey. After a packed winter in 2023, the festival organisers prepare for a busy January and February, filled with collaborations with local artists, established and emerging, as well as those from abroad.
To begin its January programme, it hosts a play of Cretan Renaissance on Wednesday staged by the National Theatre of Northern Greece. Erotokritos is a classic work of Cretan theatre about the socially unequal love between the only daughter of the King Aretousa of Athens and the son of the King’s loyal advisor, Εrotokritos. Besides being a love story, the play also sheds light on contemporary social norms and includes a poem written especially for the show by Iranian writer Rahil Fallahfar, influenced by the struggles of women in her country.
Two days later, Cypriot singer-songwriter Freedom Candlemaker will present his new album Ageless. The musical performance will weave together dreamy psychedelic and esoteric pop, electronica and nu-folk, constructing a celestial sonic journey.
The core of Freedom Candlemaker’s latest homonymous work consists of songs that express the spiritual liberation of humanity and the realisation of our inner power. Ageless will feature a large ensemble on stage, with dance and movement enriching the performance and creating an atmospheric, sensual and theatrical experience.
Then, the award-winning play Still! A Statue That Went Around the World will return to the festival’s stage on January 13 and 14 after its international tours. Directed by Costas Silvestros, the play celebrates friendship, peace, diversity and love and is directed at children of all ages and adults. What’s more, people of all nationalities can enjoy the production as Stavros Stavrou invented a fictional language especially for the production that all can understand.
Also happening on January 14 is an open discussion with Cypriot ballerina Anastasia Paschalis. As part of the festival’s parallel programme, the event hopes to gather youth to converse with the dancer who will share her experiences and the joys, difficulties and life lessons she learnt in her career. Photos and videos will accompany the discussion and Anastasia will present a short choreography titled 2-1+1, performed by Sophia Hadjigeorgiou, Evangelia Lambrou, Maria Gerasimou, Mikaella Neophytou and Sotia Nicolaou.
Anastasia is currently the artistic director of the Cypriot Ballet Group Dance Cyprus, and was previously a member of the Royal Danish Ballet in Copenhagen, the Leipzig Ballet in Germany, and the Royal Ballet of Flanders in Belgium.
On January 16, the performance Spiridules will take place, bringing to life the true story of Spyridoula, a 12-year-old maid, who shocked public opinion in the 1950s. Spyridoula Rapti moved to Piraeus to work in a wealthy home as an early teen. It was later revealed that the couple had been abusing her, physically and mentally. When she found the courage to speak out, she became a popular idol of empowerment for generations of women who suffered abuse.
Concluding January’s programme is a performance by Cypriot musician and arranger Avraam Kontos who will present his new album Alcyonides on January 20. This will be a Pan-Cypriot premiere of his album. The lyrics of his songs revolve around the occupied villages of the Maronite community in Cyprus (Ayia Marina, Asomatos, Karpasia, and Kormakitis) and through his orchestration he communicates the universal themes of nostalgia for the homeland and hope for return.
Ageless
Album presentation by Freedom Candlemaker. Part of the Nicosia International Festival. January 12. Nicosia Municipal Theatre, Nicosia. 8.30pm. www.soldoutticketbox.com. Tel: 22-797979
Erotokritos
Production by National Theatre of Northern Greece. Part of the Nicosia International Festival. January 10. Nicosia Municipal Theatre, Nicosia. 8.30pm.In Greek. www.soldoutticketbox.com. Tel: 22-797979
Still! A Statue that Went Around the World
Award-winning play for all ages and nationalities. Part of the Nicosia International Festival January 13-14. Nicosia Municipal Theatre, Nicosia. 4pm. www.soldoutticketbox.com. Tel: 22-797979
Anastasia Paschalis
Open discussion with the Cypriot ballerina. Part of the Nicosia International Festival. January 14. Nicosia Municipal Theatre, Nicosia. 7pm. www.soldoutticketbox.com. Tel: 22-797979
Spiridules
Performance based on a true story. Part of the Nicosia International Festival. January 16. Nicosia Municipal Theatre, Nicosia. 8.30pm. In Greek. www.soldoutticketbox.com. Tel: 22-797979
Alcyonides
Album presentation by Avraam Kontos. Part of the Nicosia International Festival. January 20. Nicosia Municipal Theatre, Nicosia. 9pm. www.soldoutticketbox.com. Tel: 22-797979