As the January sunshine reigns over Cyprus, to keep spirits high, the island is gearing up to welcome a new season of events in the coming days and weeks, hosting music nights, shadow theatre shows and village excursions.
On Sunday, the Vavla Nature House in Vavla village invites visitors to a cosy soup event in rural Cyprus. Cypriot traditional soups will be served from 12pm to 5pm, along with vasilopita, village zivania and wine. What’s more, a short live set by Milasa on guitar and vocals will take place to serenade visitors.
On Tuesday, Polichoros Synergeio will welcome the local musical ensemble the Giorkin Project for a live performance. The project was established in 2023 by Marilia Andreou and Phaedra Mylona, two young Cypriot instrumentalists, who currently live abroad. Its aim is to showcase the work of young Cypriot composers and this upcoming concert will welcome on stage Enyalios Evaggelou Papadopoulos, Sophia Price and Nikola Janjic presenting newly composed works by Veroniki Rezai, Evagoras Solias, Rafaelos Christofi, Michalis Kailis and Ioulios Georgakopoulos. A day before the Limassol concert, the ensemble will be in Nicosia performing at ARTos House.
More music will follow, this time in Paphos. Technopolis20 will welcome the new year with a performance on Wednesday by jazz vocalist Charlotte Storer and her trio. Joining the singer in an evening of classic jazz ballads, earthy swing and mellow blues will be pianist Demetris Miaris and double bassist Costas Challoumas.
Back in Nicosia, the World Without Borders Polichoros in the old town will host a morning of shadow theatre on January 13 featuring the iconic figure of Karagiozis. The performance will begin at 11am, telling the story of Karagiozis who embarks on a mission to serve people who cannot read or write. Meanwhile, he cannot either so he improvises and takes chances, leading to comic situations each time.
As the January calendar expands, more events are added to the agenda from a three-day chocolate event to new theatrical productions and interactive events in museums. Stay tuned for 2024’s happenings.
Soup Sunday
Traditional soups, drinks and live music. January 7. Vavla Nature House, Vavla village. 12pm-5pm. Facebook event: Soup Sunday @Vavla Nature House
Giorkin Project
Contemporary music concert by a newly-founded ensemble. January 8. ARTos House, Nicosia. January 9. Polichoros Synergeio, Limassol. 8.30pm. €12
Jazzy Ballads, Earthy Swing and Mellow Blues
Live jazz music with Charlotte Storer, Demetris Miaris and Costas Challoumas. January 10. Technopolis 20, Paphos. 8pm. Tel: 7000-2420
Shadow Theatre
Performance with Karagiozis. January 13. World Without Borders Polichoros, Nicosia. 11am. Limited seats. In Greek. Tel: 99-422855