May Programme 2024
8 WED 20:30(45’)
Erroneous Encounters I Panayiotis Tofi
The new choreographic work Erroneous Encounters directed, choreographed, and written by Cypriot creator Panayiotis Tofi, is an experimental movement-based journey accompanied by the live composition of electronic music and poetic text. Four performers and a music composer share the stage in a course of negotiation with the post-traumatic as autoimmune, dysfunction, distance, and the multiple symbolisms of emptiness. The work is a continuation of the creator’s research in both movement vocabulary and composition, with which he focuses on topics of emptiness and concealment, as well as the loss of empathy and autonomy as a characteristic of contemporary reality.
Research, Direction, Choreography, Text: Panayiotis Tofi
Performance: Damianos Aggelos Efstathiou, Ioannis Mamolis, Nikos Samouridis, Vasiliki Kypraiou
Music Composition and Live Musician on Stage: Andreas Economides
Stage Set Design: Yiorgos Yiannou
Costume Design: Rea Olympiou
Lighting Design: Vasilis Petinaris
Photography: Theodora Iacovou
Production - Visual Communication: Panayiotis Tofi
Promo Trailer: Volume Films
Special Thanks to Chorologie Dance Center, Panos Topsides
The choreographic work Erroneous Encounters is supported by the Deputy Ministry of Culture through the Terpsichore 2024 programme.
Panayiotis Tofi
A Trinity Laban graduate, holding a First Class BA in Contemporary Dance, and a Diploma in Dance studies. Based on an ongoing movement and composition research with which he focuses on topics of emptiness and concealment, as well as the loss of autonomy as a characteristic of contemporary reality, he has composed important choreographic works while leading workshops in Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. He has collaborated as a movement director and choreographer in numerous theatre performances over the last eight years, alongside well-known directors from Cyprus, Greece, and Germany. In 2018, he received the ‘Creator of the Year’ award from the Cyprus Theatre Organisation at the Cyprus Theatre Awards for his artistic flexibility, ingenuity, and boldness towards experimentation.
9 THU 20:30 (90’)
Vivliotropio | In praise of Manos Eleftheriou
Vivliotropio Book Club pays a literary tribute to Manos Eleftheriou, highlighting the significance of the Greek poet’s corpus of work. On Rialto’s stage, singer and songwriter Fivos Delivorias, songwriter Odysseas Ioannou and writer/researcher of Eleftheriou’s work, Stavros Kartsonakis, all reflect on Eleftheriou’s writings by means of their own personal longstanding relationship with him.
Conductor Neoklis Neophytidis curated the musical part of the event, featuring Fivos Delivorias, Margarita Zorbala, and Yiorgos Ioannou, as well as musicians Neocles Neofytidis, Constantinos Makaritis, Costas Apokidis, and Yiorgos Spyrou.
10 FRI 20:30 (120’)
2 | Christos Thiveos, Panayiotis Margaris
Getting together in a band-like spirit, Christos Thiveos and Panayiotis Margaris join each other on stage, following last year’s successful series of concerts, presenting a renewed repertoire that includes old and recent hits.
The two Greek artists met in 1997 during the recording of the now-ageless Dearly I Loved You (Poso poli s’agapisa), sung by Christos Thiveos and performed by Panayiotis Margaris (classical guitar). With improvisations and constantly in tune with the audience, the two musicians built a subversive repertoire free from encumbrances, enriched with moving, personal, extroverted, and collective moments—all naturally blending together.
Christos Thiveos’ distinctive singing, reminiscing of The Usual Suspects band era, in combination with songs written by Thanos Mikroutsikos, Vassilis Dimitriou and other renowned composers, seamlessly blend with the exceptional compositions and instrumental artistry of Panayiotis Margaris’ solo tracks. The concert’s highlight will be the presentation of their first joint song, with music composed by Panayiotis Margaris and lyrics written by Odysseas Ioannou.
Concert 2 is a music show for two musicians united in deep appreciation and connection, as well as a performance game for the eternal two: musicians and audience alike.
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11 SAT 19:55 (195’)
Madama Butterfly
The MET Live in HD
In her Met debut, Asmik Grigorian tackles the demanding role of Cio-Cio-San, the trusting geisha at the heart of Puccini’s tragedy. Tenor Jonathan Tetelman is the callous American naval officer Pinkerton whose betrayal destroys her. Mezzo-soprano Elizabeth DeShong is the steadfast maid Suzuki, and baritone Lucas Meachem is the American consul Sharpless. Acclaimed maestro Xian Zhang makes her Met debut conducting Anthony Minghella’s vivid production.
Director and Choreographer: Carolyn Choa
Set Designer: Michael Levine
Costume Designer: Han Feng
Lighting Designer: Peter Mumford
Puppetry: Blind Summit Theatre
Xian Zhang (Conductor), Asmik Grigorian (Cio-Cio-San), Elizabeth DeShong (Suzuki), Jonathan Tetelman (Pinkerton), Lucas Meachem (Sharpless)
Tickets: €20 / 15
12 SUN (On Stage)
Shedding new light on tales
Theatre shows for children based on the educational toy series “Makers Will Make: STEAM Toys” in the frame of FlashArt 2024.
Driven by their desire to combine culture with technology, three women joined forces to design and create the educational toy series titled “Makers Will Make: STEAM Toys”. Rooted in the Cypriot folk culture and nature, the toys were manufactured using the rapid prototyping technique in combination with traditional methods. The toys received the “Top design award” - European Product Design Award.
In narrative form, the shows gradually acquire an interactive character, enabling young participants to create their own set design and figures using the ingredients of toys. Landscapes engraved on transparent plastic, Cyprus bird figures, Spanos, the forty dragons, and the smartphone light will all immerse young participants into an enchanting journey, from 2D to 3D. At the same time, they will tackle current issues such as migration, acceptance, and diversity.
Animators: Theodora Andreou, Naya T. Caracosta
Toys designed by: Eva Korae
Participatory methodologies developed by: Eleni Pashia
12 SUN 12:00 (50’)
A retelling of Spanos and the 40 dragons (8+)
Preceded by a making workshop at 10:00.
Spanos and the 40 Dragons is a toy inspired by the namesake folk tale. It enables children to develop their sense of 2D and 3D space, while using the natural properties of light to help the main character, Spanos, achieve his goals.
Players will develop their own personal stories and create innumerable dragon combinations.
12 SUN 15:00 (50’)
Trypomazis, Tiny Me! (4+)
The birds of Cyprus inform young children about the species and habits of birds encountered in Cyprus through poetic duelling known as Tsiattista.
Kids will make a Cyprus Warbler (Trypomazis), a Eurasian Hoopoe (Poupouxios), and a Scops Owl (Thoupi) based on a blueprint, enhancing the children’s ability to detect and combine colours/shapes, while building on their 3D space perception.
At the same time, they will have the opportunity to make their own little creature and share it on social media, thus unleashing their imagination.
15 WED 20:00 (120’)
25 Years Rialto Theatre
Stamatis Kraounakis
Opening with Krama Brass Band
Foremost Greek composer and loyal friend of the Rialto, Stamatis Kraounakis, accompanied by an array of virtuoso instrumentalists, presents a special repertoire on the occasion of the Rialto Theatre’s 25th year anniversary. Musicians: Dimitrios Andreadis (piano, keys) | Nicos Katsikis (bouzouki), Lambros Papanicolaou (double bass).
Message by Stamatis Kraounakis
Ever since I remember myself in Cyprus, the Rialto has stood by me and my songs. It has been to us a warm embrace that have kept us alive and standing next to our beloved friends in this corner of the Mediterranean soul. I am delighted and honoured to participate in the celebrations for its 25th anniversary. A big thank you from the bottom of my heart to Georgia Doetzer for her support to this day, and all the best to the new director.
Krama Brass Band was established in 2023 by two Cypriot musicians, Andreas Theocharous and Nicholas Georgiou, and consists of six wind instruments, a guitar and drums. Krama is inspired by the concept of combinaCon of elements and cultures: the alloy as a material of the brass instruments, and the blend of Mediterranean and Western music. Krama’s intention is the composition and performance of original music that combines traditional music of the Mediterranean region with Western music, with an emphasis on retaining the stylistic features of traditional music.
Nicholas Georgiou: Alto Saxophone, Marios Charalampous: Tenor Saxophone, Giorgos El Haber: Trumpet, Rafael Orfanidis: Trumpet, Vangelis Drouliskos: Trombone, Alexandros Adam: Guitar, Andreas Theocharous: Tuba, Nikolas Tsangaris: Drums
18 SAT 20:30 (120’) (15+)
A love story by Alexis Michalik
Cyprus Theatre Organisation (New Stage)
This play by French playwright and actor Alexis Michalik, winner of four Molière Awards in 2020, deals with a real and familiar subject: the way love can change one’s life and give it value. This is a love story, then, with intense emotions, quarrels, impasses, dilemmas, surprises, joys, and sorrows, captured with tenderness, irony and, above all, humour.
With English and Turkish surtitles.
Translation: Antonis Galeos
Directed by: Eleni Anastasiou
Set design: Elena Terepei
Costume design: Sofia Mavromichali
Music: Maria Gouvali-Nasia Therapontos
Movement-Choreography: Ivi Hadjivassiliou
Lighting design: Georgios Koukoumas
Assistant to the director: Eleni Nicolaou
Cast: Grigoris Georgiou, Savvina Georgiou, Iliana Kakkoura, Panagiota Papageorgiou, Eleni Sidera
Participation: Diamanto Konstantinou
26/05 SUN 11:00 (90’)
Peripato
Maria Varnakkidou, Constantina Andreou
The Heroes’ Square interactive soundwalk offers the opportunity to the international audience of Limassol to enjoy this one-of-a-kind walk-through.
A journey across time, an imprint of memory, an experience of sound and visual images, conceived by Maria Varnakkidou and Konstantina Andreou in the framework of Rialto’s Associate Artist Residence Scheme.
In Greek and English.
Tickets: € 5
31/05 FRI 20:30 (50’)
Cyprus Contemporary Dance Festival 2024
AiNA performance installation exhibition by Suzana Phialas
AiNa comes to life as an IRL simulation of the artist’s post-photographic Ai body of work Performing anatomies. Phialas’ work and improvisations with the performers are based on images and videos of a custom AI model she has trained. The inception of AiNa marks the artist’s initial venture into creating an IRL simulation in the genre of performance/installation based on this AI model.
"I think of the still image works as “microcosmic performances" extracted from the fabric of daily existence. Each image encapsulates mundane moments and familiar scenarios, seamlessly weaving together domestic interiors and outdoor settings. While universally relatable, these depictions are elevated by a nuanced interplay of wit and irony, infusing them with a distinctive flavour. The resulting amalgam is an assortment of absurd, illogical, and whimsically surreal episodes plucked from the canvas of ordinary life."
info ↪ aina-ai.carrd.co
Concept, creation, artistic direction: Suzana Phialas
Co-creation, scenario: Pavlos Vrionides
Choreographic direction: Suzana Phialas in collaboration with the performers
Performers: Belinda Papavasiliou, Julia Brendle, Katerina Tylliridou
Creative consultant: Andria Michaelidou
Light design: Vasilis Petinaris
Music compositions: Kalaqs, Frank Manzano, Suzana Phialas
Live Band: MUSHA
Set design: Sthephanie Mourouzi, Giorgos Maratheftis
Video: Pavlos Vrionides, Suzana Phialas
Exhibition images: Custom Trained Ai Model by Suzana Phialas
Organized by the Department of Contemporary Culture, Deputy Ministry of Culture and the Rialto Theatre.
Tickets: €8 (€30 for all performances)
Free entrance to students, soldiers, pensioners and dance professionals
Free transportation from Nicosia.
