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Lovers’ Chorus

After two sold-out seasons in Greece and rapturous acclaim from the press, Rialto Theatre and Alpha Bank Cyprus present the widely celebrated work by Portuguese playwright and director Tiago Rodrigues, “The Lovers’ Chorus”, which comes to Cyprus for the very first time on the 5th and 6th of February 2026 at 20:30, at Rialto Theatre, Limassol. 


The performance was originally staged at the Small Stage of the Onassis Stegi in Athens, where it received an overwhelming response from audiences, and is scheduled to be presented at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall from 22 to 25 January 2026, for a strictly limited run that has already sold out. On stage, acclaimed Greek actors Nikos Karathanos and Marissa Triantafyllidou deliver a rare and deeply affecting performance—one that lingers long after the final moment.


A couple in the middle of the night. “I can’t breathe,” she says. “She can’t breathe,” he repeats. They rush to the car and head for the hospital. From its very first lines, The Lovers’ Chorus draws the audience in and leads them straight into the heart of a relationship. Through fragments of daily life, moments of crisis and intimacy, love and vulnerability, the piece traces the shared journey of two people and their insistence on “forever” — in defiance of time, decay, and uncertainty.


Artistic Director of the Avignon Festival and creator of Catarina and the Beauty of Killing Fascists—presented in 2023 at Onassis Stegi and in 2024 at the Nicosia International Festival—Tiago Rodrigues returns to Cyprus with this profoundly personal work. The Lovers’ Chorus is his first theatrical text and his most autobiographical, written over a long period from 2006 to 2020. Translated into Greek by Maria Papadima, the production balances intensity with tenderness and humour, while a stage covered entirely in soil creates a striking sense of immediacy and raw physical presence. Rodrigues directs in close collaboration with Argyro Chioti, Artistic Associate of the National Theatre of Greece, shaping a performance of remarkable precision and emotional depth. Lighting design is by Rui Monteiro, while the set and costumes are by Magda Bizarro, who is also responsible for international programming at the Avignon Festival.


The production has received outstanding critical acclaim in Greece:

  • Athinorama (Tonia Karoglou): “A small theatrical gem—an invitation to a broader humanism, a political, ecological, and deeply personal way of being that places essential love at its core.”

  • Bookpress (Nikos Xenios): “A unique theatrical experience that will leave a lasting mark on the Athenian theatre scene.”

  • Monopoli (Stella Charami): “A small masterpiece about the mystery of life and love, and an extraordinary interpretative achievement by Nikos Karathanos and Marissa Triantafyllidou.”


Audiences in Cyprus now have the opportunity to experience this exceptional production up close—to encounter a work that explores love and human connection with rare honesty, combining emotional resonance, humour, and intensity into a singular theatrical event.

The Lovers’ Chorus is not simply a performance; it is an experience not to be missed. For Cypriot audiences, it offers a rare chance to witness a contemporary theatrical masterpiece by one of today’s most significant creators.


CreditsText & Direction: Tiago Rodrigues

Performed by: Nikos Karathanos, Marissa Triantafyllidou

Artistic Collaborator: Argyro Chioti

Lighting Design: Rui Monteiro

Artistic Assistant, Set & Costume Design: Magda Bizarro

Translation: Maria Papadima

Assistant Set & Costume Designer: Margarita Tzannetou

Production Management: Zoi Mouschi – Rena Andreadaki

Production for Greece: Onassis Stegi

With thanks to: Cláudia Gaiolas, Tónan Quito, Alma Palacios, Océane Caïraty, David Geselson, Grégoire Monsaingeon, Thomas Walgrave


The presentation of the performance is supported by the Touring Program of Onassis Stegi.


The presentation of the Performance was supported by Onassis Stegi Touring Program.

Language: Greek (no English surtitles)


Important note: The stage is covered with soil, which may produce light dust and a subtle scent. The performance is not recommended for audience members with soil-related allergies.


Duration:50 minutes

Or call: 77 77 77 45 (Mon–Fri, 10:00–15:00)

Rialto Theatre, Limassol Cyprus

Organiser: Rialto Theatre

Institutional Sponsor: Deputy Ministry of Culture, Department of Contemporary Culture

Mega Sponsors: OPAP Cyprus, MEDOCHEMIE, Island Oil Holdings, Alpha Bank Cyprus

Media Sponsors: RIK, Kathimerini, Wiz Guide, Kanali 6


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