cyprusTheatre

The International Summer Institute for Ancient Greek Drama, in co-operation with the Cyprus Centre of the International Theatre Institute, thanks to the support of the Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Droushia Community Council, was able to organize the yearly educational and cultural events on the study and presentation of ancient Greek drama, at the Pafos Ancient Odeon and Droushia.

Meanwhile, during the first three months of the year, the Institute following a circular note of the director of Secondary Education Mr. Christos Pandelides,
toured a presentation of scenes from Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, mainly to students of the second form of Lyceums, where the play is on the curriculum. The students as well as the teachers found the experience a valuable supplement for the understanding of the lesson.

The Professional Session of the Institute started on 9 July at the Conference Hall of the Cyprotel Droushia Heights on an every day basis, between 09.00 and 13.00, for four weeks, until 4 August 2007.
The afternoon practical lessons started on the same date on the PERSIANS by Aeschylus and LYSISTRATA by Aristophanes and ended with the presentation of the two workshop productions on the 5th and 10th of August at the Pafos Ancient Odeon and on the 4th and 6th, at the Droushia Open Air Theatre. The PERSIANS was directed by Prof. Heinz-Uwe Haus and LYSISTRATA by Nicos Shiafkalis and Prof. Michael Ewans.

The participants of the Summer Institute were: John Knauss, post- graduate of theatre studies at the University of Delaware, U.S.A, Ricardo Zeger, also post- graduate of theatre studies at Delaware University, U.S.A, Amanda Haney, graduate student of stage design at the Antioch University of California, Diana Trifonos, theatre student at the University of Chichcester of U.K, Efthymia Priki , from the University of Cyprus, Tim Squirrel from the American Academy of Pafos and Efthymios Shiafkalis, young Cypriot actor. [ relative programme attached ].

Prof. Freddy Decreus from Gent University of Belgium, Prof. Heinz-Uwe Haus from the University of Delaware of U.S.A, George Mikellis, theatrologist from Greece and director Nicos Shiafkalis from Cyprus, lectured for a week each during the morning sessions.

Within the same framework of activities, the DDS Summer Institute organized the week of the International Meeting and Festival of Theatre Schools, between 23 and 29 July.
The participating schools were: the Higher School of Dramatic Art ‘Embros-Theatroergastirion’ , the Lebanese University of Beyrouth, the University of Delaware of U.S.A, the National Theatre Institute of Sri Lank and “Vladimiros Kafkarides” Theatre School of Nicosia[programme attached].

The scenes were presented at the Pafos Ancient Odeon on 25 and 26 July 2007.

All students and professors during that week attended the activities of the Summer Institute and had the opportunity to discuss amongst them the diverse approaches regarding the presentation of ancient Greek drama.
The activities of DDS Summer Institute have been established as an exemplary expression of the priority given by the I.T.I to artistic education and they illustrate in a practical way the diversity of approaches that can be used in the production of ancient Greek drama.

The summer events were concluded by a farewell party at the pool bar of the Cyprotel Droushia Heights, in the presence of the Droushia Community Council president Mr. Stelios Koupparis and the president of the Cyprus Centre of I.T.I., Mr. Christakis Georgiou.