Regular readers will be well aware of my love of theatre, especially musicals, so I was intrigued to see plans for a show that’s never been seen in Cyprus, coming to Paphos, presented by one of our local entertainers.
Snjezana Vranjesevic grew up in Croatia where she became a member of Zagreb’s National Opera House and Komedija Theatre where she performed in many muscials such as Mamma Mia!, and Cabaret. After the war in Croatia, she created her own mini tribute shows – Dolly Parton, ABBA, and The Sound of Broadway which she performed with her husband Damir, as Duo Joker, in the Canary Islands, Switzerland, UK, Germany, Canada and Austria, eventually settling in Cyprus in 2011. She has always shared her skills, teaching younger generations privately or in special schools as well as participating in TV shows including Supertalent, The Voice, X Factor and America’s Got Talent.
On arriving in Cyprus, Snjezana was dismayed to find not a single professional English-speaking theatrical company. She began teaching at private music academies in Paphos and Limassol where she directed junior versions of Fame, Aladdin, Mary Poppins, The Little Mermaid and Frozen.
In 2024, just as preparations for Frozen began, Snjezana was diagnosed with colon cancer. She says, “A month before surgery, Damir asked me what I wanted for my birthday. A common question in our family, but this time I seriously thought about it because it could have been my last birthday on this planet. I thought about travelling, clothes, jewellery… and then I realized that I really didn’t want to go anywhere and I didn’t need anything more than to continue doing what I’m doing, to create musicals. The only thing that could possibly be better than that would be to produce a musical myself and play a role in it.
“Thus the Cyprus production of Six! The Musical was born. It doesn’t require a large cast and I want to produce it the way I think musicals should be done. It will be, as far as I know, the first private semi-professional production of a musical in Paphos. Whether Paphos is ready for such a project and whether we will have enough audience remains to be seen. Joker Theatrical Production plans to sell the musical to hotel chains during the summer season, then, in Autumn, we hope to tour Larnaca, Nicosia and Limassol. We have now formed a travelling troupe which will do mostly musicals and we intend to produce more projects which I hope will be even bigger.”
Six! Is a modern musical retelling the story of Henry IIV’s six unfortunate wives. Summer will bring us another uxoricide with Shakespeare’s Othello at Ancient Curium by Performing Arts for Cyprus Charities on the 9th, 10th and 11th July – watch this space for booking details. Just before Six!, Stage One Theatre in Emba are bringing us Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense on the 4th, 15th, 16th and 17th May at the Emba Theatre ww.stageonetheatre.net and on the 21st May, a flamenco ballet version of Carmen will be presented at the Markedion at 7.30pm.
The Imperial Russian Academy will present, in English, the musical Shrek Junior at Limassol’s Pattihion Theatre at 4 and 7pm on Sunday 14th June, and Minthis Hills in Tsada is holding a classical music festival in July.
Tickets for these last three shows and Six! can be booked at Sold Out Ticket Box (see below).
Double festival Full Moon Wellbeing and One Love Music will take place 29th July – 2nd August at Val’s Place, Yialia – more details as we have them, but camping will be encouraged. On which subject, the most recent report I’ve read on the Polis Campsite (still closed) suggests that the new revamped site might open this year under new management – let’s see. Meanwhile, that beach is still open, as are beaches all around the island, and the sun looks as if it has finally noticed the calendar. Whilst the UK’s news reports about recent events have made a dent in the tourist industry, visitors are still coming, and we are all hopeful for a peaceful solution and a thriving island this summer. See you out there!
Jezebel hosts a quiz 5.30pm every Monday at the Cliff Bar, Tala 99831136
Jezebel will host and the cast of Six! Play a showcase at Elea Spring Fair, Elea Estate 10am-3pm Sunday 3rd May
Six! The Musical 8pm Saturday 23rd May at Markedion Theatre