When I arrived in Paphos twenty-two years ago, the only English speaking theatre group in existence was Stage One, albeit a grand affair with its own theatre, which is something most amateur dramatic groups in the UK can only dream of. The group has now been running for forty years and is still going strong.
Its nearest equivalent in Limassol, Premier Theatre Group, began in 1996 and produced many huge musical productions before COVID put them on hold for a few years. Their planned 2020 production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was postponed several times and eventually given up on as the leading boy’s voice broke, the children grew too old, and people moved away. But they are now back in action, planning a pantomime this March ahead of another big musical later on in the year.
The Performing Arts for Cyprus Charities in Limassol however has been running since 1962, annually presenting a Shakespeare play in the Ancient Curium Amphitheatre for three nights in June, although this year will be July.
Actress Michelle Nonyelu moved to Paphos in 2006 and was disappointed to find no dedicated English speaking drama group for her children to attend, so she began one of her own. Paphos Youth Theatre has presented a wide variety of plays and musical shows over the last two decades, now based at the International School of Paphos which has its own theatre. They are planning Aladdin for next year.
More recently more childrens’ performing arts schools have sprung up and begun presenting shows to the public, particularly Disney Junior musicals which have proved very popular. This year Aspa Vasiliou Music Academy gave us three different casts – juniors, seniors and adults – of Disney’s Frozen Jr all on one day – 3pm,5pm and 8pm, a massive undertaking which went swimmingly and kept the Markedion Theatre buzzing for almost 24 hours.
When Snjezana Vranjesevic came to Cyprus, having worked her whole life on stage in operas and musicals, she looked for a professional repertory theatre to audition for and was disappointed. She found ‘theatre buildings where guest performances are performed’ and several amateur theatre groups who ‘were excellent but rarely staged musicals’. So, she decided to found her own semi-amateur musical acting group and hopes to present Six in May. Following the success of her work with Aspa Vasiliou Academy and Frozen Jr she also plans to present junior, senior and adult casts in another musical in November.
Thompson School of Performing Arts presented Shrek The Musical in March and some of their dancers also appeared in A Night at The Musicals featuring Matthew Edmondson and Melanie Ballard at Stage One Theatre in April. This coming February, Stage One will be presenting a similar musical variety show of their own, on the same day as Thomson’s presentation of Melanie’s own musical, Once upon a Twisted Tale .
Young Stars Theatre and Performing Arts School in Kissonerga present multiple dance shows and their students took part in Stage One’s Old Mother Hubbard last month to great reception.
The Phoenix Social Club in Kato Paphos boasts its own Performing Arts Group who present two plays, pantomimes, or murder mystery type shows a year, thoroughly appreciated by the other club members and more recently the general public as well.
On another level, a world class opera is staged most Septembers at the castle in Paphos Harbour as part of the government sponsored Paphos Aphrodite Festival. A ticket for this will cost you about as much as all the others put together, but the spectacle and experience is well worth it. Last year’s Carmen brought four thousand spectators and featured the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra. This year’s as yet unidentified offering will take place in June.
Love them or hate them, the musical theatre scene is growing here in Paphos. I feel a song coming on…
- A Night at The Musicals 7.30pm Saturday 7th February at Stage One Theatre, Emba www.stageonetheatre.net
- Once Upon a Twisted Tale Saturday 7th February at the Markedion Theatre 96540271
- Cinderella 7th & 8th March at Pattichion Theatre, Limassol www.premiergroupcy.com
- Aladdin 7pm 14th March at the International School of Paphos www.paphosyouththeatre.com
- Othello 8pm 9th, 10th and 11th July at Ancient Curium www.shakespeareatcurium.com
- Jezebel hosts a Quiz at the Cliff Bar in Tala 5.30pm every Monday 99423471 www.groovejetmedia.com