After having toured... literally all over the world, in countries such as Lithuania, Armenia, Tunisia, North Macedonia, and China, the production "Still! A statue that travelled the world", returns to the Nicosia Municipal Theatre, just before departing for a series of performances in Athens (Municipal Music Theatre “Maria Callas”).
The production commenced it’s travels at the Nicosia International Festival 2021 and having won the hearts of the audiences over 12.000 around the world returns to the Festival on January 13
th and 14
th 2024.
The theme of the play is friendship, celebrating peace, acceptance of diversity and the power of true love. A girl in a boat sets out on a journey into the unknown, trying to escape the horrors of war. She finds shelter in an unknown country and rests on a bench underneath the statue of a soldier. Soon a crazy revelation turns everything upside down; it's a statue that comes alive! Can a statue and a girl become friends forever and travel the world together? Can the girl teach the statue what it's like to truly live and convince it to let go of the sword it holds?
Director Kostas Silvestros and the choreographer Panagiotis Tofi jointly composed the production, based on a story invented by the lyricist Stavros Stavrou. With the original music of the Greek pianist and composer Thodoris Economou as their vehicle, they create a feast of music, images and colours.
This is a production for children of all ages, which can be attended by people of all nationalities. Stavros Stavrou invented especially for the production a language which is fictional.
Distinctions
"Still! A statue that travelled the world", has enthused audiences young and old, and has won several awards, including the Grand Prix for Best Performance at the 12th “Bitolino” Festival for Children and Youth in Bitola, North Macedonia. When announcing the result, the jury noted that: "The performance we awarded had all the ingredients we were looking for and made our job easier with its excellent idea and story, great direction and choreography, amazing performances, lighting, set and costume design, live music and video design. All the above created a constant magic on stage and took the show to another level. It was a performance the likes of which we have never seen before and won the hearts of the audience and committee”.
The production also won the Best Performance Award from the National Children's Theatre of China, as part of the "International Excellent Children's Drama" program of the 12th China Children's Theatre Festival, organized by the National Theatre of China in 2023.
Also, actress Christina Papadopoulou won the Young Creator of the Year Award 2021 at the Theatre Awards of the Cyprus Theatre Organisation for her performance in this production.
Conceived – Lyrics by: Stavros Stavrou
Directed and choreographed by: Costas Silvestros - Panagiotis Tofi
Music composition: Theodoros Okononov
Sets and Costumes by: Constantina Andreou
Projection design: Anna Fotiadou
Lighting: Vassilis Peteinaris
Assistant director/ vocal teaching: Constantinos Andronikou
Cast: Andreas Koutsoftas, Christina Papadopoulou, Anthony Papamichael.
Ages: 3+
Duration: 60΄
For tickets: https://bit.ly/NIF_never_ends_tickets, Stephanis Stores and at the Nicosia Municipal Theatre box office (Monday-Friday 10:00-13:00).
For information: 22797979 (Monday - Friday 10:00-13:00).
Tickets: €10
Festival identity:
The Festival is co-organised by the Nicosia Municipality and Nicosia For Art, and forms part of Nicosia's bid for the European Capital of Culture 2030.
The Festival is presented by ECOMMBX.
Festival Silver Sponsor: Cyprus Public Transport
Festival Bronze sponsor: Embassy of Spain in Cyprus, Deloitte Legal
Hospitality sponsor: The Classic Hotel