ONCE UPON A TIME

The Dragoness and the Princess, Pittortos, Trantafyllene, Dkiamantis, and Stachtoula, taken from from the Cypriot fairy tales of Nearchos Clerides, come to life for the final time at the 5th Nicosia International Festival on Sunday, January 19 (at 15:30 and 17:00), at the Nicosia Municipal Theatre. Following the success of the performances of "Once Upon a Time", the heroes of Clerides’ Cypriot fairy tales adored by audiences young and old—return for the third and final time at this year’s festival.
 
Nicosia 2030, candidate for European Capital of Culture, remains faithful to the tradition, myths, and fairy tales of Cyprus. This production highlights the Cypriot dialect and the island’s intangible cultural heritage, inspired by the book "Cypriot Fairy Tales" by Nearchos Clerides. Through Alpha Cyprus' innovative audio podcast "Traditional Fairy Tales" the idea for the performance "Once Upon a Time" was born, with a dramatization by Stavros Stavrou, original music and songs by Kostas Cacoyannis and Pambos Koouzalis, with a live orchestra, animations, puppets, children's choir, immersive sound like in a cinema and all this under the direction of Kleitos Kleitos.
 
Creative team
Dramaturgy: Stavros Stavrou
Cypriot dialect editing: Andreas Tsouris
Music Credits:
Music: Kostas Kakogiannis
Lyrics: Pambos Kouzalis
Sets/ costumes: Lakis Genethlis
Animation/visual design: Black Dog Creative Agency
Choreography: Fotis Nikolaou
Sound design: Nicolas Prokopiou
Lighting design: Christos Charalambous
Masks: Martha Foka
Directed by: Klitos Klitou
Actors: Andreas Tsouris, Astero Kyprianou, Semeli Kyriazi
Participants: Androula Eracleous, Anthi Antoniadou and in a special appearance Andri Karantoni
With the participation of the singers: Mariam Venizelou, Andrea Markou, Andrea Neocleous, Georgia Neocleous
Musicians: Andreas Davison (percussion), Pambos Theodorou (lute, mandolin, bouzouki), Avraam Kontos (guitar, bass, piano, voice), Kostas Kakogiannis (pithkiavli, violin, flute, piano, voice) and Pambos Kouzalis (percussion, voice).
Participants: Anthi Papaphilippou Children's Choir and the Nicosia Municipality Children's Choir conducted by Anthi Papafilippou and as assistant choir conductor: Araam Kontos.
 
Duration: 70΄
 
The “Dragoness” may scare younger members of the audience under 5 years old.
 
Tickets: Available online via Soldout Tickets: bit.ly/NIF24_tickets, at Stephanis stores, and the Nicosia Municipal Theatre box office (Monday - Friday 10:00-13:00).
 
Ticket prices:
ZONE A: €16/ €14
ZONE B: €14/ €12
ZONE C: € 12/ €10
ZONE D: €8
 
Information: 22797979 (Monday - Friday 10:00-13:00) & bit.ly/Website_NIF2024
 
Festival identity
Organisers: Nicosia Municipality, Nicosia For Art
Institutional Sponsor: Deputy Ministry of Culture, Republic of Cyprus
Communication sponsors: ALPHA CYPRUS, LOVE FM
Support: Nicosia School Comittee