The ancient Greek tragedy “Hippolytus” by Euripides was staged on September 11 by the Theatrical Organisation of Cyprus (THOC) at the ancient open amphitheater of Salamina, just north of Famagusta in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus.
Hippolytus was performed in Greek, with English and Turkish subtitles. It was organised in collaboration with the Famagusta Walled City Association (MASDER) and was under the auspices of the Bi-communal Technical Committee on Culture.
THOC performance of Euripides` tragedy “Hyppolytus” was embraced by both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots who sent a message for peace, according to bicommunal organisations` representatives that supported THOK`s initiative.
The 3000 tickets ware sold out and it is estimated that the ancient theater of Salamina was overcrowded with some 3,500 people.
The performance of Hippolytus at the ancient theater of Salamis proved that culture has the power and the spirit to create a new chapter in the history of Cyprus, Chairman of the Board of the THOC, Yiannis Toumazis told CNA.
“It was an important night for THOC, which welcomed the audience to the ancient theater of Salamis after 42 years, with the performance of “Hippolytus. People`s response was touching. The theater was overcrowded. In addition to the 3.500 seats all the available spaces, even the steps of the ancient theater, were occupied by people,” he added. It was a fantastic performance directed by Neoclis Neocleous and as from the comments, he said that it seemed that people highly appreciated the performance.
Toumazis regarded this as an important step in organizing high-level cultural events by the bi-communal Technical Committee on Culture. “Culture is the main weapon in our quiver as a European country in a very troubled region of Southeast Mediterranean and we must develop end exploit this weapon with our cultural heritage and cultural power,” he said.
Initiative “Famagusta our city”, an NGO comprising Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, and MASDER, a Turkish Cypriot NGO supported the organisation of the performance with their representatives sending messages of peace and describing the event as a journey to out common roots.
Pavlos Iacovou, the President of the Initiative “Famagusta our city” told CNA that for all those who knew Salamis before 1974, that was a message for peace. There were 3.500 people at the theater while 3.000 tickets were issued he said pointing out that many took the risk to go without a ticket and try to attend the event. “For us who believe in the reunification of our country, culture is a way to unite people,” Iacovou noted. That is why the Initiative “Famagusta our city” for three years now organizes events along with the Turkish Cypriots in Famagusta. “It`s hard, of course, that we leave our city, but we believe that these steps are positive, firmly and lead us forward,” he added.
The number of the audience at the ancient theater of Salamis exceeded their expectations, Serdar Atai, coordinator of the Turkish Cypriot NGO MASDER Famagusta said in statements to CNA. He estimated that there were 3.500 viewers, 2.800 Greek Cypriots and about 700 Turkish Cypriots. “It was a very nice evening. We together made a journey to our roots, to our common cultural heritage”. “It was a very emotional night, really we felt all very nostalgic,” he said.
Serdar Atai believes that people of Famagusta are ready for such events, noting that “Hippolytus” was the second event launched by the Technical Committee for Culture after the first musical event which took place at Othello Tower in Famagusta and was attended by the two leaders, President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akintzi. We are ready to support any new performance of THOC in Famagusta, Atai concluded.
