Andronikos or the Artist

The Nicosia Municipal Arts Centre – Associated with the Pierides Foundation presents the staged reading of Evridiki Pericleous-Papadopoulou’s theatrical monologue, inspired by the life of artist Costas Stathis [1913-1987]

Andronikos or the Artist
Friday, 12 June 2015, 20:00

Script adaptation consultant and staged reading director: Maria Mannaridou-Karsera

In the role of Andronikos: Nektarios Theodorou

The play, which was first staged last May in the context of the Play On! Programme that was organised by the Cyprus Theatre Organisation (THOC) in collaboration with the Cyprus Centre of the International Theatre Institute (CCOITI), is inspired by the life of artist Costas Stathis (1913-1987).

Summary
Andronikos is in his workshop at his village. After returning from a trip with his father in Athens, Andronikos devotes his life to painting. In the course of the monologue, time blends with the present and the past and a dialogue unfolds between himself, but also between persons that indelibly marked his life.

“Andronikos or the Artist” was first written in 2005 and was commended in the Playwriting Competition of THOC. The life and work of painter Costas Stathis (1913-1987), who although is unknown to the general public in Cyprus is considered one of the significant artists of the second half of the 20th century, continues to this day to be source of inspiration and food for creativity to the writer. With many fiction elements that enhance the dramatic interest of the script, the play is transformed from a text involving many people into a “monologue-dialogue”, recording the intense conflicts the artist had had with his father as a result of his passion to become a painter, but also the agonising concerns that characterised his turbulent life. As for the plot and the characters of the play, the element of fiction is quite evident to a large extent. Some of these characters are entirely fictitious, like Aloe, while others are real people, who are, however, characterised by deep fictional incisions and interventions, such as Andronikos, Heliophotos, Father, Mother, etc.

Author’s Biographical Note
Evridiki Pericleous-Papadopoulou was born in Nicosia, Cyprus. She is Deputy Headmistress of Culture at The Grammar School in Nicosia. In addition to her academic career, she has extensively published poetry, theatrical plays, short stories and research. A number of her works have been honoured with prizes in Greece and other European countries, as well as in America, Canada and Asia. In 2005, she was awarded the State Prize for Poetry for her work Choras istorisi (Nicosia Historiated), written in the Cypriot vernacular [Nefeli Editions, Athens 2005].

Among her publications is her research O zografos Costas Stathis (The Artist Costas Stathis) [Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education and Culture and Telemachos Kanthos Foundation Editions, Nicosia 2010], and the plays: To allo miso tou ouranou (The Other Half of Heaven) [Nefeli Editions, Athens 1994] | Cyprus Theatre Organisation (THOC) Prize 1992 | Fengari min klais (Don’t Cry Moon) [Nefeli Editions, Athens 2006], commended by THOC 1994 | I siopi einai paraxeni apopse (The Silence is Strange Tonight) [Nefeli Editions, Athens 2003] | To trakter (The Tractor), Prize in the “Playwriting Week” competition of the Ministry of Education and Culture [Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education and Culture in collaboration with Theatro ENA, 2004] | Andronikos i o Zografos (Andronikos or the Artist), commended by THOC 2006. | Fila me min ximerosi (Kiss me Before Dawn) Prize in the “Playwriting Week” competition of the Ministry of Education and Culture [Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education and Culture in collaboration with Theatro ENA, 2008] | O Kairos ton kataigidon (The Storm Era), commended by THOC, 2009.

The following plays of Evridiki Pericleous-Papadopoulou have been staged: Fengari min klais (Don’t Cry Moon) [Theatro ENA, Theatre Season1995-1996] | To allo miso tou ouranou (The Other Half of Heaven) [New Stage THOC, Theatre Season 2002-2003] | A Bar Called the Lost Paradise [Warehouse Theatre, 24th International Playwriting Festival 2010, Croydon Theatre, London, March 2010]. In addition, two of her plays were presented in the form of staged reading: To Trakter (The tractor) [Theatro ENA, 2004] and Fila me min ximerosi (Kiss me Before Dawn) [Theatro ENA, 2009].

Of her poetry the following poems have been set to music and released on CD: Anakaliman ta poietarika (Lament for Folk Verse), music by Savvas Savva | To allo miso tou ouranou (The Other Half of Heaven), from the homonymous play staged by THOC (2003) and music by Savvas Savva | Choras istorisi (Nicosia Historiated), music by Michalis Christodoulides, Athens 2011.

Duration: 45 minutes
For reservations: 22797394, Monday-Friday 09:00-14:00