Aristophanes Lysistrata by Costas Montis

Aristophanes’ comedy “Lysistrata” in the translation and adaptation of the best contemporary poet of Cyprus, Costas Montis, has a distinct local flavour, an unmistakable Cypriot character. The language of the adaptation is luscious, poignant, full of brilliant choices. The freshness and vivacity of Arisophanes’ text is preserved without resorting to purportedly shrewd or distasteful exaggerations in the use of profanities.

With his creative adaptation, Montis emerged as a talented mediator between the ancient dramatic work and the linguistic sense of modern-day Cypriots. The Cypriot nature of Montis’ “Lysistrata”, however, is not limited only to language and verbal expression but extends over to the broader musical and metrical organisation of the play, which in Montis’ adaptation fits into a new cultural setting, that of the demotic and popular narrative tradition of Cyprus.

The production of “Lysistrata” by the Theatrical Workshop of the University of Cyprus (THEPAK) is the second noteworthy attempt to bring to stage Montis’ translation of Arisophanes’ play, which was first presented by the Cyprus Theatre Organisation in 1981/1982. Since its première in 2000, THEPAK’s version of “Lysistrata” has been performed more than 50 times in Cyprus and abroad, has participated in the Rethymno’s Renaissance Festival in Crete and in the International Meeting of University Theatre in Ancient Olympia, and has thrilled both audiences and critics, becoming one of the most successful productions of the University of Cyprus Theatrical Workshop.

Theatrical Workshop of the University of Cyprus

Stage direction: Michalis Pieris
Music: Evagoras Karagiorgis
Set and costumes: Christos Lysiotis, Eliana Chrysostomou
Movement coaching: Michalis Pieris
Choreography: Elena Christodoulidou
Lighting: Giorgos Koukoumas
Production manager, assistant director: Stamatia Laoumtzi