Romiosyni

On the very day of the tragic events of 1821, which marked the history of Cyprus, the Theatrical Workshop of the University of Cyprus presents one of its historical productions, the play Romiosyni. Based on the idiomatic masterpieces of Vassilis Michaelides

The Ninth of July 1821 in Nicosia (Cyprus), Chiotissa, Cyprus to Its Mother, Cyprus to Those Who Deny That It Is Greek, and Anerada, the production acquired a special importance for the collective consciousness of the people of Cyprus, but also for the history of Cypriot letters, since the philological research that preceded it, resulted in the discovery of unknown manuscripts of the poet and the first publication of the missing verse no. 456 of The Ninth of July. Furthermore, in the first performances the role of the narrator was performed by the poet Theodosis Nikolaou (1930–2004) who interpreted the same part in the historical production of the Famagusta Greek Gymnasium (1948), in which Archbishop Kyprianos was played by the hero of Cyprus, Grigoris Afxentiou.

The stage adaptation and the performance itself seek to reveal Michaelides’s conscious attempt to create (through all his historical and history inspired dialectic poems that elaborate on the fate of Cyprus) a contemporary “tragedy”, which would convey in a poetic way the tragic aspects of modern Cypriot history. Another contribution of the Cyprus University Theatrical Workshop constitutes the fact that it offered a new approach to the dramatic adaptation and stage presentation of the poetic heritage of Vassilis Michaelides, based on all his historical poems written in the Cypriot dialect.

In its new revision the play constitutes part of the “Cypriot Tetralogy” (Leontios Machairas, Cypriot demotic song tradition, Vassilis Michaelides, Costas Montis) with which THEPAK seeks to present the world of Cyprus from different perspectives (of history, ethnography, literature, musical tradition), to reveal different stages in the development of Cypriot dialect (medieval, renaissance, modern), and to delve into different historical circumstances.

The “Cypriot Tetralogy” is being presented on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus.

Adaptation, stage direction: Michalis Pieris
Music: Evagoras Karagiorgis
Set and Props: Christos Lysiotis
Costumes: Eliana Chrysostomou, Marina Kleanthous
Lighting: Giorgos Koukoumas
Production manager, assistant director: Stamatia Laoumtzi