Harold Pinter’s Ashes to Ashes comes to Nicosia

Harold Pinter’s extended one-act play ‘Ashes to Ashes’ is perhaps one of the most mysterious and enigmatic works by the British playwright. It was first performed in Amsterdam in 1996 before premiering in England at the Royal Theatre Court later on that year. This May, the play is coming to the Cypriot stage with Andreas Araouzos and Stella Fyrogeni in a Greek-language adaptation.

Ashes to Ashes has been described as ‘an encrypted parable of the acceptance of violence.’ It opens with Devlin and Rebecca talking in what appears to be a home living room yet their relationship is never defined. As the play develops, it becomes apparent that Devlin and Rebecca are probably married, although their relationship with each other is still not clear. In the beginning, Devlin seems to be Rebecca’s husband or lover, at times he acts like her therapist, and potentially even her murderer. Their discussion often gives the impression to be more between a therapist and his patient than between two lovers or between a husband and a wife.

He questions Rebecca in forceful ways, and she reveals personal information and dream-like sequences to him. The conversation changes constantly talking about a third person, relatives strangers, children, a factory, a police siren, a new disease…

Fyrogeni and Araouzos attempt to decode Pinter’s text and the conversation between the two characters, directing their own roles. The play will premiere on May 8 at A.G. Leventis Gallery with two shows every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday inviting audiences to decipher and question what is really going on between this peculiar couple.

Ashes to Ashes

Harold Pinter’s play presented by Andreas Araouzos and Stella Fyrogeni. May 8 onwards. Two shows every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. 7pm and 8.30pm. €12. Tickethour.com.cy. Tel: 7777-7040