Antiskino open-air theatre festival is back

“The pandemic didn’t come to teach us about vaccines, viruses, transmissions and to alienate us,” says the Antiskino festival team. “It arrived and brought us closer, amplified our love for theatre and it opened our appetite to create and contribute to culture.” And just like that, the open-air theatre festival of Antiskino returns for the fifth consecutive year this weekend.

Held at a secluded area surrounded by nature, the festival will take place on Friday and Saturday at the Municipal Park in Kato Pyrgos Tyllirias with a packed programme of performances.

A day before the festival officially opens its doors, the festival organisers, volunteers and the youth of Kato Pyrgos will gather for a live music night at Klimataria Restaurant and Bar to kick off the festivities.

On Friday 27, the festival’s events will begin with a music set by Aparapira Parape at 1pm. The performances will take place later on during the evening when the weather cools down a little. First up is a 30-minute contemporary theatre performance by Chtiti Raftopoulou titled Ena Kouvari Eimaste.

At 8.15pm a short performance called Etsi Theli to Kattin will follow by emerging artists, before a Cypriot play takes the floor at 9pm. Wild Stories is the title of this 60-minute play directed by Stelios Theocharous. Ending the evening’s theatre performances is Alberto Conejero’s The Dark Stone at 10.30pm yet the night will conclude with the screening of the short film Pagota, a queer film by Andreas Pavlou.

Saturday will begin with a workshop at 11am titled Bring Your Story led by the Yasemin Collective who will perform their play Kazanti at 8.30pm that evening. After another music session by Aparapira Parape at 1pm, Andreas Economides will perform an improv set of looping with an electric guitar at 6pm. Then, it will be time for Yasemin Collective’s performance followed by ETHAL’s play I Psilikatsou at 10.30pm.

Wrapping up the festival, Aparapira Parape will be playing some tunes on Sunday with free entrance for all. So, grab your camping tents, a cushion to sit on and a pack of beers and prepare for a weekend of theatre under the trees of Kato Pyrgos Tyllirias.

Antiskino Festival

Outdoor theatre festival with several performances. August 27-28. Municipal Park in Kato Pyrgos Tyllirias, Paphos. €20 tickets via www.tickethour.com.cy Facebook page: @antiskino