Cypriot folk tale coming to theatres

A day before Christmas, a new theatrical show will premier in Nicosia as Theatro Antilogos presents the folk tale Spanos and the Forty Dragons.

Directed and adapted for the stage by Alexia Papalazarou, the folk tale will be presented on December 24 at Theatro Maskarini in Latsia. This will be its only show December and 2022 as in the New Year, it will resume every Saturday in January at the theatre before heading to Rialto Theatre in Limassol for a single performance on January 22.

On stage, actors Vassilis Pafitis and Izel Seylani bring the Cypriot folk tale to life. Spanos, the protagonist of the story, is the laughing stock of the village. He is a young boy who hasn’t grown a moustache yet. That is until he decides to kill the 40 dragons who cut off the water supply. Using his wits more than his physical strength, Spanos manages to trick the dragons and kill them all.

Two young children, a Greek Cypriot and a Turkish Cypriot, grow up in the same neighbourhood, with only a strip of no man’s land dividing them. They each play football separately until they become tired and fall asleep. In their sleep, the tale comes to life: will they manage to cooperate, beat the dragons and bring water back to the village?

Spanos and the Forty Dragons

Cypriot folk tale. December 24. 11am. Theatro Maskarini, Nicosia. Every Saturday in January at 4pm. January 22. Rialto Theatre, Limassol. 11am. Tel: 99-251331. www.soldoutticketbox.com