The popular, witty Christmas story by Evgenios Trivizas, Freakadella, The Witch Who Hated Christmas Carols will be brought to life this December through a performance for orchestra, choir and narration, under the direction of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra honourary conductor and composer Alkis Baltas.

This will be the Cyprus premiere of a fresh production of this show, with an emphasis on theatricality to best bring out the action and humour of the story. Three performances are planned next week, first at Nicosia’s Strovolos Municipal Theatre on December 18 (which is already sold out), then at Paphos’ Markideio Municipal Theatre on the following evening and at Limassol’s Pattihio Municipal Theatre on December 20.

Actor Petros Georkadjis will perform the role of a present-day witch, wearing a costume specially designed for this production by Rea Olympiou. The choral parts will be performed by the ΣymhpoΠedia and Cyprus Youth Symphony Orchestra choirs.

They are held in collaboration with Radiomarathon and in support of this charitable institution, before and after the concerts begin at 6pm, at the entrance hall of all three theatres there will be a bazaar with various items for sale.

“This is a tale full of magic spells, adventure and an unexpected metamorphosis that will warm everyone’s hearts,” organisers say.

The story is a witty Christmas tale by the Greek sociologist and writer of children’s books, which stars the witch Freakadella who hates everything that is good and especially Christmas carols. When children sing them at Christmas time she gets furious and turns them into frogs, ducklings, kittens and other animals. Still, even in their new form, children keep on singing. After various adventures, the children convince Freakadella to change her mind and heart, until she finally joins her voice with theirs.

Before the witch’s adventures take over the island’s theatre, the Cyprus Youth Symphony Orchestra will step on the stage to welcome baritone Kyros Patsalides, tenor Hector Sandoval and mezzo-soprano Anastasia Maximova in a festive gala concert. On December 16, popular operatic arias and orchestral pieces by Bizet, Puccini and Verdi, among others, will be performed at Nicosia Municipal Theatre. Also joining are soprano Maria Poulli and young, rising Cypriot sopranos Constantina Nicolaou and Eleni Charalambous.

Gala Concert

By the Cyprus Youth Symphony Orchestra and invited sopranos, tenors and baritones. December 16. Nicosia Municipal Theatre, Nicosia. 8.30pm. €20. Tel: 22-463144, www.cyso.org.cy

Freakadella, The Witch Who Hated Christmas Carols

Cyprus Symphony Orchestra, ΣymhpoΠedia and Cyprus Youth Symphony Orchestra Choirs bring to life a Christmas tale. With live narration. December 18. Strovolos Municipal Theatre, Nicosia. December 19. Markideio Municipal Theatre, Paphos. December 20. Pattihio Municipal Theatre, Limassol. 6pm. €15. Tel: 22-463144, www.cyso.org.cy