Theatre festival for young audiences promises to be a platform where everybody has ‘something to get inspired by, to carry with them’

A journey of discovery is promised for children of all ages at the upcoming Mitsikouri International Performing Arts Festival for Children and Young People, returning for a second time later this month with 11 productions from nine countries, along with a rich parallel programme.

“Discovery is a word that encompasses a child’s journey every day, at any age, offering room for endless possibilities, stories, experiences and so much more. Being open to discovery is our message this year,” says one of the creative directors of the International Performing Arts Festival for Children and Young People Lena Kasiou.

The festival’s programme includes a wide variety of theatre, dance, music, object theatre and contemporary circus performances, many of which have been showcased at major international festivals aimed at similar audiences, with major themes being addressed about diversity, inclusivity, boundaries, perspective, friendship, belonging, discovering, togetherness and much more.

For Kasiou personally, one of the festival highlights “is to observe the genuine, spontaneous reactions of the children, when they look mesmerised, inspired, when they laugh, whether that happens during a performance, or in the installations at the venues, or when meeting a performer.”

The majority of performances are non-verbal, making them accessible to children of all backgrounds, a move that would seem intentional. “In a sense, yes, it’s intentional – because a non-verbal performance transcends language barriers, making it accessible to audiences of any cultural background. It relies more on imagery, movement, music, sounds and creating an environment which activates the senses. For young audiences in particular, it creates a deeper, multi-sensory connection to the story. We also observe this trend abroad, where non-verbal theatre is increasingly used as an effective way to reach and engage young audiences,” explains Kasiou.

The festival also presents a rich parallel programme which will include workshops, lectures, seminars, discussions, and other activities. “These events are designed for children, parents and guardians, educators, and arts professionals,” say organisers. “We aim to create a stronger community of theatre goers and theatre makers that can grow and develop together,” says Kasiou. “It’s important to share, to discuss, to discover common goals and challenges, to find solutions, to collaborate, to keep learning and growing. Children come to see theatre created by international artists, but that’s not all. Having a parallel programme of a variety of workshops, discussions, roundtables, networking events, etc gives local professionals the opportunity to see their peers work from other countries, exchange practices and ideas, and perhaps even collaborate in the future, something that already started happening,” adds Kasiou.

“This year we also introduce the Table Project – a series of roundtable talks made up of children and young people who will come together to discuss and exchange their thoughts on all the performances at the end of each weekend. We would like Mitsikouri to become a platform where everybody has something to get inspired by, to carry with them,” she says.

For Cyprus, where the festival is one of the only ones of this nature, the demographic aimed at is key. “It’s extremely important to offer our audiences every possible opportunity to get to know the world. Through a festival like Mitsikouri, we open doors to theatre experiences from around the world. We create meaningful connections, friendships, and networking opportunities for artists, while bringing our community together. For our younger audiences, the festival becomes a space to grow socially and culturally, nurturing critical thinking, awareness, and a deeper sensitivity to the world around them,” says Kasiou.

“The challenges lie in limited resources, accessibility, and sustaining consistent support, yet the importance is undeniable. We believe that at a time where technology is taking over, it’s vital we give our youth a window where they can see, create, think and be inspired,” she adds.

Kasiou reminds that the Mitsikouri Festival was created out of a real gap they identified in Cyprus. “There are very few festivals dedicated to children and young people, yet they are among the most important audiences – curious, open and deserving of high-quality artistic experiences. Our vision is to bring international and Cypriot artists together, to expose children to different cultures, aesthetics, and stories, and to place them at the heart of contemporary performing arts. I see the festival growing, strengthening the local scene while keeping Cyprus connected to what is happening internationally. The aim is to make Mitsikouri a reference point in the global community of performing arts for young audiences, and a place where children, families, and artists feel they truly belong.”

Organised by the ASSITEJ Cyprus – Centre of Theatre for Children and Young People, the team members travel to festivals all over the world to watch performances for children and young people and bring back thoughts, notes and information. “We do a lot of research, individually and together to find more performances, we contact theatre groups whose work we find fit for our festival and then piece it all together,” says Assitej Cyprus member Kasiou. “We meet, watch the material sent by the artists and start making a selection keeping in mind our audiences, our budget, versatility and a lot of other factors when making the final selection. It’s fun, it’s tough, it’s challenging, but we love it!” she adds. “The aim of the festival is to connect both the Cypriot public and the local artistic community with contemporary trends in the field of performing arts for children and young people worldwide, while offering unique experiences for the whole family.”

This year, the festival is organised under the slogan ‘Discovering’ and will offer performances aimed at children of all ages from October 11 to 19 in Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos and even Lefkara.

Organising festivals, events, performances and activities for children and youth is quite a unique feat that comes with huge responsibility towards the adults of the future. “If you see the world through the eyes of a child, things are so pure, raw and open to possibilities. As theatre makers, we know a child can’t be fooled. It’s a particular field because every age stage is developmentally crucial, needs special care, knowledge and a nurturing environment and approach. There is a huge responsibility that comes with making or offering theatre for children and young people. It’s a holistic process that turns a performance into a lifetime unique experience,” concludes Kasiou.

For more information about the programme visit www.assitej-cyprus.com. Tickets can be found on https://www.soldoutticketbox.com

WHAT TO SEE

Opening Mitsikouri Festival next Saturday and Sunday, is Home from The Netherlands. Held at Melina Merkouri Hall in Nicosia, children will be submerged in a fairytale-like world through animated paintings and music.

Also on the same weekend, the Italian performance Seggioline: To Grow Up will welcome audiences as young as three years old. The non-verbal show will first take place at Melina Merkouri before travelling to the Larnaca Municipal Theatre.

The French theatre and puppetry performance Cinq Minutes Avec Toi will also entertain young families on Saturday as part of the Nicosia Bookfest in Acropolis Park, and then on Sunday at Lefkara Elementary School. The show addresses the beauty and challenges of parenthood.

An interactive theatre and installation will hold three non-verbal performances on October 12 at Melina Merkouri, as Imaginart from Spain presents Little Night. Then, a dance performance for children aged one and above and their families will take place by the Cypriot team of Zoe Georgallis. The Vinegar Factory in Limassol will welcome Tip-Toe-Tap (Bodies in Motion) on the same day.

A live drawing concert will be up next put on by Rotondes from Luxembourg and France. Drawing, storytelling and music come together in the unique show Minuit, suitable for ages nine and above will also be held on the same Sunday.

The Write Me Your Story event on October 15 in Nicosia will stage a reading of monologues written by teenagers during a playwriting workshop under the guidance of facilitators Eleni Xenou, Michalis Papadopoulos and Alexia Papalazarou.

On October 18, the mime and dance performance Dreamer by the Czech group FysioART will unfold in front of young audiences in Nicosia. The theatrical performance Flip-Flop by the German Theatre o.N. will also take place on the same day in Limassol and the following one in Nicosia.

A dance and acrobatics show is next on the programme as the Lamento Company from France presents The Fabulous Story of Basarkus to Nicosia audiences on October 18 and Paphos audiences the following evening.

Concluding the festival is a dance performance by Monica Muñoz from Ireland. Fall and Float will end Mitsikouri on October 19 at Melina Merkouri Hall with two dancers in impressive acrobatics, a theatrical game of balloons, held within a joyful soundscape.