Dear Friends and Cultural Enthusiasts,
As we embrace the vibrant hues of autumn and the crisp winter days, we are enchanted to unveil our cultural season, "Echoes of Cyprus." This season is a celebration of the Cyprus heritage, bringing together a diverse selection of events that showcase the richness of our cultural landscape.
We commence our journey on September 18th, 2024, with the opening of the "There is an Island II: Expressions of Cyprus by Young Artists" Exhibition at the Cyprus House. The exhibition provides a touching glimpse into the creative expressions of our youth, whilst featuring the imaginative work of young artists from the Greek diaspora schools in the UK and Cyprus, This venture will run through October with curated tours available on weekdays and will be open during the Frieze Festival on October 12th and 13th, 2024.
Further along, on September 25th, 2024, we are honored to celebrate the European Day of Languages in a collaboration with the Maltese High Commission with the literary event, "Belonging to the Periphery: The Stories of two Islands," at the Cyprus High Commission, in London. Join us for an engaging evening with the authors, Constantia Soteriou from Cyprus and Elena Cardona from Malta, as they explore themes of language, identity, and cultural expression.
In September we also support an academic conference on “Cyprus and Sicily in Comparative Perspectives” at Durham University. Leading scholars will explore the parallels and contrasts of the two countries while offering fresh insights into their shared heritage.
In October, We support a thought provoking exhibition by Maria Loizidou: “The Place I am not”, organized by the Hellenic Centre, in London in collaboration with the Freud Museum. Loizidou explores the concept of “place” as a protective shell and the intimate relationship between place and memory.
In addition, we present the performance "Colours - Acoustic London Edition" on October 19th, 2024, at the Cyprus Community Centre, in Woodgreen, blending music and theatrical monologues in order to create a rich tapestry of sound and storytelling, while exploring human emotions.
We will also feature two literary events at the Cyprus House, in London, on October 23rd : "Maths and Murder: Unexpected Stories from Maths" by Ioanna Georgiou, offering a fascinating look at the history of mathematics, and "Classical Heritage & Contemporary Creation," during which British Cypriot Alexis Christofi, will delve into the legacy of “Cypria”, the semi-legendary epic and its modern interpretations.
Throughout October we will host the London edition of our reimagined UK CYPRUS FILM FESTIVAL – stay tuned for that and starting on November 2nd, 2024, the festival travels in various UK cities, bringing a diverse selection of the Cyprus cinema to audiences across the UK.
Moreover, in November, we proudly co-sponsor three exceptional performances as part of the “Voila! Festival”:
-November 7th to 9th, at the Cockpit Theatre: “Wall of Babel” by Nefeli Kentoni, investigating identity, language and communication.
-November 13th to 17th, 2024, at the Barons Court Theatre: “74: Love in the Shadow of Invasion and Revolution” by Chrysanthi Livadiotis, exploring the impact of political upheavals on personal lives.
-November 16th, 2024, at the playground Theatre: “KATABASIS” by Nefeli Kentoni, addressing issues of memory, survival and the quest of meaning.
Soon thereafter we are thrilled to host "The High Tides of Time," a solo exhibition by the acclaimed Cypriot artist Marina Emphietzi, at the Cyprus House, in London, from November 20th to 29th, 2024. The exhibition invites viewers to explore the passage of time through evocative seascapes, reflecting her deep personal and cultural connection to the sea.
On top of that, we invite you to experience on November 27th, 2024, the redolent music-theatre performance: “Θalassa: Cyprus Tales and Songs from the Sea”, at the Cyprus House, in London, by Elena Hadjiafxendi, exploring the deep connection between Cyprus and the sea and having been inspired by Marina Emphietzi’s solo exhibition.
And we proceed with our season activities by showcasing "Proud Voices II" on December 4th, at the Cyprus House, in London, celebrating the experiences and identities of the Cypriot LGBTQIA+ diaspora through a photo exhibition and a panel discussion.
Additionally, on December 7th, we will host a study day, “What’s New in Ancient Cyprus?” at the Cyprus House, in London, in collaboration with the British Museum, focusing on new findings of archaeology in Cyprus.
On December 11th we invite you to join us for an enchanting evening at the Cyprus Embassy in London with “Folk Noir Stories and Myths from Cyprus: Songs of Fate and Love”, a captivating blend of original songs and covers, drawing on the rich tapestry of Cypriot folklore and noir.
Ultimately, join us for "Rocking Holidays: A Christmas Spectacle" on December 18th, at the Cyprus House in London, in order to share holiday cheer with festive music and warm spirit.
Call for Proposals
We invite all artists to join our Cypriot Artists in the UK database in order to be eligible for inclusion in our 2025 season. Registration in this database will ensure you are a part of our future cultural initiatives and opportunities.
We look forward to sharing this season of vibrant cultural experiences with you. For more details and updates, please explore our website and social media channels.
Warm regards,
Marios Theocharous
Cultural Counsellor
Cyprus High Commission in London
