On Wednesday, May 10, 2023, in Brisbane (Brisbane), Australia, the theatrical performance of the Cyprus Theatrical Organisation's theatrical performance "Longshanks and Shortshanks" took place in a packed venue. Spectators of all ages, of the Cypriot and Greek diaspora, as well as the High Commissioner of Cyprus in Australia, Mr. Antonis Sammoutis, attended the theatrical performance by Mr. Alekos Sakellariou and Mr. Christos Giannakopoulos, directed by Mr. Panagiotis Larkos, which was a great success in Cyprus last year.
The performance is part of the Stage EXTRAORDINARY programme of the Cyprus Theatre Organisation and aims to offer quality theatrical entertainment to Cypriots everywhere, both in Cyprus and abroad.
The theatrical and cinematographic play "Makrykostaioi and Kontogiorgides" is a Greek comedy of the 1960s which has a timeless value because, six decades later, it is still embraced with the same fervour by the audience. Bearing in mind the wide range of spectators, which also includes people who do not have sufficient knowledge of Greek, provision has been made for subtitles in English to be shown during the performance for a better understanding of the play by all those present.
The President of the Board of Directors of the THOC Ms. Antigoni Papafilippou said that the THOC has set a high bar for its voice to be heard by our expatriates, and stated that she is convinced that this play will "touch" both older and younger generations, as it contains messages of love and reconciliation, as well as universal lessons with universal human values. He also mentioned the contribution of the Director of the Press and Information Office, Ms. Aliki Stylianou, as well as the High Commissioner of Cyprus to Australia, Mr. Antonis Sammoutis and the Consul Mr. Stavros Nikolaou for supporting the whole effort. Thanking the Cypriot Community of Queensland, he referred to the immediate and positive response received by the THOC from the President and members of the Board of Directors of the Cypriot community of Brisbane, stressing that "the warmth with which this effort was embraced fills us with joy, strength and courage for the continuation of the Cyprus Theatre Organisation's Scene EXTRA EDRA program".
"Offering quality theatrical entertainment to our expatriates has a positive impact, as it brings Cypriots in the Diaspora even closer to their homeland. For this reason, the whole effort of THOC's overseas tour was warmly embraced by both the High Commission of Cyprus in Australia and the Cypriot Communities in Australia", said Mr. Antonis Sammoutis.
The President of the Queensland Cypriot Community of Brisbane, Mr. Stathis Zambas, said that for the first time in its history, the community of Brisbane, which was established in the 1940s, has the honour of hosting the Cyprus Theatre Organisation. "The Hellenism of our city, Cypriots and Greeks, are hungry for something Greek and are eagerly awaiting this performance. Tonight we have the opportunity, even if only for a few hours, to enjoy a theatrical performance from our homeland that we so much need. The whole project proves in practice the close relations that the Cypriot state has with the Cypriots of the diaspora", Mr. Zambas stressed.
As part of its contribution to the Cypriot diaspora, the Press and Information Office has actively supported the efforts of the Cyprus Theatre Organisation from the very beginning. The expatriate Cypriots had the opportunity to be informed about the multi-dimensional work carried out by the Press and Information Office and received printed material about Cyprus prepared by the Press and Information Office.
The next stop of the Cyprus Theatre Organisation's tour is set for 17 May 2023, when the performance of "Longstockings and Shortwings" will be presented in Adelaide.
(AT/AF/SX)
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