21st Cyprus Theatre Festival Launches in the TRNC

The 21st Cyprus Theatre Festival is set to open on May 20 in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), bringing together performances across Nicosia, Kyrenia, and Famagusta through a joint effort by the three municipalities.

The festival was officially announced at a press conference held last week at the Nicosia Municipal Theatre. Members of the organizing committee and the mayors involved emphasized the importance of collaboration and shared highlights from the upcoming program.

The opening performance will take place on May 20 at the Near East University AKKM Hall, featuring “The Price of Freedom” by the Ankara State Theatre. The show starts at 8:30 PM.

On June 3 and 4, the Nicosia Municipal Theatre will host “Love in Prison,” a play that portrays the years Turkish poet and writer Nazım Hikmet spent imprisoned in Bursa. Due to high demand, tickets for both dates have already sold out, and organizers are planning an additional performance.

The timing of the show is symbolic—Nazım Hikmet, a major figure in Turkish revolutionary poetry, died on June 3, 1963, in Moscow. His grave at Novodevichy Cemetery remains a site of pilgrimage.

“On the anniversary of Nazım Hikmet’s passing, we are proud to honor him at the 21st Cyprus Theatre Festival,” said members of the organizing committee.

Festival performances will also be staged at theatres in Kyrenia and Famagusta, with all shows beginning at 8:30 PM.

Famagusta Mayor Süleyman Uluçay expressed his hope that the festival will eventually grow into an international event that spans the entire island. Meanwhile, Nicosia Turkish Municipality Mayor Mehmet Harmancı said the return of this joint effort is an encouraging step forward.

Full program details and tickets are available online at:

• www.gisekibris.com

• www.kibrisbiletcim.com

• www.adatickets.com
  Tickets can also be purchased at the Nicosia Municipal Theatre box office.