From Stage Fright to Spotlight: A Transformative Journey at the Cyprus Theatre Festival
CUBE’s participant Evangelia Keramari writes….
At the beginning of the Cyprus Theatre Festival, I felt a little out of place. The language barrier and being surrounded by so many new, young faces made me feel uneasy. But as the days passed, I started feeling more at home, embraced by a sense of security and belonging. A big part of this comfort came from the incredible team at THOC (The Cyprus Theatre Organisation), who welcomed us with kindness, enthusiasm, and endless support whenever we needed it.
On the first day, I was deeply moved by Italy’s performance. Understanding Italian, I could fully grasp the emotional depth of a play based on a real event from 1981 that left a lasting scar on Italian society. It explored a collective trauma that changed Italian media forever. The post-show Q&A was equally powerful, delving into how governments respond to national tragedies. It sparked meaningful reflections that stayed with me.
The second day was intense, from 10 in the morning until 10 at night – a full immersion into theatre and dance. The Spanish performance stood out, with music and movement blending so beautifully that I felt myself relax completely. While watching the shows, my mind kept returning to our own upcoming performance. I was constantly thinking about how we could make the best use of the stage and set design. A small knot of anxiety stayed with me, but it was all part of the process.
The talks we attended were also eye-opening, especially the discussions about how the arts are perceived in universities abroad and how we, as artists, can protect our creative voices and advocate for our work. By now, I was starting to feel more confident, speaking more freely, and enjoying the exchanges.
Then came the big day – our performance! We were nervous, of course, and had so many details to coordinate: the projector, lights, music, videos, tuning the guitar (thankfully a Swedish participant helped), and setting up cues. Again, the THOC team was invaluable, and everything came together better than we hoped. During our performance, I could feel the audience’s positive energy, and I was swept away by the story we were telling – a story about love.
The Q&A after our show went great too. The audience was genuinely interested in our theme, and it felt like our play brought together threads from previous performances – themes of loneliness from Finland, and love from Bulgaria, echoed in our own work. We received so much encouraging feedback, with many noting its cinematic quality and suggesting we could take it further.
After the festival officially ended, we celebrated over dinner. I felt completely at ease and full of joy, chatting more than I had the entire week. We even had fun comparing food-related idioms from different countries – like how in Greek we say “έκανα πατάτα” (I messed up), which they also say in Spain, or “good egg” in English for someone kind-hearted.
Later, we attended THOC’s own production “You and I” at their main theatre – it was phenomenal. The actors, the script, the direction – everything was outstanding. The night concluded with a party where everyone mingled, laughed, and danced. I even had the idea for each country to share a song from their homeland. We played some Ikariotiko and Sirtaki, and many gave Greek dancing a try! The intercultural vibe was alive and electric – everyone joined in, and the joy was contagious.
A Stepping Stone for My Artistic Journey
Participating in this festival, as part of the EU-funded Theatre In Palm project, has had a profound impact on my development as an artist. It gave me the rare opportunity to collaborate and connect with creative minds from all over Europe, exposing me to new methods, perspectives, and artistic expressions. Being part of such a diverse, international environment not only expanded my cultural horizons but also taught me how to adapt, communicate, and perform in a multilingual and multicultural setting.
The workshops and discussions enriched my understanding of the global theatre landscape and highlighted the importance of resilience and advocacy in our field. I’ve come away with valuable insights into how the arts are supported and practiced abroad, which I can now apply to my own work back home.
Moreover, the experience of presenting our performance on an international stage has boosted my confidence and pushed me to think about my art beyond local boundaries. The feedback I received encouraged me to explore more interdisciplinary and cinematic elements in my future projects.
This program has been more than just an experience – it’s been a catalyst for growth, inspiration, and ambition. I now feel more prepared and motivated to pursue artistic collaborations across Europe and continue building a career that is both creative and meaningful.
