TIP in Cyprus: Hybrid Residency – A Creative Fusion of Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Romania by THOC
Hybrid Residency by THOC: 6 – 17 November 2023
Overview
The Hybrid Residency, co-organized by Theatrical Organization of Cyprus (THOC), took place from 6th to 17th November 2023 in Nicosia, Cyprus and brought together emerging artists from Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Romania to foster creative exchange and collaboration. The residency combined in-person and online sessions, providing a platform for participants to share ideas, experiment with different art forms, and develop a collaborative performance. Throughout the residency, artists engaged in daily exercises, group discussions, and individual creative tasks that encouraged them to bring their personal experiences and perspectives into the creative process. The residency culminated in a final video performance, shared via Zoom.
Participants
The Hybrid Residency involved emerging artists from Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Romania.
The Cypriot participants were:
- Anna Kalvari (Dramaturge)
- George Lizos Papakyriacou (Actor)
- Diony Geyst (Drama School Student)
- Ifigeneia Abraham (Scenographer, Actor)
- Kyriacos Costa (Composer, Pianist, Educator)
- Maria Papageorgiou (Dancer)
- Marianna Savva (Drama School Student, Musician)
- Raffaella Neofytou (Actor)
- Sofia Ioannou (Actor, Musician, Teacher)
- Chrysanthi Leivadioti (Actor)
The Bulgarian participants to Cyprus were: - Neda Aleksov, Actress
- Anastasia Dimitrova, Actress
- Aprajita Jarayam, Actress
- Kaiden Myers, Actor
- Georgi Petkov, Actor
The Romanian participants to Cyprus were: - Dan Boldea, Actor, performer
- Xenia Botea, Visual artist
- Andreea Lupescu, Creative workshops, journalist, PR, musician
- Dana Mihordea, Musicologist, lyrical artist
- Eszter Zrinyifalvi, Dramaturg, puppeteer, theater director
Summary of the Residency
The Hybrid Residency was an enriching 12-day program where participants engaged in a variety of creative activities. The first week in participants’ countries included warm-up exercises, group discussions, and creative tasks centered around themes like activism, sustainability, and time. Participants wrote personal letters, shared impactful experiences, and explored movement and sound, all while fostering an atmosphere of mindfulness, trust, and collaboration.
In the second week, the group split and travelled to the other two countries, with the Cypriots traveling to Romania and Bulgaria. The group in Cyprus, consisting of people coming from Bulgaria and Romania focused on creating a collaborative performance, incorporating physical partiture exercises to develop a series of movements performed in dialogue. The group also worked outdoors to capture inspiration for their performance. As the residency progressed, participants took on a more active role in shaping the creative direction, and the residency concluded with a final video performance presented via Zoom.
The residency was a unique opportunity for the artists to connect across borders, engage with new ideas and methodologies, and share their diverse cultural perspectives. THOC provided vital support throughout the program, ensuring a nurturing environment for artistic exploration and development.
