One for the Kids - Cyprus Puppet & Mime Show

Cyprus News – 19.10.09

If you’ve got kids, the place to be later this week is in Latsia (Nicoisa) for the opening of the 3rd International Puppet and Mime Festival. The Cyprus Mail reported last week on some of the highlights of the festival and by the sound of it, it’s the kind of event that the kids absolutely must NOT miss!

It begins this coming Thursday (22nd October) at the Latsia Municipal Theatre and runs through until 2nd November. There’ll be plenty of see and do and some fun to be had with entertainment from nine different groups from across Europe.

Just a few of the highlights include a show by the Greek Angelus Novus-Mamakouma theatre company. It doesn’t matter if you can’t pronounce their name because the show is a real treat with actors in hilarious masks and a variety of puppets and giant cockerels which take over the stage.

If you like a touch of straightforward silliness, then go along and see the Italian Teatro Necessario – a bunch of clowns who will give the audience more than a few giggles. Three fun-loving characters trying to compete to amuse the audience mean acrobatics, silly duels and plenty of juggling with accompanying music from the clowns themselves.

Or perhaps you prefer mimicry from a group of Spanish men who call themselves the Spasmo Teatro. They made their grand debut in 1992 when they were only twelve years old. Their youth and confidence soon paid off and they began performing in packed theatres around the country. Their performance in Cyprus will mix different sketches from past performances in fresh and new ways.

From a stroll in a fairground to encounters with friendly cows, the superheroes are intent on making the audience laugh out loud.

Finally, there’s a bit of Circus Fantasy with a show by a group from several different countries (Italian, Argentinean and Swiss members) which includes magic tricks and bizarre skills. As music and movement come together you’ll be introduced to an unpredictable band, a forgetful singer, a clumsy showgirl, weird animals made of rubber foam and a flying woman.

So plenty of fun and laughter is in store for the kids in Cyprus and there is a specially set up website which gives plenty of details in both English and Greek – www.latsiafestival.eu – why not go along and have a laugh?

3rd International Puppet and Mime Festival (22nd October to 2nd November)

Latsia Municipal Theatre, 57 Yiannos Kranidiotis Avenue, Nicosia.
Entrance fee: €4 children/ €5 adults.
More information: Tel: (00357) 77777730.
www.latsiafestival.eu