Tribute Event for Monica Vassiliou
ETHAL honored Monica Vassiliou
The first female theatre director in Cyprus, an actress, and a teacher. The Limassol Theatre Development Company (ETHAL) and the Municipality of Limassol paid tribute to the Limassolian director of ETHAL’s inaugural production in 1989, The Rainmaker by Richard Nash, on Monday, November 1, 2010, at Technochoros in Limassol.
Several prominent figures spoke about Monica Vassiliou’s life and her artistic contributions in Cyprus, Greece, the UK, and the former Soviet Union, including:Andreas Christou (Mayor of Limassol) Christakis Georgiou (Theatre Critic, President of the ITI Cyprus Board) Antigoni Drousioti-Solomonidou (Journalist) Alki Zei (Author) Stefanos Linaios and Kitty Arsenis (Actors)
Monica Vassiliou came to Cyprus in 1960 after graduating from the Ostrovsky University of Theatre Arts in Russia. Along with Iakovos Kambanellis, she founded the New Theatre in Limassol. In 1962, she collaborated with Cyprus’ first semi-state theatre, OTHAK. In 1963, she moved to Athens, where she worked with various prominent theatre groups and schools, including Myrat’s Theatre and the Katakrezis’ companies. During the Junta in 1967, she was arrested, detained, and ultimately exiled from Greece as persona non grata. After relocating to England for health reasons, she appeared on several television channels from 1967-1972, notably in Kazantzakis’ Christ Recrucified. She returned to Cyprus in 1972 due to her father’s illness and joined the Cyprus Theatre Organization (THOC). In 1978, she left THOC to work with experimental theatre groups. In 1978-79, she started THOC’s first Children’s Stage. Her interest in children’s theatre grew after visiting children in refugee camps after the 1974 invasion. She continued to direct, teach at various educational institutions in Cyprus and abroad, and collaborate with theatre companies such as ETHAL, SKALA, and THOC. In recent years, she has worked as both an actress and director.
Tribute Event for Monica Vassiliou
Organizers: ETHAL and the Municipality of Limassol
Monday, November 1, at 7:30 p.m.
Technochoros of ETHAL, Franklin Roosevelt Avenue, Limassol
For Information: 25 877 827
Photos from the event:
