Before becoming Socrates’ disciple, Phaedo of Elis was the most beautiful of bodies, the most prized of slaves, a man who experienced love as both ecstasy and devastation. As a young boy, he was captured by the Spartans and sold into slavery, forced into prostitution before eventually being ransomed through funds raised at Socrates’ urging. Phaedo was present at the philosopher’s death, and Plato chose him as the narrator of Socrates’ final hours before he drank the hemlock. In Fires, her celebrated collection of lyrical prose inspired by historical and mythical figures, Marguerite Yourcenar transforms Phaedo’s life into an allegory of the ways desire, violence, loss and knowledge shape and transform a human being.

In this deeply moving text, Phaedo recounts to Cebes the moment Alcibiades redeemed him on Socrates’ behalf. His confession spirals through memories, sensations and reflections on love, beauty, violence and philosophy, creating a continuous state of vertigo. Yet this vertigo is not merely the dizziness produced by events; it is the condition of an existence that has lost every certainty and seeks, through philosophy, a new way of standing before itself and the world.

The performance unfolds across the façade, forecourt and square of the Nicosia Municipal Theatre. More than a performance venue, the theatre is transformed into an ancient agora, where spectators, standing or seated, witness the action taking place among the columns of the iconic building and within the corridors of Phaedo’s own mind.

For those who love, time no longer exists, for lovers have torn out their hearts to give them to those they love…

CREATIVE TEAM

Concept & Direction: Andreas Araouzos
Translation: Ioanna D. Hadjinikoli
Lighting & Live Camera: Nikos Mylonas
Music & Soundscape: Stavros Makris
Production: Alpha Square

Performed by: Andreas Araouzos (Phaedo), Stavros Dimopoulos (Cebes, Alcibiades, Young Phaedon)

Running time: 50΄ no interval

Although presented here under its original French title, Phédon ou le vertige, the published English translation of Marguerite Yourcenar’s Fires renders the title as Phaedo, or, The Dance.

NICOSIA INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL

FESTIVAL IDENTITY

CO-ORGANISERS: Nicosia For Art Ltd, Nicosia Municipality
MAIN SPONSOR: Deputy Ministry of Culture, Department of Contemporary Culture
GOLD SPONSORS: VF Foundation, Allwyn
SILVER SPONSOR: PwC
OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR: Phileleftheros Media Group
SUPPORTERS: L’Oréal Paris, French Institute of Cyprus, The Classic Hotel, Ethimo
PARTNER: Press and Information Office
HOSPITALITY SPONSORS: Centrum Hotel, Altius Boutique Hotel
OFFICIAL FESTIVAL CAR: Pilakoutas Group
EXCLUSIVE TICKETING PARTNER: more.com

Ticket Prices

General Admission: €20
Reduced ticket: €15

*Reduced tickets: Senior Citizens 65+, Students, Unemployed Persons, People with Disabilities PwD assistant.

Persons with Disabilities PwD enter free of charge with the relevant ID, whilst their assistant one person enters with a reduced ticket.

For group bookings and tickets for persons with disabilities PwD, please contact the theatre box office directly at +357 22 797 979.