Saint Sebastian remains one of the most enduring and ambiguous figures of the Western imagination. From the Early Renaissance to the present day, the image of the young martyr pierced by arrows has inspired countless painters, poets, filmmakers and artists, continually becoming a screen onto which desires, fears and fantasies are projected.

In their award-winning theatrical performance, Nova Melancholia approach Sebastian as a multifaceted archetype, a kaleidoscope of symbols and sensations, an avatar of desires and dispositions. Excavating the rich iconographic tradition surrounding his figure, they create a performance that emerges from the very body of its cultural references. Poems, paintings, songs, dance, poses, gestures and films become the material of a living stage composition.

Youth, beauty, athleticism, sensual pain, voluptuousness, homoeroticism and martyrdom coexist in a performance that explores the ways in which we can still relate – both emotionally and corporeally – to this emblematic figure. At the same time, the historical association of Saint Sebastian with the plague intersects with the memory of the AIDS epidemic, highlighting the enduring human need to seek forms of protection against illness, fear and death.

Nova Melancholia is one of the most distinctive companies on the contemporary Greek theatre scene. Rooted in theatre while drawing freely from visual art, literature, music and performance, the company creates works of remarkable aesthetic density, where popular culture is brought into dialogue with philosophy, art history and contemporary political experience. Their work is distinguished by a singular blend of lyricism, irony and dark humour, as well as by the creation of powerful stage images that remain etched in the spectator’s memory.

That isn’t what you started to say, is it?

CREATIVE TEAM

Concept and Artistic Direction: Vassilis Noulas and Kostas Tzimoulis
Direction: Vassilis Noulas
Set and Costume Design: Kostas Tzimoulis
Assistant Director: Elisavet Xanthopoulou
Photography: Maria Toultsa

Performers: Nikos Dasis, Haris Doumouras, Christina Karagianni, Christina Reinhardt, Telis Tellakis

Running time: 90′ no interval

The production is not recommended for under-16s.

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 Price

General Admission: €25

Persons with Disabilities PwD enter free of charge with the relevant ID.

For group bookings and tickets for persons with disabilities PwD, please contact the theatre box office directly.