ETC members - Information
THOC - Cyprus Theatre Organisation (Theatrikos Organismos Kyprou)
Address: Halkanoros 2 and Liperti StreetCity: Nicosia
Postal code: 2000
Country: Cyprus
Phone: +357 22492900
Fax: +357 22512732
Email: info@thoc.org.cy
Website: www.thoc.org.cy
View photo gallery
THOC - Cyprus Theatre Organisation (Theatrikos Organismos Kyprou)
The Cyprus Theatre Organisation (THOC) began its creative journey in 1971, aspiring to «promote the art of theatre in Cyprus and to cultivate a sense of theatre among the people, and to promote artistic relations between the theatre world of Cyprus and that of Greece and other countries».
Τhe State Theatre of Cyprus offers productions through its four stages:
- Main Stage: With large-scale productions of classical and modern plays, as well as ancient drama, intended for large audiences and with performances specially scheduled for secondary school students.
- New Stage: Established in 1994 as a follow-on from the Second Stage. Plays with small casts are performed in smaller spaces, with a more intimate relationship between stage and audience.
- Experimental Stage: Promoting new forms of theatre and research, the Experimental stage is a place where young artists and theatre people with fresh ideas have a channel of expression.
- Children's Stage: With plays by authors from Cyprus, Greece and other countries, THOC’s Children’s Stage successfully reaches out to children of ages from 4-12, with performances specially organised for schools and nurseries.
The Cyprus Theatre Organisation, with over 380 productions, has developed excellent relations with state theatres abroad, as well as with smaller but very significant companies in many countries, and has toured abroad extensively, giving performances in the United Kingdom, Egypt, Germany, Bulgaria, Russia, Greece, the USA, Poland, China, Denmark. Since 1980, missing only two festivals, THOC has taken part in the annual Epidaurus Festival, with plays from the Ancient Greek Drama repertory and has gained a prestigious place among the Festival’s participants.
A review of THOC’s accomplishments over the years would impress even the more reluctant or ‘indifferent’ people towards theatre: a very high standard of productions, a showcase of important artistic abilities – actors, directors, composers, designers, choreographers etc. The Organisation’s productions have travelled to all continents and has been accepted as a theatre unit with high quality and standards, contributing to the rich Greek culture but also to creating bridges between cultures. In this aspect, THOC is established as a Company honouring Cyprus and theatre in general.
Added to THOC's structure in 1979, the Theatre Development department deals specifically with the following:
- Subsidisation and support of independent theatres (non profit companies)
- Subsidisation of ad hoc performances
- Organisation of seminars, lectures, and other events related to theatre
- Theatre in education
- Amateur theatre
- Theatre of Cypriot communities abroad
- Competitions and support of Cypriot writers
- Collaborations with organisations abroad
- Foundation and Operation of the Cyprus Theatre Museum
- Subsidisation of organised groups (i.e. Cyprus Centre of the International Theatre Institute, Cyprus Actors’ Union, Playwrights’ Society, etc)
- Networking and providing information regarding matters of theatre
Today THOC is undoubtedly one of the most important cultural operators in Cyprus and the nucleus of theatre activity on the island, a well respected international artistic presence with a vast array of activities in the field of theatre development.
