Cyprus tour for Pinter’s most enigmatic play

The theatrical group Solo for Three presents Harold Pinter’s The Birthday Party, directed by Maria Mannaridou-Karsera this April. The English playwright is considered one of the pioneers of modern theatre, with his works remaining relevant to this day through their exploration of individual freedom and self-determination.

This April, a Greek adaptation of the play premieres in Nicosia on April 11, before embarking on a tour of Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos.

Pinter draws the audience into a world that feels both familiar and deeply unsettling. Nothing is certain, nothing remains reassuringly stable. Characters are introduced with seemingly solid identities, only for these to be dismantled. Events, names, places and timelines from the past all appear fluid. The very notion of identity becomes ambiguous – perhaps as elusive as human nature itself. This existential undertone gives the play a profound depth.

Structured like a thriller, rich with the elements of the Theatre of the Absurd, and interwoven with darkly comic situations, the play unfolds in a neglected seaside boarding house run by the kind-hearted Meg and her husband Petey. Their sole lodger is Stanley, a former pianist who has found refuge there. But his solitude is shattered by the arrival of two mysterious men, Goldberg and McCann, whose only known purpose is that they have “a job to do.”

After an absurd and relentless interrogation, they organise a birthday party for Stanley – one that gradually descends into a nightmare. A birthday party for Stanley, who – perhaps – may not even be celebrating his birthday today.

Featuring a local cast of actors, the play will be presented in Nicosia’s Theatro Dentro until May 18. In between, it will hold performances in Paphos, at Markideio Theatre on April 30, in Larnaca at G Lycourgos theatre on May 8 and in Limassol, at Rialto Theatre on the following evening.

The Nicosia shows on April 3 will include Greek surtitles and on April 11, a post-performance discussion will take place with the creative team.

The Birthday Party

Adaptation of Harold Pinter’s play by the Solo for Three theatre group. April 11-May 18. Theatre Dentro, Nicosia. April 30. Markideio Theatre, Paphos. May 8. G. Lycourgos, Larnaca. May 9. Rialto Theatre, Limassol. 8pm. In Greek. €15. www.soldoutticketbox.com. Tel: 96-147809