The 19th Cyprus Theatre Festival Kicks Off with "You Are More Beautiful Than Istanbul"

The play was performed at the Rauf Denktaş University Culture Centre, where the Lefkoşa Municipality Orchestra performed a musical recital prior to the play.

In a brief speech before the play, Lefkoşa Municipality Theatre Artistic Director Cem Aykut recalled the founding of the theater, stating that the founding team led by Yaşar Ersoy aimed to create a theater audience in Cyprus and introduce young generations to the Turkish Cypriot theatre tradition. Aykut also noted that the festival has reached its 19th edition, and with the unifying power of art, all obstacles were overcome.

LTB President and Festival Honorary Chairman Mehmet Harmancı also gave a speech, expressing his excitement and happiness to be once again in the capital of culture and arts, Lefkoşa, for the 19th Cyprus Theatre Festival. Harmancı paid his respects to the country's bright children, teachers, citizens, and over 50,000 who lost their lives in the earthquake in Turkey, stating that it was a time of questioning life for everyone.

Harmancı stressed that even in the face of great difficulty, one must never give up, and those who consider this country their homeland should never accept defeat. Harmancı closed by saying that theatre is a form of resistance, and it can be experienced at its best on stage, thanking the theater audience that always fills the halls.

Following the speeches, the play "You Are More Beautiful Than Istanbul" by Istanbul City Theatres, which was the opening play of the 19th Cyprus Theatre Festival, was performed. The play, written by Murat Mahmutyazıcıoğlu, brought together the narrative tradition and contemporary tools of theatre, presenting a lamentation made up of what a family's three generations could not say to each other and their inner voices in a different plot centering around a constantly changing home.

After the play, LBT Artistic Director Cem Aykut presented a thank-you plaque to Istanbul City Theatres General Artistic Director Ayşegül İşsever.

The 19th Cyprus Theatre Festival will continue on Wednesday, June 7th with Istanbul City Theatres' play "Oscar." The festival's main sponsor is Pro Temizlik, the accommodation sponsor is Grand Pasha Nicosia, the venue sponsor is Rauf Denktaş University, the silver sponsor is Lefkoşa Municipality Workers Savings Cooperative, and the transportation sponsor is Northern Travel Limited.