| ANTIDOTE
THEATRE STAYS OPEN! The journey of Antidote young people's theatre over the last eight years has been an amazing odyssey of highs and lows. Antidote started off in an old Cypriot house in Larnaca in 1999, relocated to a dance school, moved back to our house and finally in 2004 the Antidote team converted the ex-Othellos cinema had it's own theatre venue which was opened by the Minister of Education. Since taking this step, which was completely insane considering that we had next to no funding at all, Antidote has had to work flat out just to cover the basic costs. Slowly the theatre got deeper and deeper into debt and although our reputation flourished both nationally-and internationally In May 2007 the theatre was on the brink of closure. However after much coverage through the press, support from politicians and the community around us, the issue of children's theatre was raised in parliament and although the last 6 months have been very emotional as we tried to delay drowning in debt, a miracle has occurred. The Ministry
of Education and Culture in co-operation with Larnaca District development
agency proposed that a new foundation embracing an "Arts Centre"
for young people will be set up at Theatre antidote as part of a
series of projects they have to develop art, dance, music and theatre
in the communities of Cyprus. The both organizations will have offices
at Antidote and will invest financial support in the cultural development.
Antidote will maintain its independence and have full artistic control
and yet be free of the overwhelming stress of running the building.
The team at Theatre antidote would be very honoured if you would
join us to celebrate on Sunday 3rd of February for a performance
of "Aesop's Fables" at 6.00pm where the Minister of Education, Akis
Kleathous, will make a public statement about securing the future
of theatre Antidote and plans for developing an arts centre for
young people (library, cafeteria, rock concerts, dance, music, exhibition
space, cinema, festivals and of course theatre and many other things
we haven't thought of yet). Please come, the performance is free
for everyone, although donations are more than welcome. Celebrate
with us as we proudly announce that ‘Antidote Theatre will not close
its doors' See you there.
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