.webp)
1953
1953, a dramaturgical exercise on the facticity of the present, reimagines the Rialto Theatre as a fluid space dissolving borders between stage and auditorium, inside and outside, day and night. Structured in three parts and lasting fifteen hours, from sunset to sunrise, it unfolds as a shifting landscape where the dramatised and the real intermingle. Its coordinates are set by the lives of scenographer Valentino Joseph and Julie the elephant, both born in 1953.
All dates
1953
1953, a dramaturgical exercise on the facticity of the present, reimagines the Rialto Theatre as a fluid space dissolving borders between stage and auditorium, inside and outside, day and night. Structured in three parts and lasting fifteen hours, from sunset to sunrise, it unfolds as a shifting landscape where the dramatised and the real intermingle. Its coordinates are set by the lives of scenographer Valentino Joseph and Julie the elephant, both born in 1953.
1953 is a dramaturgical exercise in three acts, grounded in the facticity of the present. It seeks to reimagine the Rialto Theatre as a unified, fluid space, dissolving the boundaries between stage and auditorium, inside and outside, day and night. From sunset to sunrise, the performance unfolds as a shifting landscape where the dramatized and the real are interwoven, transforming Rialto into a site of continuous mutation, through a counterpoint of actions, voices, and images.
Spanning 15 hours, from dusk to dawn, the work traces a path from the detail to the collective, confronting the very limits of theatrical experience in time.
1953, the year of birth of scenographer Valentino Joseph and of Julie the elephant, sets the coordinates for a composition that mobilizes numerous contributors through a wide spectrum of collaborations and technological means.
Concept / Direction: Christodoulos Panayiotou
With (among others) : Valentino Joseph, Stela Phyrogeni, Elena Topalidou, Stephanos Droussiotis, Androula Kafa, Christina Vantzou, Kristia Michael, Mihalis Shammas & The Pendulum Instrument, John Also Bennett, Alexandros Pissourios, Aggelos Charalambous, Alexis Vassiliou, Nicolas Stylianou, Marios Konstantinou, Christina Olympiou, Sofronis Sofroniou, Loizos Olympios, Andreas Antoniou, Andre Zivanari, Kyriakos Kyriakides, Theodoros Tzannetakis, Adonis Archontides, Limassol Philharmonic Orchestra (Giorgos Krasidis, Conductor), The Amalgamation Choir (Vasiliki Anastasiou, Conductor).
Act One: 16:30 – 20:30 (31/10/2025)
Act Two: 20:30 – 22:30 (31/10/2025)
Act Three: 22:30 – 07:30 (31/10 – 1/11/2025)
Audience members may attend either part of the performance or the whole. Admission to all acts is free. Advance booking is required only for Act Two (20:30–22:30), while access to Acts One and Three is open.
After the completion of 1953, on 1/11/2025, the solo exhibition of Valentino Joseph Night Works and Other Studies opens at Pylon Art & Culture
Courtesy of the artist
Practical information
Address
Rialto Theatre, 19 Andrea Drousioti Street (Andrea Drousioti 19), Heroes Square, 3040 Limassol (Lemesos), Cyprus
Accessibility
Dates and times
Friday October 31st 4:30 pm to Saturday November 1st 7:30 am
Safety
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
EXPERIENCES On board
Immersive exhibition "Présentes
Created with the exceptional collaboration of the Musée du Louvre, this exhibition highlights female figures in Mediterranean civilization, thanks to the digitization and modeling of part of the Louvre's collections. A two-stage experience: an introductory film to provide context, followed by an immersive experience in a 16-meter-long tunnel covered by 120 m2 of LED screens.
A sound journey through the Mediterranean
An immersive sound experience designed by Ircam, inviting the public to explore the richness and diversity of the Mediterranean through headphones equipped with spatialized sound.
.webp)
© Elisa Von Brockdorff
The artists
Frequently asked questions
Yes, the boat is freely accessible on site. However, you can pre-book your time online on our website.
For reasons of safety and preservation of the boat, high heels and stilettos may not be worn on the boat.
The museum boat is open to all free of charge. To find out on which quay it will be moored, or to pre-book your slot, consult the page dedicated to your town.
Appropriate facilities have been set up on the Festival site for the reception and access of people with reduced mobility. The boat is equipped with a 1m-wide ramp, accessible to people with reduced mobility, but may require the accompaniment of a third party due to its gradient of over 6%. Access to the aft deck and immersive exhibition is possible. However, the upper deck is not accessible. Please inform us in advance of any special accessibility requirements, so that we can make the necessary arrangements.