The Commission, Evridiki Perikleous-Papadopoulou’s new play, directed by Avra Sidiropoulou at the Experimental Stage of the Cyprus Theatre Organisation and, brings together four distinguished artists—a photographer, a painter, a poet, and a musician—who are chosen as the select few destined, through their work, to serve the good of humanity. In a secluded artists’ residency where they are gathered, a place where control and coercion shape every aspect of existence, the dark side of power penetrates the limits of human endurance, imposing the absurdity of its force. Within this hazy landscape, the dead ends of existence are magnified through labyrinthine passions—desire, hatred, cowardice, rivalry, arrogance, intolerance, revenge—woven into a canvas of extreme inner and outer conflict.
Avra Sidiropoulou and her team of collaborators engage with a contemporary allegory set in a futuristic, dystopian universe. The minimalist aesthetic of the visual, musical, and sonic environment transports us from the present into an undefined future, highlighting the perpetual conflict between power and the nature and identity of the artist. The gradual transition from human to machine, and the suggestion of a post-human condition, inscribe themselves in the viewer’s imagination, who is invited not merely to observe but to experience a journey that challenges the limits of freedom, creation, and life itself. In the age of Artificial Intelligence—when the machine begins to claim the place of the human—the performance illuminates the fragile line between power and resistance, personal responsibility, the creator, and the creation.
Cast and Creatives
Direction: Avra Sidiropoulou
Set Design: Harris Kafkarides
Costume Design: Eleni Ioannou
Original Musical Composition: Vanias Apergis
Movement: Ivi Hadjivasileiou
Video projections: Artemis Evlogimenou
Lighting Design: Georgios Koukoumas
Assistant Directors: Maria Hadjistylli, George Lizos
Special Effects: Christodoulos Martas
Photography: Antonis Farmakas
Cast (in alphabetical order): Nayia Anastasiadou, Fotis Apostolidis, Andreas Voulgaris, Vasilis Michael, Erika Begeti, Penny Finniri
Performances: Nicosia | THOC Theatre New Stage «Nicos Charalambous»
March 2026
Excerpts from reviews
“Through allegory, [The Commission] reveals the dark aspects of oppression — especially over artists and cultural workers — by ruthless powers. Avra Sidiropoulou’s direction masterfully immerses the audience in a nightmarish yet familiar world of oppression.” (Erato Kozakou-Marcoulli, March 21, 2026)
“Τhis is a production that opens a meaningful dialogue around art, power, and human identity. Avra Sidiropoulou’s directorial approach created a particularly atmospheric and dark scenic universe, where the tension and the internal conflicts of the characters became increasingly palpable.” (Apostolos Kazamias, March 15, 2026)
“The play unfolds through an innovative, postdramatic direction by Avra Sidiropoulou, which enhances the text through abstract, high-aesthetic motifs.” (Athos Erotokritou, 26 February 2026)
“The manipulation of art by power, the moral decline of society, the degeneration of value systems and their replacement by self-interest are just some of the intellectual territories explored. The direction by Avra Sidiropoulou further highlights the virtues of the play, leading to a calm escalation of an already doomed undertaking.” (Anthoullis Demosthenous, Phileleftheros, “The Commission: A Dive into an Ocean of Uncomfortable Truths,” March 18, 2026.)
“Sidiropoulou’s direction builds a consistent dystopian atmosphere, supported by a cohesive ensemble and strong visual and musical elements. A production with a clear artistic identity and contemporary perspective.” (Theatrophile, March 8, 2026)
“Can art save humanity? A terrifying world — yet real. Our world. Under Avra Sidiropoulou’s inventive direction, the text really took off.” (Marina Athanasiou-Taki, March 22, 2026)
