Assitej Cyprus
Cyprus
The Centre of Theatre for Children and Young People ASSITEJ Cyprus is the national centre of ASSITEJ International in Cyprus, and a non-profit cultural organisation dedicated to promoting the rights of children and young people to access and participate in arts and culture. Bringing together more than 200 members, including theatre companies, artists, educators and cultural professionals, the organisation supports the development of high-quality performing arts for young audiences across Cyprus.
ASSITEJ Cyprus develops artistic productions, festivals, professional exchanges, training activities and international collaborations that strengthen the local cultural sector while connecting it with European and global networks. It is the organiser of Mitsikouri, the first international performing arts festival for children and young people in Cyprus, and actively works towards accessibility, inclusion and cultural participation for all children, including those in remote or underserved communities. Through advocacy, artistic innovation and cross-border cooperation, ASSITEJ Cyprus contributes to shaping a more inclusive and sustainable cultural landscape for young audiences.
PEOPLE
Maria Philippou
Project Manager
Cyprus-based actress and cultural producer working across performance and production. With a foundation in theatre acting, she has taken on roles in production management, project coordination, and workshop facilitation. She is the founder of Side Effect Productions, through which she has created and produced theatre for adult and teenage audiences. She is currently developing creative workshops for children that combine theatre games, movement, creative writing, and shadow puppetry. She works as Grants and Programs Manager at the MeMeraki Artist Residency in Limassol and continues to collaborate as a freelance production manager with theatre practitioners across Cyprus.
Panayotis Tofi
Artist
Panayiotis Tofi is a Greek Cypriot choreographer, movement director, physical performer and visual artist working across contemporary dance and theatre in Cyprus, Greece and the Netherlands. He has collaborated with theatre companies, festivals and cultural institutions in Cyprus and internationally as a choreographer, movement director, performer and educator. Alongside his creative practice, he facilitates movement and composition workshops for professional performers, students and community participants, supporting artistic development through improvisation and embodied research.
Panayiotis was awarded Creator of the Year by the Cyprus Theatre Organisation in 2018 for his contribution to contemporary theatre. He holds a First Class BA (Hons) in Contemporary Dance and a Diploma in Dance Studies from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London, and is currently undertaking Postgraduate Research in Choreography through the COMMA Master’s Programme in the Netherlands.
His interests include artistic research, interdisciplinary collaboration and the development of new choreographic languages through international exchange.
Katerina Papageorgiu
Project Assistant
Active in the field of cultural management and the development of artistic collaborations, with an academic background in Design and Innovation Management. Her professional work focuses on supporting cultural organisations, coordinating projects, and developing initiatives that strengthen the creative community and the cultural ecosystem in Cyprus.
She currently works as an Administrative Officer at ASSITEJ Cyprus, contributing to the organisation’s administrative coordination, the implementation of activities, and the development of partnerships, with a particular focus on supporting theatre for children and young people in Cyprus. She has also collaborated with the Cyprus Theatre Organisation (THOC), supporting the Theatre Development Department and European programmes that enhance the connection between the performing arts and the local community.
Eva Kalomoiri
Artist
Eva Kalomoiri comes from Greece. She holds a degree as a professional dancer and dance teacher. She has been involved in dance teaching since 2010. She is a choreographer and dancer with numerous collaborations in Cyprus, Greece, and abroad.
For the last 10 years, she has been highly active in the Cypriot theatre scene, collaborating with organisations, institutions, groups, and directors as a movement director and choreographer. At the same time, as a creator, she has presented her own projects based on physical theatre, devised theatre, and dance theatre, focusing on teamwork and the power of an ensemble.
In 2017, she was honoured by the National Theatre of Cyprus with the best Choreography Award for the production “Plutus”, by Aristophanes.
Stavros Stavrou
Communication
A Cyprus-based cultural producer, arts manager and writer working in the fields of performing arts, international cultural cooperation and audience development. He serves as President of the Centre of Theatre for Children and Young People ASSITEJ Cyprus and co-Artistic Director of Mitsikouri, the first international performing arts festival for children and young people in Cyprus.
He is a member of the Executive Committee of ASSITEJ International, where he contributes to initiatives focusing on international collaboration, networking and cultural exchange. His work centres on strengthening access to the arts for children and young people, supporting artists and organisations, and developing sustainable international partnerships.
Stavros has collaborated with festivals, cultural institutions, municipalities, embassies and European networks in Cyprus and abroad. He holds an MA in Cultural and Creative Industries from King’s College London and is particularly interested in cultural policy, inclusion, accessibility and the internationalisation of the performing arts sector.
Konstantina Xenofontos
Artist
Konstantina Xenofontos is a Cyprus-based actress, singer, and theatre educator. As an actress, she has collaborated on numerous theatre productions with the National Theatre and the independent theatre sector.
In 2019, she founded the traditional music choir “Lalia” and served as its Artistic Director. Under her direction, the choir participated in numerous festivals and cultural events until 2026. As a vocalist, she collaborates with a diverse range of musical ensembles performing in concerts, music productions, and recording projects. For the past ten years, she has been teaching theatre to children while also leading experiential workshops for educators, exploring the teaching of traditional music through theatre-based methods.
