Filenews 9 May 2021 - by Myrto Zoubidou. Photos by Giorgos Christoforou
In a game between light and shadow, behind the white cloth, thousands of stories of Karagiozis, Hatziavatis, Aglaia, Pasha, Stavrakas and the other heroes of the Shadow Theatre spring up. Part of a tradition that arrived from the merchants and the clowns who came to our island in the 19th century bringing with them all the historical tradition of entertainment, but also teaching Shadow Theatre.
Today, one of the first masters of the genre, Mr. Christos Achilleos Pafios, a third-generation clown player, one of the few custodians of the species left, is trying to preserve this important part of our intangible cultural heritage. At the same time, however, he tries to get to know her to the new generations by performing in schools in Cyprus.
"F" was found in the "House of Karagiozis" at 12 Aktionos Street, in Paluriotissa, where Mr. Christos Pafios created the Shadow Theatre Museum and Workshop, which houses the entire family tradition through various figures of Karagiozis' stories. Several of them go back 50 years, when his father made them.
In fact, he managed to rescue and preserve two figures of his grandfather, a castle and the poor hut of Karagiozis. Figures estimated to have been around 90 years of life, which he managed to dig out of the rubble of his grandfather's house when it was demolished.
Entering the area, he guides us with great enthusiasm. We observe on the walls various figures, others old and others reconstructed by him on the "mola" of his father's figures. He reconstructs and perfects them with different colours and costumes using both his knowledge and his imagination.
In the first room that Mr. Pafios guides us, the figures of Alexander the Great are dominated by the work "The Great Alexander and the Cursed Ophis".
As he guides us and explains the history of each figure of Karagiozis, Mr. Pafios tells us that he has been working intensively with the Shadow Theatre since 1985, carrying a heavy family tradition left behind by both the late grandfather of Christodoulos who was involved throughout his life and his father Achilles, who was involved in the Shadow Theatre for around 13 years.
His first contact with Karagiozis' figures was when he was about 9 years old and his grandfather performed at the school where he attended and called him to help with the performance. Along the way he slowly began to make figures, while he was taught skills by both his grandfather and his father.
In the second room of the Museum, Mr. Pafios shows us various commemorative photographs of events and exhibitions as well as objects. Between the exhibits and two suitcases with which they carried the sets and figures from village to village in order to give performances in the cafes to the end of the pro-theatrical audience. In fact, as he told us, they moved from village to village, at first either on foot or with donkeys. And later on bicycles or farm buses.
In fact, Grandpa Pafios was sought after for his performances because he combined the patriotic element with comedy. Father Pafios was much better at comedies and Mr. Christos tried to adopt both elements.
Mr. Pafios has also created a workshop on the premises of the Museum in which he hosts workshops for children, with whom they make figures of Karagiozis, explaining to them step by step the process. They start from the mola on the hard cardboard, proceed with the drawing, cut the pieces, join them together and create their own figure, which they take with them to their home. He very often makes figures in his workshop, while he owns more than 400 figures with various colours and elements.
Mr. Pafios explains to us that his drama book consists of both traditional works of the Shadow Theatre and newer ones, of his own inspiration, according to the events of Cypriot current events, adapted to be understood at all ages. His performances are always accompanied by the appropriate music and songs.
The figures and sets he uses follow the basics of the family figures and relics kept in his archive. Through them he fights for the promotion and continuity of the folk art of the Cyprus Shadow Theatre.
The performances of the Paphos Shadow Theatre were honoured with the confidence of the Ministry of Education both with the relevant funding it gave in the past for its rescue and the permission it gave To Mr. Pafios both to perform Shadow Theatre performances in schools and to host students in his Museum.
In the premises of the Museum the visitor can enjoy:
1. Shadow Theatre Performances with Approved Projects by the Ministry of Education
2. Tours to the Museum
3. Workshops for the Manufacture of Handmade Figures
4. Lectures for the Shadow Theatre on its origin, history and entertainment/teaching role.
5. Exhibition of Handmade Traditional Figures from various materials.
6. Hidden Treasure and Multi-Answer Games on shadow theatre (includes prize).
THE REPORT TO VIETNAM
A tireless fighter for the preservation and dissemination of Karagiozis' tradition, Mr. Pafios, a few years ago, travelled twice to Vietnam where he organized a Shadow Theatre Performance and a Workshop for the Construction of Karagiozis Figures. The response he received there from the children was huge, as was his joy.
At the same time, Mr. Pafios took part in numerous festivals and cultural events, and organized performances for the locals.
The crowning pandemic "set" apart from human lives and every aspect of culture, did not leave the Shadow Theatre unaffected. The "House of Karagiozis" on Aktaionos Street in Palouriotissa [Nicosia area] for the last year remains closed without visitors. But his expenses continue, as Mr. Pafios explains, and he has shouldered them himself, in order to keep the Museum alive so that he can reopen its doors. It has no state support, and he recently addressed President Anastasiades by letter, sending out a distress signal for the rescue and maintenance of the Museum.
What keeps him going is his love of culture, and the Shadow Theatre that he inherited from his grandfather and father who through their shows entertained viewers in times when there was no cinema and television.
There is a Karagiozis museum in Chloraka Karagiozis
