10-12 OCTOBER 2025
BEREGARIA, THE ENIGMATIC QUEEN OF ENGLAND
16:30
Dramatized reading of a theatrical narrative
The direction is signed by Agis Paikos, artistic director of the ESTIA Theater Complex.
DESCRIPTION
BEREGARIA, THE ENIGMATIC QUEEN OF ENGLAND
This is the presentation of the theatrical narrative entitled "Berengaria" from Chloe Veriti's book "Kaleidoscope, theatrical narratives" (shortlisted for the Cyprus State Literary Awards), Dodoni Publications. It includes poetry by Sakellaropoulou, Hatzipanagi and Vicounia and a solo song performance by Christina Gavriilidou.
Nearly eight hundred years after her death, the one-time Queen of Cyprus Berengaria of Navarre, wife of the Crusader-king Richard the Lionheart, remains an enigma. Her father, Sancho the Wise, played a significant role in the Crusades.
But who was she in the end? A melancholic girl who managed to marry Richard, the most sought-after bachelor in Europe? Or simply a prudent, stoic young woman from a not-so-important royal house? Or perhaps a rather weak personality who, disappointed by everything that had happened in her life, relied on religious devotion and the word of the Pope?
There is no known portrait of her. We know her features only from a statuette lying on her tomb, in the Abbey of Le Mans, France. “It depicts a beautiful woman, dressed as a bride with long, flowing hair,” says one historian. She died in her sixties, modern scholars have said after examining the bones. The marks from her crown were still etched into her skull.
She always signed herself: "The humble Queen of England, Berengaria of Navarre."
CONTRIBUTORS' BIOGRAPHIES
AUTHOR, CHLOE VERITI
She was born in London and raised in Nicosia. She studied English Literature and received a master's degree in Education with distinction from Middlesex University, London. She has written poetry, short stories, essays, novels and plays, but she is also very involved in literary translation. Her book "Kaleidoscope, theatrical narratives", Dodoni Publications, has been shortlisted for the Cyprus State Literary Awards. For her literary work, she has been awarded with distinctions most recently in a playwriting competition of the RIK. She is a member of the Athens Parnassos Literary Association, the National Society of Greek Writers, the Panhellenic Union of Writers and the Greek Intellectual Group of Cyprus.
DIRECTOR, AGIS PAIKOS
He was born in Nicosia. Graduated from the Sorbonne with a degree in film and theatre studies and further studies later in the USA. In Cyprus he worked as a television director in private stations. He directed for the T.O.K. and for other theatre groups. Two of his films have been honored with the Audience Award at the “Cyprus International Film Festival”. In 2012 he founded the ESTIA Theatre where he continues to create. His performances have stood out at the T.O.K. Awards. He is also a playwright and translator. He participated in the KYPRIA International Festival with his performance (translation/direction) “Panic in the Ministry” by Franco-Melani in a pan-Cypriot premiere. In 2025 he directed the performance "Charicles Cavafy" with Maria Aliferi.
ACTRESS, FANI PETSA
Graduated with honors from the Veaki Drama School, graduated from the Athens University of Philosophy, Department of Theatre Studies (first place among graduates) and graduated with honors from the postgraduate program in Theatre Studies at the Open University of Cyprus. In 2015-16 she was nominated for the Best Female Role Performance Award at the Cyprus Theatre Awards for her performance in the monologue "The Ballad of Horror" directed by Aghios Paikou at the Estia Theatre. She participated as an actress at the Epidaurus Festival, the Art Theatre, the Spring Theatre, the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, the TH.OK, the ENA Theatre, the E.TH.AL. and is a regular collaborator of the ESTIA Theatre. He participated in many television series and award-winning films.
ACTOR, GEORGE KONSTANTINOU
He was born in Nicosia. He studied at the Vladimiros Kafkarides Drama School. He participated, among others, in the performances “Proof”, “Vasilis Michaelides”, “Mother Courage” that were staged at the Satirical Theater, in the tragedy “Seven Against Thebes” at the THOK and the “Lexi” Theater by George Tsiakkas, in “Twelfth Night”. He took part in television series and in the films “Last Return”, “Akamas” and “Exodus”. He is also a graduate of schools of Journalism, Marketing and Public Relations. He worked for newspapers, magazines and news agencies in Cyprus and Europe. Since 2008, he has been working in the field of Communication, Publications and Social Media management, while since 2022 he has maintained his own communications consulting firm.
ACTRESS, CHRISTINA GABRIELIDOU
Born in Nicosia. She studied at the Vladimiros Kafkarides Drama School (Bachelor degree in Acting - Bachelor of Arts). In 2020 she received distinction in the vocal exam for RockSchool (RSL) Grade 8. She participated in Sophocles' "Electra" as part of the Ancient Drama Festival, in the Berlin project (musical songs from the works of Aristophanes) while also collaborating with the Children's Stage of the Satirical Theater. With the ESTIA Theater she collaborated in the productions: "A Knight for Vassula" by Pretenteris-Gialamas, "Little Pharisees" by Psathas, "Maria Versus Callas" by Vicounias and "Now I Will Speak" by Vlavianos. In the theatrical narrative "Berengaria" Christina Gavriilidou sings a cappella.
ACTOR, MARIOS SARPETSAS
He was born in Nicosia. He studied Medical Engineering and Business Administration in the United Kingdom and Hong Kong while also attending acting seminars. He was a member of several theater groups and participated in many performances. Among others: “Von Dimitrakis” by Dimitris Psathas, “Ecclesiazuesa” by Aristophanes, “The Idiots” by Neil Simon, “Ah these Ghosts” by Eduardo De Filippo, “Who is Helen” by Reppa-Papathanasiou, “Thesmophoriazuesa” by Aristophanes, etc. He participated in the television series “Bronze Years” (PIC) while currently appearing in the series “The Land of the Olive” (ALFA). He collaborated with the ESTIA Theater Complex in many productions.