So, I have been struggling to come up with an idea for some time now.

I have been trying to think of something different, but something entertaining of course and fun. There is nothing worse then doing something that you don’t enjoy right? Speaking with my papa, I told him I couldn’t come up with an idea.He suggested doing it on my heritage.

So I’m Greek Cypriot.

Therefore there is so much i could talk about, do about etc etc. So much!

Have you ever seen the film My Big Fat Greek Wedding?!

Brilliant film, Love it. Absolutely hilarious!

Yes it is a little over the top and exaggerated. We are not all like that, thank goodness!

So yes being Greek Cypriot, my family are loud, it is a big family and everyone knows each other’s business and it can be annoying but I love them dearly and wouldn’t change them for the world.

The Greek culture is great.

• The food is beaut. The family is always trying to feed you! If my Yiayia’s (Grandma’s) offer you food and you don’t take it. Your in big trouble mate. So yeah, you get fat.

• The party’s are so much fun! The dancing, traditional Greek dancing is great! If you want to make money on your wedding day, marry someone Greek they pin money on you!

• Family! You have so many family members! First cousins, second cousin, third cousins. My cousins are like my best friends! We are super close! Family gathering’s are great- every Sunday there’s like 30 of us! That’s just my immediate family. You cant just invite one person, you have to invite everyone!

• The alcohol is deadly! Tastes a bit like medicine! However gets you super drunk if your going out with friends! Ouzo and Zivania! Just drink it.

• Cyprus is actually beautiful! Probably thinking I’m Biased. But i love it!

So here’s the thing. In 1974 Turkey invaded the North of Cyprus and it is now divided in two. Before this happened a lot of my relatives lived on that side. They said it was absolutely beautiful. Both my Yiayias villages were on that side. A lot of my family had to find new homes and were banished from that side of the country. Many became refugees. My family sometimes tell me story’s of what there lifes were like over there. Thousands who lost there homes. 42 Years later and it is still very raw for some people. The saddest part is The Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots lived in harmony before this had happened. They were friends, neighbours.  It was not just Greek Cypriots who lost there homes but Turkish Cypriots also.  Some of the Turkish Cypriots decided to join force with the Turkish troops who invaded and some did not. There was a huge divide and many left homeless and hurt.

I had never crossed to the Northern part of Cyprus until last year when I went on holiday. So, first of all if you wanted to drive across, you would have to pay which I believed to be absolutely shocking. So me, my Cousin and Auntie walked across. We had to show our passports and once they had seen I was Greek Cypriot, I felt as though I was looked at and treated differently. I was extremely uncomfortable. Walking through i could see some of the damage and ruins of the buildings, how sad they looked. Me and my family were constantly watched and being stared at. It was not a nice feeling at all. The writings on the walls were no longer Greek but Turkish. A local church had been damaged. It was upsetting and even though I was not there at the time it happened, it upset me. Crossing the borders to the Northern part of Cyprus, I had received a text from Vodafone my network provider. Welcome to Turkey! I was furious! Was that some sort of a joke. I’m sorry but we are in Cyprus not Turkey. That got me raging. So many rules, we were not allowed to buy anything from the Turkish side or they would confiscate it from you, when you would try to cross back over. It just was not a nice feeling. I had, had enough. It was time to go back.

I’ve been told and have heard that the Northern part of Cyprus was beautiful and still is in certain parts. However there is a lot of damage too. Apparently they have the best beaches. I have seen pictures, it looks amazing. It saddens me that I will never be able to experience it for myself. It saddens me that I will never really get to know what my family’s villages were like. The saddest part is, too this day I have really good friends who are Turkish Cypriot but that’s all it could ever be. If I was to ever get feelings for someone who is Turkish Cypriot, it could never work out. Even though me and that person could like each other, our family’s would never accept it. They would never allow it and there would be so much against it. That is how raw this war is still for some people. I hope in generations to come it does settle, because it isn’t a nice feeling. Just because i am Greek and someone is Turkish doesn’t mean we are involved with this war. Just because someone is Turkish or Turkish Cypriot doesn’t mean they are a bad person but it could only ever be friends and with some people that is totally fine but with others there not even allowed to be friends. Its so sad but unfortunately that’s how it is for many people.

So, I’m in a predicament of what i can do for my performance. I know its going to be on Greek Heritage however I don’t know what as there is so much.

I could do it on the culture, the dancing, the food, the music, the family life, have some autobiographical parts and some comedic acting parts.

Or

I could do it on the War and what happened and incorporate an autobiographical performance.

Or

What I’m favouring towards the most is a show incorporating of all elements together, some of the history, some of family life, some of the culture. Using  autobiographical techniques, naturalistic techniques but also devising techniques so I can break out in to performances with some comedic light hearted aspects.

I have a vision of what my set could look like. Possibly set up in a Greek Type restaurant with tables and Greek food and drink.

This is all ideas for now. I’m hoping to be clearer on my thoughts soon.

YouTube. (2016). My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) Official Trailer #1 – Nia Vardalos Movie HD. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2mecmDFE-Q [Accessed 25 May 2016].