Markideio Municipal Theatre
Paphos's municipal theatre, rebuilt in 2018 with a 410-seat auditorium beside the old market quarter.
The theatre carries the name of Sotirakis Markidis (1894–1975), a Paphian who with his brother Costas founded the town's first artistic group, the Youth Dance Club, in 1918 and staged productions whose proceeds supported the local gymnasium. An earlier Markideio stood on the same plot in the upper town of Ktima. Judged too small and outdated, it was taken down during a municipal regeneration programme, and the replacement building was inaugurated in 2018 as the main stage of the Paphos Municipality.
The rebuilt theatre by Simpraxis Architects keeps within the footprint of its predecessor while opening the site to the street. A western colonnade draws visitors from the historic covered market towards one of two entrances, and a cafeteria wing faces south onto a new public forecourt. Inside, a single raked auditorium seats around 410 and is fitted for drama, dance, recitals and film. The project has been cited in European architecture awards for its contribution to the regeneration of the old centre.
Highlights
- 410-seat auditorium equipped for drama, dance, music and film
- Colonnade linking the theatre to the historic Paphos covered market
- Named after Paphian theatre pioneer Sotirakis Markidis
- 2018 rebuild by Simpraxis Architects on the original theatre footprint
