The festival is being organised by the Cyprus Centre of International Theatre, which was founded in 1977 to promote theatre on the island. During the month of July eight different theatre groups will be welcomed to the island with performances taking place at venues in Paphos, Limassol and Nicosia. Prices for each performance are 17 Euros.

The groups performing at the festival include the Mecklenburg State Ballet from Germany, the Marcos Jimenez Theatre company from Spain, a national Theatre company from Romania and the Greek National Theatre who will perform Alcestis, an Athenian Tragedy by Euripedes that dates back almost 2500 years. Another popular tragedy by Euripedes is Elektra which was well received last year at the 12th running of the Festival and will be repeated this year in a performance by the group Dance Theatre Roes from Greece.

The venue for the performance at Paphos is the Ancient Odean, a perfect setting for these ancient dramas. The outdoor theatre on the slopes of the Fabrica hill is built from blocks of limestone and dates right back to the original construction of a town at Paphos. It is quite a small venue, with seating for only 1200 spectators, but does allow theatre goers to get very close to the performers. All eight of the dramas in the festival will include a performance at the Paphos venue at various dates during the month startng on 1st July with Antigone by Sophocles.

Overlapping with the Festival series is a Summer Institute of Ancient Drama, also taking place in Paphos, which will give students and buddning actors the chance to work alongside some of the experts who will be on the island for the Festival. The Summer institure will include lectures, workshops and vists to ancient theatre sites on the island.