Versus and ROH Larnaca Theatres Excluded from THYMELI Funding – Complaint of 'Conscious Political Choice'

The Versus Theatre is protesting its exclusion, along with the ROH Larnaca Theatre, from the THYMELI scheme funding for the first half of 2026, describing the decision as a “conscious political choice”. The Versus Theatre emphasizes that the case of the ROH Theatre is particularly revealing, as it is the only active theatre in Larnaca, a city that has been declared the European Capital of Culture 2030, but remains excluded from basic cultural funding. The complaint highlights a contradiction between public announcements of cultural development and the reality, where entire theatrical organizations are systematically abandoned. The Versus Theatre accuses the government of promoting a “showcase” cultural policy outwards, while simultaneously causing “desolation” inwards, leaving important cultural bodies unsupported. According to the Versus Theatre, the lack of funding is not simply unfair, but part of a mechanism that “rewards conformity and punishes independence”. This suggests that government funding is linked to political conditions and that independent cultural organizations are placed at a disadvantage. This case highlights the difficulties faced by independent cultural bodies in Cyprus and the need for a fairer and more transparent distribution of resources, supporting genuine cultural creation and not just the projection of a superficial image.