Anthony Thomas Ashiotis was born in Nicosia . His mother is half English – half Irish whilst his father is Greek Cypriot . He is a Chartered Certified Accountant and runs his own firm of auditors, accountants and consultants since 1990 which firm is well known and highly awarded, based in Nicosia and with clients based worldwide (www.ashiotis.com.cy) . He has over many years been involved in charity work especially as President of Rotaract Nicosia and Rotary Nicosia. He loves theater and has performed in both small and leading roles in quite a number of theatrical plays ( mostly comedies) and always for charity . He has in recent years also written a number of theatrical plays . “Friends for Oscars “ is the first play he has written and it is the first time it will be on stage with few more plays to follow after this ! There are also serious thoughts and plans for this specific play to be taken abroad !
Reem Maghribi is a social activist, communications professional, passionate cook, gender specialist, proud mother, practicing poet and exhibited artist, with roots in a number of European and Arab countries and currently resides in Cyprus, working as a UN communication consultant whilst running the pan-Arab non-profit organisation Sharq.Org. Reem has performed in many a Shakespeare play at school in London (1990s); co-wrote and performed in ‘Seagulls’ at Beirut’s renowned Madina Theatre (2018); produced the grant funded play ‘I Am Not a Vase’ in Beirut and Stockholm (2019); performed in the single character play ‘A Woman Alone’, filmed during lockdown and screened in Larnaca (2020), and was awarded a grant by the Buffer Fringe Festival in Nicosia to co-write and co-perform in the play ‘Taking Back the Booty’ in Nicosia (2020). “Friends for Oscars” is her new challenge in the role of Jenny Saunders !
Andros Zacharia is a London born Cypriot who works with numbers during the day and the rest of the time with letters. Basically, he is an accountant by profession and performer/speaker by passion. In 2019 Andros acted in the comedy play "Get Staffed". He is dedicated to contributing to the evolution of mankind since they are not so kind.
Mary Ann Billis is a South African born Cypriot living in Cyprus for the past 14 years. She is a Wife, Mother, Actress & pilates/ yoga instructor and a lover of coffee, animals & nature. Her passion for acting started at a very young age , she graduated high school with honors & distinction in Drama and Public Speaking as well gaining a diploma in method acting, went on to perform in many local theater productions & local TV series. While trying to juggle the demands of motherhood she continued her passion here in Cyprus with attending adult drama classes at Little muse theatre school & recently performing in a online production of “A woman alone” directed by Catherine Beger which was screened locally in Cyprus and Australia. Her newest venture is a role she has been offered in an up coming local movie production soon to be filmed in Cyprus . She is looking forward with pride and excitement to be part of the “Friends for Oscars team”
Aleen Andreou has had a 30 year love affair with the stage. Sometimes as a queen, sometimes as a cleaner and anything in between. She has acted with ACT, Rotary and Athena Xenidou's Showcases. She has worked in three films, most notably as Maggie in Al Davidian's "Don't Make a Sound" Aleen is a co-founder in 2 improv groups, "Nudniks" and "Bored of Directors". She is also a founding mother of W.E.T (Women’s Empowerment Theatre) and took on the role of Gingy in their autumn production, directed by Monica Gavrielides. Off stage she is a Trainer and coach with PeopleAchieve.
Demetri Demetriou graduated from King's College[ University of London] in 1997 with a degree in law. He then went on to study acting at Drama Centre London and graduated with a degree in acting in July 2000. Demetri went on to work as a professional actor in the UK for six years. In film he played a part in 'The Sea Wolf' [Tower of London Productions], he played a part in the BBC production of 'The Way we Live Now' and a part in the Granada production of 'Planespotting'. In theatre he played roles in 'The Woman in the Moon' [Arcola Theatre], 'Brother my Brother' [Croydon Warehouse Theatre], and he also produced and played a part in the play 'Four Knights in Knaresborough' [Riverside Studios.] Demetri returned to Cyprus in 2006 and carried on working as a professional actor. In film he played parts in local productions such as 'Block 12',' 'Joy and Sorrow of the Body','Sunrise in Kimmeria', 'Smuggling Hendrix', 'Clementine', 'Natas' and other local films. He also played a part in a Greek film called 'The Small Fish'. Demetri also had roles in various television productions such as' Deikse mou to filo sou',' Mpatso agapi mou',' 'I Zoi einai oraia', 'Galatia', 'Petrino Potami', and various others. He is currently playing a part in the local period drama 'Halkina Hronia'. In theatre he played parts in English speaking and Greek speaking plays such as'ART', 'Betrayal', 'Sweeney Todd' and 'Mani Money' in theatres across the island. Demetri also played parts in two commercials and a corporate video.
Nada Panayiotou is an economist by profession and actor by choose. She is originally from Serbia (Belgrade) and has been living and working in Cyprus since 1996. She is a business woman and mother of four, and has appeared in over Seven theatre productions, over the past 10 years. You may have seen her in her last production English Comedy November 2018 “Get Staffed’ by Frank Gibbons , as the main actor. She had a great privilege to serve as President of Rotary club Nicosia 2017-2018. She loves acting and when she’s not acting (or crawling around the stage on all fours), Nada enjoys running half marathons, reading and dancing. She promotes peace and love.
Mohammed Awwad is a primary school teacher. Studied English Literature in Bethlehem University/ Palestine. His focus is the Education of young children through comedy and clowning. Mohammed's main focus is introducing comedy to the disadvantaged communities and provide psychological healing for troubled children through clown education. Mohammed travels between Europe, Middle East, Africa and Far Asia in hope to give laughter and joy to as many hospitalized children as possible, people with special needs and elderly people.
Marie Dzaghigian is a teacher of English and also a belly dance instructor. She has been choreographing and acting in theatre plays at Wherehaus 612 since 2018. Ο Χρυσός και ο Τενεκές was the very first play she ever choreographed and her experience was so amazing that she quickly got involved in other things related to theatre as well. She tried out a role in a play called Singles and after she went on tour with the play Αν Αργήσω Κοιμήσου where she portrayed a call girl. Following that she had the role of Lydia from Beetlejuice twice and finally, she choreographed Η Αλίκη στη Χώρα των Τεράτων which got amazing reviews and was funded by THOC. She now looks forward to performing on stage with “ Friends for Oscars “ !
Ariadne Andreou began dancing at Dance Works at the age of 4. She also attended classes in theatre, singing and other dance genre performing with Morphi in Panagia ton Parision, Lefkosia Youth Ballet’s Snow Queen, as well as Dorothy in ACT’s Wizard of Strovoloz. From the age of 14 she often assisted in dance classes and from 16 was frequently covering the modern groups when Clare was away examining, as well as assisting Sarah Milne with dance classes at Cyprus Performing Arts. After attending different Drama and Musical Theatre summer schools in the UK she was encouraged to audition for full time studies in this field. Ariadne was accepted into MGA Academy of Performing Arts where she had solo roles in Legally Blonde, the musical, and was a featured dancer and vocalist in the Christmas concerts at the Usher Hall. While training, she was offered a part-time teaching position at the weekends at JHM Dance and Cheer dance academy- teaching musical theatre, hip-hop and jazz classes. She also took part in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in The Great American Trailer Park Musical, which went on to win different awards that year. She graduated MGA with an agent and was offered a contract by Live Business in 2019 as a vocalist and spent 6 months in a resort as a vocalist and entertainer. Upon returning to UK she took up a position as teaching assistant / cover supervisor at different special needs secondary schools in London, gaining much experience teaching. She also had the opportunity to facilitate a couple of summer schools and in the summer of 2020 headed a two week musical theatre intensive for Dance Works. As of January 2021, Ariadne has been offered a job as a vocalist/performer as part of Boo and Franklin’s production team which will be based in Cyprus. She is excited to be able to balance her two passions- teaching and performing, in the country she loves so much.
Feidias Psaras was born in Cyprus in 2003. He is a student of the English School and has a passion for literature and theatre. In 2019, he incarnated Mitch in the theatrical play The comedy about a bank robbery organised by his school; he is currently holding the role of Kenickie Murdoch in the upcoming musical Grease. He has been among the presenters and hosts of the 2019 English School Talent Show and a member of the English School Senior Choral since 2017. Feidias is also a keen debater: in November 2019, he addressed the European Youth Parliament as the rapporteur of the Cyprus Euroscola team. He is a member of the Ciclo team which was awarded the title of the best project presented at the 2019/2020 English school Youth Entrepreneurial Programme. In 2018, he was awarded the English School Founder’s Award for English and in 2019, for Physics, English Language and English Literature.
Anthony Root. Started acting in the late seventies and debuted in The Rose and Crown by J.B Priestly. During that same period he took part in Shakespeare productions at Curium with small or walk on roles. His 33 year profession as cabin crew prevented him from being involved further with the theatre in an acting capacity. He has been a regular front of house member at various ACT productions and appearing in the panto Treasure island as a pirate' He has taken part in a showcase directed by Athena Xenidou and has been involved in theatre improvisation. Stand up comedy has featured during the last couple of years taking part in various shows.
Vasily Lavrikov has studied theater and directing in Athens, Greece . Has participated in various production's while in Greece . Returned to Cyprus and finished ministry's of tourism tour guide school in 2015 and now is working as an official tour guide of the republic of Cyprus. Fluent in Greek , English and Russian languages. First theatrical appearance in Cyprus was with the theatrical company of Doros Kyriakedes. Before appeared briefly in some TV series for channel sigma.
Mary Ioannou is a university student originally from Greece , and has been living her whole life in Cyprus. At the moment she's studying English literature and language at the University of Nicosia. Her main focus for the future, is to finish her studies and follow psychology Master's abroad in the UK. She has a passion for traveling and exploring the world. In her free time she's drawing, baking and playing games. She always wanted to follow play acting and ''Friends for Oscars'' is her first participation in a play
Stefany Panayiotou was born in Cyprus in 2003. In 2018 Stefany represented her school (Falcon) and won second place in a Public Speaking contest, where she competed against competitors island wide. She is an active ballet dancer and participated as a solo singer and dancer in a play with Hummingbird. Her dream is to study acting and performance at LA
