PLAYING WITH DRAGONS IN PAPHOS, OH MY! - Kathikas - to 25 June

From Cyprus Mail - article by Maria Gregoriou 9 June 2017

We have all heard of the travelling circus, but what about a travelling playground? And we have all heard of theme parks but what about one that involves the whole family and brings us up close and personal with the dragons of Europe? Being pretty sure that the answers to the questions are no, the European of Capital Pafos2017 organisers have gone one step further when it comes creating bridges between cultures, they have constructed a travelling playground that lets people have fun, test playful limits and explore the mythology of Europe.

The Dragons of Europe – Travelling Playground is now staying put in the Square of the Panayia Evangelistria church in the village of Kathikas until June 25, until it moves on to Peyia in July.
A series of specially designed interactive games, for children and adults, came packed in two containers as part of the Open-Air Factory project – which has as its ideology that there is a different story hidden in every space, house, square and street. Unpacked now and ready to start a journey through various myths and stories associated with Europe’s dragons, the playground does what very few can do – brings adventure right to our door step.

So get the kids and meet the dragons from different lands and recreate their stories while winning points.

The Cypriot dragon tale that has been translated into play is Spanos and the Forty Dragons. In this game, the dragon asks the hero to squeeze a piece of rock until water comes out of it. He tricks the dragon by squeezing a piece of Anari (soft cheese). You won’t be asked to squeeze any cheese in the game version of the tale, but in its place, you will find a piece of foam, containing liquid. If the liquid squeezed out exceeds a certain amount, a point is scored.

When it comes to the dragons from Scandinavia and Germany, they are wingless with a poisonous bite. One living near Klagenfurt floods the area and the duke offers a reward for its capture. The hero – for there must be a hero – ties a bull to a chain, the dragon swallows it, gets hooked and is killed. For this one you will attempt to throw a ball into the dragon’s opening and closing mouth and, like with all games, get a point every time you hit our mark.

In the folklore of the Chuvash people, the Great Dragon is evil and breathes fire. This dragon steals the sun and moon while tormenting the locals. In true heroic style, the hero slays the dragon, puts the sun and moon back in their place and frees the people from agony. Kind of like taking Little Red Riding Hood out of the wolf’s belly, this game has to do with fishing out the sun, the moon and the town’s people from inside the dragon. But there is a trick, if the hook touches the sides, sirens will sound and the game will be lost.

The game that represents the French tale has an enormous dragon with green scales. This dragon guards a treasure and devours people. It has one eye, which it takes out to bathe, making itself temporarily blind. With this one you go through a set of obstacles, remove the dragon’s eye and steal the treasure.

Dragons of Europe – Travelling Playground
An interactive playground for children and adults. Until June 25. Square of the Panayia Evangelistria Church, Kathikas. Tuesday-Friday: 4pm-7pm and Saturday-Sunday: 11am-6pm. Free. Tel: 26-955166