+357

Installed outside the Nicosia Municipal Theatre as an artwork and site-specific installation, a telephone box awaits its visitors. Inside, an entire world of personal experiences, memories, emotions and reflections unfolds through the imagination of Marios Kakoulli, a young director known for creating inventive performances in unexpected places.

Each visitor enters the box alone and closes the door behind them. They pick up the receiver, hear the familiar dial tone, and key in a number of their choice. On the other end of the line, a different story comes to life each time, moving between reality and imagination.

People from across Cyprus generously share their stories: they confess moments from their lives, offer apologies, speak to their inner child, recall events that wounded them, brought them joy, made them feel heroic, overwhelmed them, or gave them strength. Real voices – strangers, yet strangely familiar – inhabit a structure that for decades was an ordinary part of urban life, connecting people across distances.

More than a unique storytelling project and a captivating individual experience, +357 explores the nature of communication before the digital transition, before smartphones and caller ID, instant messaging and video calls – when a voice on the other end of the line could still hold mystery.

• Beep. Beep. Beep.
• The line is busy speaking.