Theatrical Adaptation of POW Memoirs

The dawning of the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day brings with it a time for reflection, and a chance to expand what we know about that global conflict. Between 7-10 May 2025, audiences have a chance to see a new theatrical performance, an adaptation from the memoirs of prisoner of war Phylactis Aristokleous. This performance is result of a collaboration between Professor Christiana Gregoriou, Aristokleous’ granddaughter, based in the School of English and Professor George Rodosthenous, from the School of Performance and Cultural Industries at the University of Leeds.  

There are opportunities to watch the play at the University of Leeds, at the Royal Armouries, at the Eden Modern History Museum, and the York Army Museum. Entrance is free but booking is required. 

Professor Christiana Gregoriou says: 

“To mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, this theatrical adaptation brings to life the true story of Phylactis Aristokleous, a Greek Cypriot sergeant in the British Army during WWII. Based on his never-seen-before memoirs, the 30-minute monologue (inclusive of a short lecture) explores resilience, camaraderie, and survival in a prisoner-of-war camp through vivid storytelling, physicality, and drama.” 

You can also delve more deeply into the background to the play by reading Professor Gregoriou’s recent article for The Conversation. 

Performance Venues: 

University of Leeds (Banham Theatre) on **Wednesday, May 7th**.  

Book a 10:30 morning performance slot. 

Book a 12:30 noon slot. 

Royal Armouries (Bury Theatre) on **Thursday, May 8th**: Before or after the performance, you can visit the museum galleries completely free of charge. To book a museum visit (the shows are walk-ins), please see the Royal Armouries webpage. 

Eden Modern History Museum (Mess Hut 12) on **Friday, May 9th**: Before or after the show, you can explore the museum’s exhibits and learn more about life during the war. Pre-booking is necessary, and you can find details of how to do so on the Eden Modern History Museum webpage. 

York Army Museum on **Saturday, May 10th **. Before or after the show, you can explore the museum’s Yorkshire army-related exhibits. For show details, visit the York Army Museum webpage. 

To learn more, email Christiana Gregoriou at [email protected]