EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT based on Mike Bartlett's Contractions, Nicosia – Cyprus
In 2012 Fresh Target Theatre in co-production with Paravan Proactions, presented a site-specific version of the black comedy Employment Contract inspired by Mike Bartlett's Contractions. Employment Contract is a play that deals with the increasing invasion of big companies into their employees' privacy. In this allegoric satire a big corporation contractually bans and controls any kind of romantic relationships between its employees.
Emma, from sales, is in love with a colleague, Darren, who works in the same department as her. However this, according to her Manager, constitutes a breach of her contract of employment according to which employees should declare any ‘romantic or sexual relationships, activities or acts’ in their work environment. Across fourteen scenes averaging a little over five minutes each, we observe the Manager’s intrusion into Emma’s life and the latter’s gradual compliance with the established corporate etiquette.
The play took place on the second floor of a new modern building that hosts a multinational consultancy firm in Nicosia (RAI building). The space was arranged so as to resemble a corporation’s meeting room, and the audience watched the play as members of the company’s board sitting around a big purpose-build conference table. The creative team designed all the marketing materials of a fictitious company (C) (TV corporate recruitment advertisement, logos, letterheads, folders, writing material etc) so as to make the experience for the audience as 'real' as possible.
'Paris Erotokritou has earned our respect by the choices of plays he produced and directed with Fresh Target Theatre. His clever direction in Employment Contract strengthens our respect even further'
Philelftheros
'A spectacular production perfectly staged by a young creative team'
Politis
Cast
Elena Savva
Elena Demetriou
Ariana Alphas
Nedie Antoniadou (Film)
Electra Kythreoti (Film)
Creatives
Director: Paris Erotokritou
Set Design/Costumes: Paravan Proactions
Lighting Design: Karolina Spyrou
Sound Design/Composer: Antonis Antoniou
Video: Paris Erotokritou/Sotiris Christou
Multimedia Design: George Ioannou
Film: Orestis Lambrou
Assistant Director: Electra Kythreoti
Producer: George M. Ioannou
Production Manager: Yiannis Gavrielides
Designer-Art Director: Victoria Menda
Algorithms/Presentations: Dr Aris Kleanthous
Photography: George Ioannou
Production: Fresh Target Theatre Ensemble