WWII memoir brought to life through lecture-performance tour across Yorkshire
The performance, which drew on a little-known memoir by a Cypriot soldier in the British Army during World War II, combined academic insight with vivid storytelling and physical theatre
A powerful new lecture-performance co-created by researchers at the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures offered audiences across Yorkshire a moving insight into the experiences of a Cypriot soldier in the British Army during the Second World War.
Memoirs of a P.O.W., conceived by Professor Christiana Gregoriou (School of English) and adapted and directed by Professor George Rodosthenous (School of Performance and Cultural Industries), drew on a never-before-seen memoir written by Gregoriou’s grandfather, Phylactis Aristokleous – a Greek Cypriot sergeant and prisoner of war.
Actor Stylianos Thomadakis as Phylactis Aristokleous
The 30-minute monologue, translated from Greek by Maria Iole Karolidou and performed by Stylianos Thomadakis, was presented as part of a lecture-performance, combining academic insight with vivid storytelling and physical theatre. It was tailored for all audiences, including school pupils, and explored themes of resilience, camaraderie, and survival in wartime.
Professor Gregoriou said:
“This project has been deeply personal for me. Adapting my grandfather’s memoir for the stage has been a way of honouring his story, while opening up conversations about the diversity of Britain’s wartime forces and the emotional truths captured in life writing. It’s been humbling to see how audiences have connected with the performance, especially younger viewers encountering this history for the first time.”
The production toured a range of Yorkshire venues in early May 2025 to coincide with the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day. Following a preview at a Greek school in Leeds on 3 May, performances took place at the University of Leeds on 7 May, the Royal Armouries on 8 May (VE Day), Eden Camp in Malton on 9 May, and the York Army Museum on 10 May.
The project is part of Professor Gregoriou’s research into Second World War life-writing and the ways in which memoirs record and reconstitute the subjective experience of war. By showcasing the story of a Cypriot soldier, Memoirs of a P.O.W. also contributed to a wider public understanding of the diversity within Britain’s wartime forces.
Funded by the Leeds Arts and Humanities Research Institute (LAHRI) Impact Acceleration Account, the project aimed to generate social, educational, and economic benefits: from sparking intergenerational conversations and enriching school and visitor learning, to increasing footfall at the participating heritage venues.
