[Nettime-ro] Armenian International Theater Festival

["Oana Mateescu" <omateescu {AT} concept.ro>]

Title: Message

 

  “High Fest” Armenian International Theatre Festival

October 2003 / Yerevan, Republic of Armenia

In Armenia theatre traditions are coming from centuries. First amphitheatre in Armenia was created in first century BC. First official chronicle about Armenian theatre, written by Armenian and Hellenic historians dated of 53 BC. It was describing of the Euripides’ “Bacchants” performance in theatre, established by Armenian King Artavazd the Second in the ancient town Artashat. Besides Hellenic playwrights there were performed the plays written by Artavazd himself as well. These chronicles were the beginning of Armenian Theatre. After, there were many pictures of actors, mentions of their games and actions in the numerous of medieval manuscripts.

This all is absolutely outstanding. And we, theatre practitioners of the present Armenia, must cultivate and promote the huge heritage and history our theatre. So, “High Fest” is dedicated to 2055 years of Armenian Theatre.

Why High Fest? In Armenian language “high” means, just Armenian. So this is Armenian-High event.       

Goals 

The main goal of the festival is the promotion of Worldwide Culture in Armenia and Armenian Culture in other countries in the world.

• Bringing to Yerevan the best and most innovative of small-scale performances, of any styles and genres, from Europe and Asia;
• Creating an information bank;
• Providing an exchange of ideas and experience;
• Promoting regional and international cooperation in Art;
• Supporting experimental creative initiatives;
• Looking for innovative forms of theatre works;
• Providing mobility and professional contacts;
• Exposing new faces of actors;
• Increasing professional diversity;
• Spreading information and contact network among theatre fellows.

General   Presentation

The selection for the festival is based mainly on the following criteria:

• Shows of the highest quality and professionalism;
• Shows of the different types of theatre: drama, music, movement, dance, choreography, puppets-marionettes, one-man show, etc / not exceeded 5-7 person
• Companies happy to take part in workshops, meetings and discussions;
• Companies happy to work together with the festival organizers to make things possible;

The season

• Each company will be performing 2 times;
• Each company  (or part of the company) will actively participate in workshops, master classes and meetings with Armenian, European and Russian theatre practitioners;
• Each company will be able to see the work of other invited artists and to make new contacts.

Application form

1.      Full name of the theatre / company’s history;

2.      City / Country;

3.      Performance title, short description and tour history;

4.      Genre, number of acts;

5.      Director, artist;

6.      Characters and actors (program of the performance enclosed on the separate sheet);

7.      List of previous festivals theatre participated at;

8.      Number of arriving people (actors and others);

9.      Duration of the play;

10.  Weight of decorations, need in transport;

11.  Technical conditions necessary for the show;

12. Information (address, fax, telephone, Email). Contact person

• We will be welcoming projects information pack, photos and video (essential) until March 25 2003. A first selection will be established and the selected companies will be asked to send more information and confirm their availability.

The conditions

• The Organizing Committee does not cover visa and travel expenses, does not pay fees and per diems to the companies, but   will cover the following:
• Accommodation and meals;
• Technical and administrative costs;
• Press, marketing and publicity costs;
• Travel in Yerevan and tour to sightseeing;
• Prizes and souvenirs.

Organizers

• Armenian Actors Union
• Bureau for Caucasian Cultural Programmes (Armenia)
• Benevolent Fund for Culture Development
• “Alfael” Producing Centre

We are welcoming information from the companies interested in presenting their work this autumn in Yerevan.

With compliments,

Artur Ghukasyan                                                                  

Festival President

Our address:                 5 Tumanian St., /1st floor/ Benevolent Fund for Culture Development 375001 Yerevan, Armenia

Tel:                               +374 1 52 29 54 / 52 02 69

Fax:                              +374 1 56 21 31

Mobile phone:              +374 9 42 18 22

E-mail:                          bccp {AT} arminco.com

Web:                            www.highfest.com