Sibiu International Theater Festival, 26th edition

Around 3,300 artists from 73 countries are gathered in Sibiu these days for the 26th edition of the Sibiu International Theater Festival (14-24 June), with over 340 theater, dance, music and circus performances, books exhibitions, movies and conferences.

Tens of thousands of people were on the streets of Sibiu during this extended weekend attending the street performances and the open-air concerts. Spectators enjoyed the selection of performances proposed by the organizers for the Indoor program.

One of the most acclaimed performances was “Session” - collaboration between choreographers Colin Dunne and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui drawing upon the rhythmical and sonic aspects of Dunne's traditional Irish dance. Canadian company Machine de Cirque received thunderous applause for their performance, a fabulous show offering a perfect combination of theater, dance, acrobatics, juggling and contemporary art.

Israeli dance was also represented during this first weekend at FITS by Vertigo Company, returning to Sibiu with a new performance for the audience who has already gotten used to choreographic excellence. This new original dance creation by choreographer Noa Wertheim revolves around the individual's inner wish to be whole, while constantly being challenged by a fragmented reality within the existential social and spiritual realms. “One, One and One” involves both the internal and external worlds, paying attention to the echo as reflected from different directions while developing the metaphoric relationship between far and near and self and the other.

For this week, FITS organizers have prepared indoor as well as outdoor event-performances - “Joy” by Pippo Delbono, “State of Siege” by Théâtre de la Ville-Paris and “Venezuela” by Batshva Dance Company, to name only three of them. Moreover, special conferences, play readings and book launches will also continue at Habitus Bookstore and Humanitas Bookstore.

Contemporary circus will be in focus again at Redal Expo with the performance of “All Genius All Idiot” that revels in the absurdities of life, using extreme circus artistry to highlight human behavior at its most animalistic. Svalbard Company bends the edges of contemporary circus beyond imagination and blends it with theatre, dance and live music to create a truly original piece that you will remember for its surreal quality as well as its awe-inspiring skills and realness. “All Genius All Idiot” features Chinese pole, aerial rope, hand balance and acrobatics, driven by a hauntingly beautiful and at times bizarre original soundtrack, played live by the performers.

“The Scarlet Princess” returns to FITS, a performance which has received several awards at this year’s UNITER Awards Gala, based on an original script written by Silviu Purcărete and adapted from the kabuki theatre play by Tsuruya Nanboku the 4th. Inspired by this tradition, Director aims to create a European performance using text, rules and space of kabuki, elements that have been loosely reinterpreted.

FITS2019 mobile phone application, made available with the support of UniCredit Bank, helps interested participants always stay connected to what is going on during the festival, including information on the program, tickets, performance venues. It can be downloaded on Google Play and App Store.

Tickets for FITS 2019 can be purchased online or at the Theatre Agency in Sibiu (17 Nicolae Bălcescu - opened daily between 10:00 AM and 8:00 PM).

Information about the whole program and ticket prices: www.sibfest.ro.

Source:RRA, Sibfest.ro