International Theatre Festival “Belaya Vezha”
Organizers of the festival:
• Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Belarus
• Brest Regional Executive Committee
• The Brest Academic Drama Theatre
International Theatre Festival “Belaya Vezha” (White Tower) has been held since 1996 year. The first festival gathered theaters from 6 countries and gave an opportunity to the theatres of the former USSR to meet together, as well as acquaint Belarusian audience with some foreign theatrical groups.
During 14 years of the festival history the representatives of 51 countries participated in the Festival and gave a huge number of plays (in the brackets – the number of performances given):
Abkhazia (4), Austria (2), the UK (5), Argentine (2), Armenia (6), Belarus (85), Belgium, Bulgaria (6), Brazil (2), Republic of Buryatia, Hungary (4), Venezuela (2), Germany (17), Holland, Greece, Georgia (3), Denmark (3), Israel (5), Iran (4), Spain (3), Italy (5), Cameroon, Republic of Karelia, Cyprus, China, Korea, Latvia (9), Lithuania (13), Luxemburg, Macedonia (2) , Moldova (8), Mongolia, Poland (30), Republic of Tyva, Russia (46), Romania (3), Serbia, Slovakia (4), Slovenia (2), USA (6), Tadzhikistan, Republic of Tatar, Turkey (8), Uzbekistan, Ukraine (42), France (8), Czech Republic (2), Switzerland (2), Sweden (3), Estonia (4), Japan (2).
During these years it became very far-famed and gained a big authority worldwide. About 40 theatrical groups from more than 25 countries of the world take part in the Festival annually. Now "Belaya Vezha" is the only international theatrical forum in the country that every year assembles a broad and rather representative circle of drama, dance, street and puppet theatres, known actors and producers, playwrights, explorers of scenic creativity from all over the world.
The 8-days festival program combines into one the whole spectrum of modern dramatic art: academic drama, modern experimental drama, performances of the puppet theatres, various street performances, dance theatres and ballet, opera, etc.
Every year during the festival the international jury that is formed of famous and authoritative specialists determinate the level and creative face of contemporary theatre. The jury includes as minimum representatives of 4 countries.
The program of the festival contains two parts:
• competitive (main part)
• off program (guest part)
Competitive part of the Festival program is estimated by the international jury.
The Festival has become an important scientific and educational center. Within the framework of the festival workshops, scientific conferences and seminars are conducted, exhibitions and presentations of scientific literature and plays are organized. Such actions help to exchange professional knowledge and contribute to research activities in theatrical sphere.
Every year Brest greets honored guests of the festival: theatre producers, directors of international theatre festivals from all over the world. Their participation in the festival gives the theatre groups new opportunities and perspectives of making contacts and organizing creative cooperation. The Festival occupying advantageous geographical location has discovered many names and groups whose creative work is called for in Europe now.
The program of the Festival is organized in the way that maximum attention is given to each participant. At the end of each festival day public discussions of the performances are held where theatres groups, theatrical critics and journalists from Belarus and other countries take part.
