International Shakespeare Festival in Craiova programme
Communities building festivals: 30 years since the first edition
The International Shakespeare Festivals brings the greatest names of international theater to Craiova
Between the 16th – 26th of May 2024, 30 performances by the likes of Robert Wilson, Peter Brook, Declan Donnellan, Robert Lepage and other world renowned directors will be hosted in seven theater halls in Craiova; at the same time, in over 30 conventional and non-conventional spaces throughout the city’s neighborhoods, plazas and parks, the Shakespearean spirit will be felt. Over 300 events – performances, concerts, expositions, parades, conferences, book launches or student workshops will facilitate a voyage through time and space, from the year 1600 in the Shakespeare Village and all the way to the future, through Shakespeare Dimensions: an incursion into virtual reality through a multimedia cube based on artificial intelligence with the support of NEPI Rockcastle and hosted by Promenada Mall.
“Starting from the concept of “community building festivals”, we imagined an edition which highlights the collaborative spirit of the local community and its involvement in building alternative experiences of staging (or even street performance of) Shakespeare. It is the communities that build the festival and find in its spirit aspects they can pass on as testament to the force of this phenomenon. Just as Shakespeare’s plays speak directly to people everywhere, regardless of age, nationality or language, the International Shakespeare Festival of Craiova is meant for everyone from around the world.” – Vlad Drăgulescu, President of the International SHakespeare Festival, Craiova.
This year’s edition of the International Shakespeare Festival will debut on Thursday, May 16, at the “Marin Sorescu” National Theater with “The Tempest” by director Robert Wilson and presented by the “Ivan Vazov” National Theater of Sofia, Bulgaria. The same stage will host: “Hamlet” by director Declan Donnelan, produced by the National Theater of Craiova, “The Tempest Project” by Peter Brook and Marie-Hélène Estienne from Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord of Paris, France, „Hamlet, the dance of the melancholic” a flamenco performance from Seville, Spain, directed by Jesús Herrera and last, but not least, the festival will conclude on May 26 with „The tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark” by Robert Lepage, a Production of Ex Machina, Côté Danse, Dvoretsky Productions in co-production with „Marin Sorescu” National Theatre and Shakespeare Foundation, Craiova.
Tickets for the performances hosted at the Amza Pellea Hall, together with those from I.D. Sîrbu Hall, the Students’ Culture House, the Colibri Theater for Children and Youths, Ramada Hall, Typography and the Oltenia Philharmonic have already been put up for sale. The festival schedule is available at https://www.shakespearefestival.online and festival subscriptions are available at the “Marin Sorescu” National Theater’s ticket office.
The 14th edition of the International Shakespeare Festival will take place between May 16th – 26th 2024 and is planned, as always, by the “Marin Sorescu” National Theater of Craiova and the Shakespeare Foundation. In this edition, when the International Shakespeare Festival celebrates its 30th year of existence, a new partner joins the traditional organizers – the National University of Theater and Cinema Arts “I.L. Caragiale” of Bucharest (UNATC).
Thus, the festival gains an educational dimension next to its creative one. In 2024, for the first time since the establishment of the International Shakespeare Festival, UNATC is planning a section dedicated exclusively to future theater and cinema artists: “UNATC Fringe Festival – Shakespeare Unleashes Students”. Within the span of 11 days, in 22 alternative spaces, dispersed throughout the city, UNATC students will play William Shakespeare’s creations and recompose, at the heart of the community, the great playwright’s universe.
Having well-deserved national and international notoriety, considered one of the most important themed festivals of Europe and among the most important Shakespeare festivals around the world, the International Shakespeare Festival invites you to Craiova, where communities build the festival!
Founded in 1994, the International Shakespeare Festival of Craiova has brought to Romania, over the years, performances by some of the greatest directors of world theater such as Peter Brook, Eugenio Barba, Yukio Ninagawa, Robert Wilson, Lev Dodin, Declan Donnellan, Silviu Purcărete, Andrei Șerban, Eimuntas Nekrošius, Michael Pennington, Edward Hall, Richard Schechner, Elizabeth Le Compte, Thomas Ostermeier, Yuriy Butusov, Krzysztof Warlikowski, Oskaras Korsunovas or Robert Lepage.
FULL PROGRAMME here : Shakespeare Festival
Organizers: Shakespeare Foundation, „Marin Sorescu” National Theater of Craiova, National University of Theater and Cinema Arts “I.L. Caragiale” of Bucharest.
Funders: Craiova City Hall, Craiova Local Council, Ministry of Culture, Dolj County Council, Ministry of Education, Romanian Cultural Institute
Main Sponsors: NEPI Rockcastle, Promenada
Sponsors: AQUA Carpatica, Epson
Communications Partner: Vodafone România
Parteners: Great Britain’s Embassy in Bucharest, British Council, UNESCO, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, University of Craiova, Automation and Electronics Faculty, Mechanics Faculty, Horticulture Faculty, Economics and Business Administration Faculty, Faculty of Letters, Medicine and Pharmacy University of Craiova, Rotary Probitas.
Media Partners: Radio România Cultural, Radio Oltenia Craiova, Liternet, Cărturești, Zile și Nopți