Theatrical capital happy to welcome
Belaya Vezha International Theatre Festival has opened in Brest to celebrate its jubilee this year: it’s held for the 25th time!
By good tradition, the city transforms into a theatrical capital for a week. In 2020, the festival was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic and, with a tricky epidemiological situation in view, the organisers decided not to stage street performances this year. In turn, three venues – the large and small halls of the Brest Academic Drama Theatre, the Palace of Culture of Trade Unions and the Brest Puppet Theatre – have been chosen.
Twenty-one troupes will perform in Belarusian, Russian and Tajik – with simultaneous translation into Russian. Twenty-two performances are scheduled and theatre lovers will definitely enjoy the shows by Belarusian, Armenian, Russian, Georgian, Kazakhstani, Moldovan and Tajikistani artistes.
Belarusians will present most productions: nine. Moreover, the Yanka Kupala National Academic Theatre opened the festival with its guest performance of Paulinka. The competition programme starts on September 10th with the Maksim Gorky National Academic Drama Theatre’s Pane Kokhanku production.
According to the Deputy Culture Minister, Valery Gromada, Belaya Vezha is a cultural brand not only of the Brest Region but the whole of Belarus, “Our state pays great attention to the development and support of professional art – as confirmed by the organisation of such a large-scale event. It is important for us to support our artistes and promote the country in the international arena.”
The 25th Belaya Vezha International Theatre Festival – held with assistance of the CIS Interstate Humanitarian Co-operation Fund – will last until September 18th. This year, its programme is timed to the CIS 30th anniversary.
