The Craiova International Shakespeare Festival (south of Romania), now in its 15th edition, opened its doors on Thursday evening, scheduling over 450 events until May 31. Artists from all over the world will perform, from theatre to visual arts, film, music, opera, dance, and literature.<\/p>\n
According to the organizers, this year\u2019s theme, \u201cWILL matters \/ Will creates matter,\u201d invites reflection on willpower as a creative force and engine of imagination. It also expands the festival as an urban and community experience, extending Craiova\u2019s cultural map and bringing the performing arts closer to the general public. Performances take place not only in theatres but also in public squares, neighborhoods and unconventional spaces, transforming familiar places into stages of play, imagination, and participation. \u201cSince the previous edition, renowned experts have described our festival as the largest Shakespeare festival in the world,\u201d said the festival\u2019s president, Vlad Dr\u0103gulescu, noting that it has grown, taken over hall after hall, and now spreads throughout the entire city.<\/p>\n
The first day was dedicated to Japanese culture. The program included, among other events, an inaugural parade inspired by traditional matsuri festivals and a tea ceremony. Present at the official opening, Japan\u2019s ambassador to Romania, Takashi Katae, stated that the Craiova Festival confirms its role as a major platform for cultural dialogue between Romania and Japan, emphasizing that in the bilateral relationship, culture and human exchange are central pillars of Romanian Japanese cooperation.<\/p>\n
Among the announced events are \u201cThe Dance of the Flying Fire\u201d and \u201cCircurios\u201d by Austria\u2019s Flare Performance company, \u201cOut of the Deep Blue\u201d by the British troupe Autin Dance Theatre, and \u201cGanda \u2013 The Rhinoceros,\u201d a street performance by Italy\u2019s Teatro delle Isole. At Casa B\u0103niei, productions inspired by William Shakespeare\u2019s works are presented under the direction of Anca Sigart\u0103u, including \u201cRomeo and Juliet,\u201d \u201cThe Taming of the Shrew,\u201d and \u201cThe Merchant of Venice.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Shakespeare Metropolitan section brings the festival into city neighborhoods and Youth Park through pop up shows, children\u2019s workshops, and artistic interventions by Romanian and international artists, as well as more than 160 Erasmus+ Shakespeare students. Meanwhile, the Shakespeare Metropolitan caravan reaches localities around Craiova, offering interactive workshops, recitals, and comedy shows with free access.<\/p>\n
A major highlight of this year\u2019s edition is Promenada Mall Craiova, where more than 30 performances and events are scheduled for all ages, from puppetry and magic to acrobatics, exhibitions, and multimedia installations. (EE)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Craiova International Shakespeare Festival (south of Romania), now in its 15th edition, opened its doors on Thursday evening, scheduling over 450 events until May 31. Artists from all over the world will perform, from theatre to visual arts, film, music, opera, dance, and literature. According to the organizers, this year\u2019s theme, \u201cWILL matters \/ […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":46,"featured_media":1020142,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[37738],"tags":[144072,132174,30238,30248],"coauthors":[115852],"class_list":["post-1020260","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-today-in-the-news","tag-craiova-2","tag-festival-2","tag-shakespeare","tag-theatre"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n