The “Eurothalia” European Theatre Festival
The German State Theatre based in the western city of Timisoara organised the 5th edition of the “Eurothalia European Theatre Festival.
Luana Pleşea, 31.10.2015, 14:30
The German State Theatre based in the western city of Timisoara organised the 5th edition of the “Eurothalia” European Theatre Festival.
The event brought to Timsioara, for the first time under this form, plays by prominent European directors like Oskaras Korsunovas, Silviu Purcarete, Jan Lauwers and Wim Vandekeybus and shows which are the result of new theatre aesthetic ideas, such as those staged at the “Anton Pann” Theatre in Râmnicu-Vâlcea, The “Spalatorie” Theatre in Chishinau (the Republic of Moldova) or the “Csiky Gergely” Hungarian State Theatre in Timisoara.
Andreea Andrei has made the selection of the shows presented in the 2015 edition of the festival: ” The festival has changed a lot from one edition to another. If, in the past years, we invited more shows from Romania, this year we’ve tried to bring more shows from Europe, staged by prominent theatre directors. This year, just like in the past, the shows have been very diverse in terms of genre and the approached themes. We invite theatre performances as well as contemporary dance shows, or shows which can’t be subscribed to a specific genre. ‘Eurothalia’ is the only festival in Timisoara which focuses exclusively on European theatre. We try to build a sort of platform for the new trends currently followed by the European theatre.”
The “Eurothalia” European Theatre Festival opened with a performance staged at the “Electra” German Theatre, based on texts by Euripides and Aeschylus, and directed by Bocsárdi László. The staging preserves the original writing style, but there is a contemporary approach to the text, with a very young and modern Electra concealed under a very delicate appearance. Isa Berger is the actress who gives life to the character of passionate Electra, whose only raison d’etre is revenge.
Isa Berger: “It is not a light show. We need tranquillity and peace of mind before the show. I need to spend some time alone, to try to identify Electra’s problems and somehow to re-live that inner turmoil. I try to mirror that soul, for the public to see it. Just like Mr. Bocsardi said, human soul has no bounds. This is precisely what we want to do, to unveil our souls in front of the public. If I were to bring Electra to our modern times, I would say I don’t necessarily understand her wish to take revenge, to kill her mother, but I fully understand her love for his father, because I myself am a daughter who loves her father very much and I believe I would do anything for my dad. Somehow, I identify myself with her, from this point of view.”
“Electra” was followed by two performances of “The Seagull” by Chekhov, directed by Oskaras Koršunovas, a production by OKT / Vilnius City Theatre, Lithuania. The staging won over the public in the first minutes, due to the incredible natural acting. “Actors can’t hide themselves behind the characters. The spectators should see, step by step, how the actor starts living the character’s life,” this is what Koršunovas teaches his actors.
Belgian director Jan Lauwers and Needcompany came to “Eurothalia”, with “The Blind Poet”, a show on multiculturalism, based on the story of each of the leading actors, who are requested to expose much of their lives to the public at large.
