International Theatre Institute ITI

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Share Your Voice of Love, Encouragement and Support
The current global pandemic shakes the world with anxiety, fear and even hatred. It is time for every one of us to be active and to use the best tools we have – the dialogue and communication that is inherent in the performing arts to go through this global health crisis.

The General Secretariat is receiving a lot of words of love, encouragement and support from all parts of the world, and all these letters deserve to have more readers.

>>Please click here to read and watch
Announcing the ITI General Assembly Special Edition 2020 – Online
Due to the pandemic the ITI World Congress will not happen at the beginning 2021 but is postponed to the beginning of 2022. As the gap between the 35h ITI World Congress that happened in Segovia (Spain) 2017 and the 36th ITI World Congress is too big, the Executive Council and the General Secretariat if ITI are creating a General Assembly Special Edition that will happen 10 to 15 December 2020 – online.
But this Special Edition will NOT be an administrative General Assembly with elections and approval of reports but an ARTISTIC Assembly with keynote speeches by remarkable persons and brief presentations from:
• the National Centres of ITI
• the ITI Committees, Forums and Networks
• the Partner Organizations of ITI (international theatre, music, dance and similar organizations)
Friends and members of ITI as well as anybody who has an interest in ITI can watch the presentations and listen to the keynote speeches of the first five days. Your will find more detailed information about this Special Edition event in the next ITI Newsletters, the ITI website and a specially designed website. Stay tuned.
Celebrate World Opera Day 2020 on 25 October
ITI is calling its members and friends all over the world to join forces with their local venues that are presenting Operas to celebrate World Opera Day on 25 October.
In 2019 ITI together with UNESCO supported the first Opera Day that was celebrated in Strasbourg (France) and Karlsruhe (Germany) during the Opera Forum.
For this 2020 edition, OperaVision, the free streaming platform supported by the European Union’s Creative Europe programme, will stream three contrasting versions of Beethoven’s only opera, Fidelio: in a recent recorded concert version; in an animated form for young people; and in a promenade production staged at the heart of an inner-city community.
>>Link to free streaming
World Opera Day was initiated with joint forces of Ópera Latinoamérica, OPERA America and Opera Europa but is also supported by international partners such as UNESCO and the International Theatre Institute ITI. Opera Europa is one of the Partner Organizations of ITI.
www.worldoperaday.com
World Theatre Day 2020 – Ceremony with Award Ceremony “Scrivere il Teatro”
9 October 2020, Cine Politeama Theatre Caltagirone - Catania (Italy)
Since 2016 the Ministry of Education of Italy and the Italian Centre of ITI are celebrating World Theatre Day with a competition called “Scrivere il Teatro” (Writing Theatre) for Italian students. Fortunately, the 2020 edition was not cancelled but just postpone to 9 October to happen in a historic theatre and cinema venue with live audience (following the legal instructions for theatre having an audience indoors).
The competition “Scrivere il teatro” is intended to creatively celebrate World Theatre Day by writing theatre. The winning work is staged by students who wrote the theatrical text themselves. They are assisted by professional theatre experts during a 10-day full immersion artistic residence. The emergency of the Covid-19 pandemic prevented the normal implementation of the final phase of the project in March. Everything had to be postponed to the opening of schools in September. But now, the city of Caltagirone in Sicily (Italy) has become the Italian Capital of World Theatre Day 2020 by celebrating the Day and premiering the winning performance “DiscrimatedAnonymous.it” in the city´s Cine Teatro Politeama. The play has been written by the students of class IIIB of the Secusio High School of Caltagirone. Students and school children will be able to see the play online when it is streamed to all Italian schools.
The Celebration 2020 of World Theatre Day in Italy opens with the videoed message of Shahid Nadeem, World Theatre Day message author 2020, followed by introductory words of Fabio Tolledi and Georgio Zorcù, President and Secretary of the Italian Centre of ITI. H.E Lucia Azzolina, Minister of Education of Italy, will speak live over video streaming. The Celebration culminates with premiering the winning play “Discriminated.Anonymous.it”.
Yuri Lyubimov International Theatre Award 2020 – Theodoros Terzopoulos
The Yuri Lyubimov International Theatre Award has been created in honour and memory of the outstanding Russian Theatre and Opera director Yuri Lyubimov (1915-2014), the extremely well-respected stage director who enjoys a high esteem in the performing arts community all over the world.
In the memory of his achievements, every year the Lyubimov Foundation and ITI are selecting an outstanding theatre personality to be awarded with the Yuri Lyubimov International Theatre Award.
The jury of the Yuri Lyubimov International Theatre Award (Katalin Lyubimova, Natalia Isaeva, Anatoli Vassiliev, and Tobias Biancone) decided to announce the Awardee 2020 to you.
Theodoros Terzopoulos
Theodoros Terzopoulos, Stage Director, Educator, Author and Founder of the Theatre Olympics.
>>Click here to know more about the winner Photo Credits –Johanna Weber
Announcement of the winners of the Sholem Aleichem Adaptation's Contest
In June 2019 The International Playwrights´ Forum (IPF) of ITI, in collaboration with the Israeli Centre of the ITI and The Institute for Jewish Theatre (associated with the Israeli Centre), and thanks to the generous support of the ITI Executive Council and the ITI Headquarters, launched an international project: A competition of new dramatic adaptations of Sholem Aleichem's short stories.
The winners of the Sholem Aleichem Adaptation's Contest
• The first prize of 2500 Euro was accorded to “Lazare”, a French adaptation by Louis Malié (France).
The second prize of 1375 Euro each was divided between two Hungarian competitors:
• Péter Körmöczi-Kriván for the Play “Almost”
• Péter Hollós for the play “The Dreamers”
ITI and IPF want to warmly congratulate the winners. Apart from the awards for the playwrights, the winning plays will be celebrated and accorded with a staged reading at an ITI international event that will be duly announced. The texts will be published on the websites of the IPF and The Institute for Jewish Theatre and Facebook page. Further options for exposing the plays are considered.
For any questions please write to the President and the General Secretary of IPF over info(at)iti-worldwide.org.
>>The full final report with the juries´ explanations, written by the President of IPF, is available here
Call for New Physical Theatre Working Group
After discussions led by representatives of ITI and the World Mime Organization (WMO) to establish a working group for the physical/non-verbal theatre, both organizations are inviting interested practitioners to join the Physical Theatre Working Group (working title) to develop the organizational goals, structure and task and to prepare first activities and projects.
If you are interested to be part of this Working Group, please write to the email physical-theatre(at)iti-worldwide.org. Your message will be forwarded to Marko Stojanovic, President of WMO and Daniel Bausch, Executive Council member ITI worldwide & President of the Swiss Centre of ITI (both responsible for establishing the working group). Please include a short CV and the reason why you would like to be part of the Working Group.
>>Click here to read more about the New Physical Theatre Working Group
Photo Credits – Pavlo Vyshnevskyi and Maksym Lytvynenko, students of the Kiev Municipal Academy of Circus and Variety Arts. Photo Credits Filip Stojanovic
Third World Mime Conference 2020 - Online
Thursday to Sunday, 10 to 13 of December
If you want to participate, please send us an email to office(at)worldmime.org. Please send us your full name, country and email, and add some words expressing your interest and some brief information about your background. >>Click here to read the Letter by the President of the World Mime Organization, to know about the Third World Mime Conference 2020.
Contact:
office(at)worldmime.org
www.worldmime.org
www.facebook.com/worldmime
Conference « Theatre and Virtual Reality »
Friday to Sunday, 16 to 18 October 2020, at the Baltic House Theatre-Festival (Saint Petersburg, Russia) – the Conference is offline and online
Part of the XXX Baltic House International Theatre Festival, in cooperation with International Theatre Institute ITI The conference aims to give a multi-perspective look at theatre and virtual reality in a post-Covid-19 age. Russian and international theatre professionals come together to discuss the future of global cooperation, debate over the potential of virtual theatre as a stand-alone genre and consider theatre attendance habits of Generation Z. One of the conference’s highlights is a master-class in branding and marketing for actors. The conference takes place both offline at the Baltic House Theatre-Festival and online.
Live streams will be available on the Baltic House Theatre’s official YouTube channel: youtube.com/channel/UC6BTArAuBsLnMuUKDuVZaOg
The conference’s official language is English, with simultaneous interpretation to Russian. More information at live-bd.com Documents - Posters in English and Russian - Programme in English and Russian
A tWo Day ONliNE IntErnationAL GaThEring oF TheatRe people
If you’re passionate about theatre, then you’ve probably been feeling a little uncertain over the past few months. We’d like to invite you to wrestle with the questions we’re all asking in the shadow of COVID-19.
Artistic Directors: Nataly Zukerman & Moshe Perlstein
Recommended by: Gad Kaynar-Kissinger, President Israeli Centre ITI
Please join the Conference
When: Wednesday & Thursday, 14 &15 October 2020
>>To join the Conference or watch the live play on Telegram, please visit the website
Second Edition of “Emerging Scenes in Africa”, 9 to 18 April 2021 in Accra, Ghana
Call for Applications for Workshop and Masterclass Trainers, Speakers, Facilitators
The African Regional Council of ITI and the Ghana ITI Centre are committed to providing accommodation, catering and internal travel related to the project for experts and guests.
>>Click here to know more about the Categories, Organization & Conditions of Participation.
Contact
scenesemergentes(at)gmail.com
Craiit.3(at)gmail.com
Inspirational Words on Culture and the Arts
Anak*, why art?
In this so-called quarantine era, is there room for the arts?
by Nick J. Lizaso, Chairman of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) of the Philippines, Vice-President of the International University Theatre Association (IUTA – a Partner Organization of ITI) and member of the Philippine Centre of ITI. *Anak is a Filipino word and means “Child”, so the title may be translated to: “My Child, why art?” >>Please click here to read the full words.
Austrian Centre of ITI
The production of Black Swan was initiated by ITI Austria and realized with support of our member-organization UNESCO-Club Wien. This short video (mixed-media of theatre/performance/film) is meant as a remembrance of Hiroshima 1945, Fukushima 2011 in a time of Covid 19. It has just gone on-line and is there for you to watch on YouTube. >>Click here to watch the impressive nine-minutes video
The text is an edited extract from a larger piece that Fran Eve Wright wrote for a production with Prince Shimazu of Satsuma that is called Tyfun. It goes back to the time of the Mongolian invasion of China and attempted invasion of Japan by the Yuan dynasty. It goes down through to the Fukushima accident and tsunami. Tyfun essentially deals with the power of prayer and the power of nature throughout the history of Japan.
Presented to you by Helga Dostal, President of the Austrian Centre of ITI
North Macedonian Centre of ITI
The North Macedonian Centre of ITI is kindly inviting you to watch the 72 Hours Ongoing Premiere - Project: Dispersive Dramatics in Skopje - 6 Video Theatre / 6 Video Drama Pitching
What is the creative point with this project? We develop creative digital formats in theatre. We promote peripheral urban, rural and natural locations with strong narrative visual content and context. We internationally promote new generations of contemporary playwrights based in the Republic of North Macedonia)
Category: Public Space Theatre – Video Theatre (fragments) / Mono Performances
Language: English
>>Click here to see the Video Theatre Menu
Official Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR4iIywzmF4&t=42s
Short info about the organization of the event: The North Macedonian Centre of ITI / Produkcija (2011-2020) develops and performs international promotion of local North Macedonian contemporary performing arts: theatre, opera / musical theatre, dance, performance. International promotion via education, publishing and collaborative productions.
Call for Participation
From different members of ITI we have received messages that they have started to perform in or outside of venues – with dance, theatre or other performances. How is it possible? What Covid-19-conditions have to be applied? Please share your story of your Festival, of your performances in or outside of a venue with members and friends of ITI. Your best practice will help others to follow similar procedures.
Please send the story with pictures or a video, and a logo so that we can publish it in one of the next ITI Newsletters. Send it to news(at)iti-worldwide.org. It will give ITI members and friends guidelines and hope.
Picture: Song of the Songs, performed at the archaeological site of Rudiae near Lecce, Italy, in August 2020. Production: Astragali Teatro. Direction: Fabio Tolledi. Performers Roberta Quarta and Simonetta Rotundo, with the Ensemble Montesardo
Pre-Announcement: Online Theatre Academy
The World Theatre Training Institute AKT-ZENT/ITI opens a new training portal in Fall 2020 with three departments:
1. International Courses of the Team of Teachers on various topics
2. School of Jurij Alschitz - Research on Quantum Pedagogy
3. Courses for acting, directing and teaching (in Russian language)
These courses offer different content and methods to regular acting and directing classes. They can be seen complementary to a classical/traditional education, or by entering the "School of Jurij Alschitz" students experience the new pedagogical path of Quantum Pedagogy.
All courses are conducted in a live setting with the teacher. All Courses are part of ongoing research to develop innovative training methods. >>More information you in detail about the new portal, with first Courses starting in October can be found here.
You can express your interest in filling out the contact form. >>Please click here.
What does „home“ mean for the people in Mongolia – and in Switzerland. A series of Radio Plays of Ursula Werdenberg
In July 2019 the dramaturge and playwright Ursula Werdenberg and the directors of the Radio Play Section of the Swiss Radio and Television Päivi Stalder have been in Mongolia. They were exploring “What does Homeland mean in terms of globality and how does Homeland sound in Mongolia?” Four short Radio Plays are now available. The texts are in Mongolian but any listener will feel the atmosphere of “Homeland” in this unique Radio Plays that are now available for you.
For a better understanding, please read the English synopsis of the radio plays before, available here as a PDF:
- The Human Radio Play Synopsis
- The Horse Radio Play Synopsis
- The Field Sound Radio Play Synopsis
- The Last Day Radio Play Synopsis
https://www.srf.ch/sendungen/hoerspiel/was-bedeutet-heimat-in-der-mongolei-und-in-der-schweiz
https://www.srf.ch/sendungen/hoerspiel
Ursula Werdenberg is a Swiss playwright and is the General Secretary of the International Playwrights´ Forum of ITI.
Online Interview
A Midsummer Night's Theatre: Silviu Purcărete and the Nocturnal Magic of the Stage, from The Danaids to Faust
Having been featured in the programme of the Edinburgh International Festival three different times, making a strong impact at the Avignon Festival, Silviu Purcărete is arguably Romania's best-known international theatre artist. His iconic Faust, a production of monumental proportions, with a cast of more than one hundred people, has been considered one of the greatest shows on Earth. Rather enigmatic, not easily tempted to speculate about his own work, Purcărete remains the type of artist who prefers to talk through his performances rather than about them. However, sometimes, he accepts the "challenge" of certain questions and he answers with charming serenity.
Invitation to watch the Online Dialogue with and about Silviu Purcărete Moderator: Octavian Saiu
Guests: Silviu Purcărete, Coca Bloos, Ofelia Popii, and Jonathan Mills
ITI members and friends are cordially invited to an online dialogue with and about Silviu Purcărete – in his home, during a period of isolation that he considers at once pleasant and torturous. At the age of seventy, he remains the same great sceptic, although he maintains his healthy sense of humour, while preparing to direct a new performance in Tokyo. In this dialogue he will be accompanied, albeit from afar, by Coca Bloos, Ofelia Popii, and Jonathan Mills. The Online Dialogue was live on 20 August and can be watched now: https://www.facebook.com/teatrelli/
ITI Publications Committee announces a new Book Almanac Project: "The Social Theatre Today"
Under the guidance of Alfira Arslanova, General Secretary of the Russian Centre of ITI and President of the ITI Publication Committee (IPC) a new Book Series has been launched. The books are non-commercial publications, created within the framework of the IPC. The publications reflect the activities and influences of the performing arts in a system of social changes in society in various countries. The first publication that should appear before the 36th ITI World Congress is dedicated to people of culture and cultural organizations and their survival during the coronavirus pandemic.
Call for Articles for the first Almanac "Social Theatre Today – 2020. Pandemic"
The ITI Publications Committee is interested in:
a. Articles published in 2020, reflecting the situation in the field of performing arts during the period of the coronavirus pandemic in general
b. Statistics of cultural figures who have passed away for reasons related to coronavirus, as well as the names of the most prominent personalities associated with culture (in this case, photographs and information about the person are needed for the heading in memorials, in some cases even posthumous essays)
c. Interviews of experts on unrealized plans, human losses, hopes and ideas on how to preserve art in the current conditions
d. Artistic photographs illustrating the situation in theatres and cities in 2020
e. Pop vox questionnaire: audience survey (name, age, gender activities, country) about how they miss theatre and performances, why they needed theatre in the past and will / can they go to the theatre now
f. Monologues, statements, excerpts, quotes from prominent/local people about the pandemic and hopes for the future
g. Projects, titles and authors of works created in 2020, related to the pandemic, excerpts from them
If you are interested in submitting your article, please connect with Alfira Arslanova alfira.arslanova(at)gmail.com and visit the Facebook Page www.facebook.com/groups/1882850665311802
New Publication: Challenges of the Mind - New Dimensions in Theatre Training
A reader of the Online Conference 2020 where first experiences were discussed and new perspectives of Online Theatre Training were presented. Edited by Christine Schmalor
The Conference was initiated by Dr Jurij Alschitz, the World Theatre Training Institute AKT-ZENT/ITI and the ITI/UNESCO Network for Higher Education in the Performing Arts. Born out of the necessity that the teaching situation in Spring 2020 is facing, the online encounter opened many perspectives, questions and new fields of research. In agreeing that theatre is a live-art which needs live performance with the live contact between actors and audience, speakers and participants found a large number of interesting new paths where new media and online possibilities are used to wake up artistic self-responsibility and creativity.
The speakers have kindly revised and supplemented their contributions so that there is much to read: from the philosophical reflections of Pavlos Kavouras, University of Athens, to practical examples from the teaching of Erik Lint, ID Lab Amsterdam, or Marcus Lobbes, head of the Academy for Theatre and Digitality and many more, to various reflections and analyses of the situation.
>>The reader is available online over this link.
In English. The Russian translation will follow soon.
ITI/UNESCO Network - Online Second Student Festival, Monday to Sunday, 13 to 19 July 2020.
The Online Second Student Festival is a collaboration between the Piccolo Teatro di Milano, the ITI/UNESCO Network and eight participating institutions. It consists of:
• 8 Student Performances from Network Members Institutions from Burkina Faso, Colombia, Iran, Italy, Singapore, South Korea, Spain and Ukraine.
• 8 After-Show Discussions in which you can participate or contribute in registering yourself www.iti-unesco-network.org/participationform.html
• A Student Conference in which you can participate in registering yourself
The full information and programme about the Online Second Student Festival can be accessed over the special designed website for it, >>please click here.
>>For downloading the brochure, click here.
>>For downloading the program, click here.
Publication
This new book, released in June 2020 by the Desert Hearts Media in the United Kingdom, is an important publication, that is intended to be “For everyone who teaches the performing arts in schools everywhere.”
Equal Stages, Standing Up for Identity and Integrity in the Performing, Volume 1is a publication that is showing the reader of how diverse theatre is made in the UK and Ireland.
Published in association with the Other National Theatre, Morecambe, and the International Theatre Institute, Equal Stages is a ground-breaking overview of diversity, representation, visibility and inclusion in the live performing arts, particularly theatre. It’s an interlocking snapshot of the industry provided by 40 interviews with a diverse range of 42 people who work in everything from performance to running venues, from writing to marketing, fringe theatre to international festivals. What they share is the vision and drive to break new ground for culture to make a difference in society.
Moreover, the book is designed to be an accessible resource, that is why includes an eight-page glossary of performing arts terms.
>>List of the Interviewees, please click here.
>>Biography Nick Awde, please click here.
Equal Stages, Standing Up for Identity and Integrity in the Performing Arts, Volume 1 By Nick Awde, 594pp | paperback | £24.99 | ISBN: 9781908755384
The book can be ordered directly from www.deserthearts.com. Orders and Press inquiries: Nick Awde– nick@deserthearts.com / +44 (0)79 6115 4590
Swedish Centre of ITI
Video Message: STATE OF THE RELATIONSHIP
Together with our members, we have created a state of the nation address. In the industry, we often talk and write messages and manifestos about the importance of performing arts, theatre, art, and culture. We wanted to investigate whether it’s possible to write a kind of message which is art in itself. The playwrights Alexandra Loonin and Ebba Petrén have written a fantastic text, which can be listened to and read over and over again. It is both abstract and concrete, and very human. The fact that so many of our members wanted to be involved in recording audio and film on their own gives the film a touching quality and we are so happy for everyone´s efforts and commitment. Doing something together even though we can't meet live feels special at times like these.
>>Watch ”STATE OF THE RELATIONSHIP" here and please help us spread it!
Swedish Centre of ITI
Swedstage
As there is great uncertainty about how the pandemic will develop, the Swedish Performing Arts Coalition and ASSITEJ Sweden have decided to suspend Swedstage 2020 in the form we are used to. Current circumstances make it difficult to organize international festivals. Instead, we will arrange a digital showcase program, October 18-20: Swedstage Online.
There, we will show the variety of Swedish performing arts through a number of short clips from selected productions, as well as conversations with the creators and others.
A physical Swedstage will be arranged in 2021, more about this after the summer.
If you have questions or want to know more, contact us at info(at)scensverige.se
Spreading Newly Translated Plays from Sweden
Contemporary Swedish drama runs the gamut from menstrual musicals to urgent depictions of our era, from dystopian futures to a critical view of our economic system, by way of Greek drama that plays out in the psychiatric ward. Each Swedish playwright presented here is different from the next. Each inhabits their own unique position and perspective and allows their divergent life experiences to be reflected in their words. Taken as a whole, these works offer something for every target audience and paint a picture of our society and world.
>>Here you will find ten voices, translated by Rachel Willson Broyles, that together comprise a palette that can illustrate the current state of Swedish drama. And yet this is merely a fragment of a staggering and many-faceted chorus of voices. We hope that the curiosity sparked by this selection will lead to more Swedish playwrights’ work being read, moving audiences, and being produced all over the world. While the Swedish experience is unique, reading and the performing arts are universal.
Croatian Centre of ITI: The Project MONOVID 19, Kazalište
The Croatian Centre of ITI is pleased to present the project MONOVID 19, 19 monologues about coronavirus and the isolation and social situation caused by the virus. The monologues were written by the middle age and younger generation of Croatian playwrights. They were published in Croatian language in the theatre magazine Kazalište.
More information about the Croatian Centre and its activities and its publications:
www.hciti.hr
hc-iti(at)zg.t.com.hr
Philippine Centre of ITI – SDG Arts Festival & Forum for Peace and Climate Justice
7 to 14 March 2021, Manila, Philippines
Under the guidance of Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, President of the Philippine Centre of ITI & Artist for Peace of UNESCO, and Viktor Sebek, President of the South-South Cooperation Council for Sustainable Development (SSCC) the SDG Arts Festival & Forum for Peace and Climate Justice is already in full preparation. Together with a multitude of partners, including UNESCO and ITI, a week-long event is planned with a conference, with a performing arts festival, with an art camp and so on.
>>The draft programme is giving you more information about the scope of the event.
Call for Participation: If you would like to participate or if you would offer a performance for the event, please get in touch with both: Cecile Guidote-Alvarez – cecilealvarez(at)icloud.com, and Viktor Sebek - vsebek2008(at)gmail.com.
They will inform you about hosting and condition for the performances (max. 30 minutes).
Operadagen 2020
“We are delighted to invite you to the world premiere of Home Sweet Home, Operadagen Rotterdam's online community opera, which you may follow now. You can be there and experience it all from the comfort of your own sitting room or wherever you want to watch.
On the very day that the 15th edition or our festival would have opened in a spectacular fashion, with a grandiose urban fest on Afrikaanderplein in Rotterdam-Zuid, we are launching the first instalment of this cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary video opera, in collaboration with OPEN Rotterdam TV. A hundred artists from Rotterdam will collectively (and in six parts) embody a raft of stories that speak of a city in lockdown. Home Sweet Home chronicles the quarantine.” Guy Coolen – Artistic director of Operadagen, President of the Flemish Centre of ITI and President of Music Theatre NOW Network of ITI and Hans Blik – Business Manager of Operadagen
Enjoy watching Home Sweet Home online. Click here.
In Memoriam | Santiago Garcia – World Theatre Ambassador of ITI
20 December 1928 to 23 March 2020
Santiago García – Reinventor of the Colombian Theatre
By José Assad
Santiago García, the inveterate reinventor of Colombian theatre, with his jovial, familiar presence, loaded with spontaneous humor as if he were any regular citizen of La Candelaria, the traditional Bogotá neighborhood, no longer lives there like any mortal being.
Now following in the footsteps of his own inventiveness, he will live from now on, in the universe of the collective memory of the great theatre of the world.
>>Please click here to read the full version of “Santiago García – Reinventor of the Colombian Theatre”.
In Memoriam | Jeffrey Sichel
24 December 1967 – 27 March 2020
It is with deep sadness that the ITI/UNESCO Network announces that our dear friend and colleague Jeffrey Sichel passed away. Thanks to his tremendous efforts for the ITI/UNESCO Network with his passion, generosity and expertise this organization came into existence.
Tobias Biancone, Derek Goldman and Vidyanidhee Prasad Vanarase have sent us their words in honour of their friend Jeffrey Sichel. The texts are attached.
If you would like to send us your condolences, please send them to the ITI/UNESCO Secretariat. We will forward them to his family.
Please read the tribute words honouring Jeffrey Sichel by:
>>Tobias Biancone
>>Derek Goldman
>>Vidyanidhee “Prasad” Vanarase
In Memoriam | Heherson “Sonny“ Alvarez
6 October 1939 – 20 April 2020
Many members of ITI have met Senator Heherson “Sonny” Alvarez, a noble person that a lot of people consider to be a hero. Most of us have met him together with Cecile Guidote Alvarez, President of the Philippine Centre of ITI and UNESCO Artist for peace who he supported throughout his life. That he passed away has saddened many of us and for sure “our” Cecile. In this Newsletter we are sharing the words of the Former House Speaker Jose De Venecia, Jr. who is giving us an insight into the life of his colleague and friend Heherson Alvarez.
May he rest in peace.
If you would like to send Cecile and her family your condolences please send your words to the General Secretariat of ITI – info(at)iti-worldwide.org - who will forward them to Cecile Guidote-Alvarez.
International Dance Day 2020 Online Celebration
Gregory Vuyani MAQOMA, dancer, choreographer & educator from South Africa is the International Dance Day Message Author for 2020. Celebrate International Dance Day 2020 with translating the message into your country´s languages and sending us a VIDEO of your country´s version of Gregory MAQOMA´s message.
We encourage all the Centres, Cooperating Members, any members and friends of ITI to send a video (preferably in MP4-Format) to CHEN Simin of the General Secretariat of ITI as soon as possible. Her email address is chen.simin(at)iti-worldwide.org.
Attached is the message Gregory Maqoma in English and French:

>>International Dance Day Message 2020 by Gregory MAQOMA in English (original) in PDF and Word
>>Message de la Journée Internationale de la Danse 2020 de Gregory MAQOMA en français (traduction) en PDF et Word
>>Biography Gregory MAQOMA in English as PDF and Word
>>Biographie Gregory MAQOMA en français (traduction) en PDF et Word Photo Credit: Alon Skuy
Alicia Alonso | In Memory of the Prima Ballerina Assoluta / Announcement of 100th Anniversary Event
In 2020 the legendary Prima Ballerina Assoluta would celebrate her 100th birthday.
The Ministry of Culture of Cuba, the International Theatre Institute ITI, the Dance Committee of ITI, World Dance Alliance, UNESCO and many, many dance institutions and individuals are taking the occasion of International Dance Day to remind all dance aficionados about the live and achievements of the extraordinary personality Alicia Alonso who was admired, adored, respected and loved by people from all over the world.
Alicia Alonso, born in Havana on 21 December 1920, was an outstanding ballet dancer, choreographer and pedagogue, whose unique imprint identifies the Cuban School of Ballet. The gifted ballerina performed in more than 65 countries, was granted 266 international and 225 national awards.
The 100th Anniversary celebration was scheduled for July in Madrid. Due to the outbreak of Covid-19, the event is now planned for 21 December 2020, her birthday. If possible, with a live event.
The Alicia Alonso University Dance Institute / The Spanish Centre of ITI has prepared a beautiful comprehensive website about Alicia Alonso to explore. Languages: English and Spanish.
More information about the planned event can be found in the ITI Newsletter at a later point this year.
Photo Credits: Alejandro Ernesto
UNESCO | In moments of crisis, people need culture
Article presented on the UNESCO website by Ernesto OTTONE, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture
COVID-19 has brought into stark relief, as crises often do, the necessity of culture for people and communities. At a time when billions of people are physically separated from one another, culture brings us together. It provides comfort, inspiration and hope at a time of enormous anxiety and uncertainty. Yet even as we rely on culture to get us through this crisis, culture is also suffering. Many artists and creators, especially those that work in the informal or gig economy, are now unable to make ends meet, much less produce new works of art. Cultural institutions, both large and small, are losing millions in revenue with each passing day. As the world works to address the immediate danger of COVID-19, we also need to put in place measures to support artists and access to culture, both in the short and long-term.
You find this article on the UNESCO website in different languages, just click on the language for reading it in the following languages
English
French
Spanish
Russian
Arabic
Chinese (Mandarin)
Portuguese
On these pages you can also subscribe to the UNESCO Newsletter.
United Nations | Culture in the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda – Invitation to endorse the Campaign
The International Theatre Institute (ITI) supports the initiative for the inclusion of a specific cultural goal to be devoted to culture in the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.
Leading up to the adoption of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the International Music Council (Partner Organization of ITI) campaigned together with several global cultural networks under the banner "The Future We Want Includes Culture" for the inclusion of one specific goal devoted to culture, or for the integration of cultural aspects across the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This campaign was also known as the #culture2015goal campaign. In the final document of this campaign (23 September 2015: "Culture in the SDG Outcome Document: Progress Made, but Important Steps Remain Ahead"), the networks committed to keep their cooperation active.
To harness this potential, the #Culture2030Goal movement, in the context of its engagement in the United Nations 2030 Agenda, calls on UN agencies, governments and all other stakeholders to act.
If you would like to endorse this initiative, you can endorse it over this link. You can endorse it as individual and an institution.
More information: (Click on the title)
The Future We Want Includes Culture
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
"Culture in the SDG Outcome Document: Progress Made, but Important Steps Remain Ahead"
Tobias Biancone interviewed by The Stage UK: Isolation is never the answer to anything. Never give up!
Tobias Biancone, Director General of ITI, has been interviewed for the prestigious UK journal The Stage by Nick Awde, Co-President of the UK Centre of ITI and culture journalist. >>To have access to the complete interview, please click here.
World Theatre Day 2020 – Great gratitude to all of you
The feedback that we received from the Centres, Cooperating Members, Partner Organizations and friends of ITI was like an avalanche of passion for theatre, for theatre artists – for all those who dedicate their life for the work on stage. On behalf of ITI and all its entities – I would like to send everybody a heartfelt, strong thank you.
All the contribution to World Theatre Day can be found on the website www.world-theatre-day.org. Just click on the link and check https://www.world-theatre-day.org/mainevent.html
A fantastic amount of translations, messages, information, happy world theatre messages that we received are uplifting our spirit and empowering us. Please have a look.
(If something is missing, please let us know: wtd(at)iti-worldwide.org and we put it on the website.)
Let´s continue to create a positive effect and encourage our colleagues and friends all over the world.
German Centre of ITI: Theater der Welt – Theatre of the World: Postponed to 2021
The German Centre of ITI informs us that the international Festival “Theater der Welt” and all its activities from 14 to 31 May 2020 in Düsseldorf have been cancelled due to the outbreak of Covid-19. The event has been postponed to June 2021. Artistic Director Stefan Schmidtke: “We have a duty to our international artists and are glad to be able to offer all the participants this view forward. Now we are approaching a 2021 festival with optimism.”
Contact: info(at)iti-germany.de
Opera Europa – New Member of the Partner Organizations
It is with great pleasure to announce to you the newest Partner Organization into the cohort of the organizations around the International Theatre Institute.
Here is the description of Opera Europa: Opera Europa was constituted as the professional association for opera companies and festivals in Europe in 2002. Today, it encompasses 207 member theatres in 43 countries, several of them beyond Europe.
More information you find on their website:
https://opera-europa.org/home
https://operavision.eu/en
Opera Europa Events:
A. Opera Spring Conference Goes Virtual
28/29 May 2020 (Registration possible on this link: https://opera-europa.org/event/opera-europa-spring-conference-goes-virtual
B. Joint Forum Meeting for AV & Digital Media, Education, Fundraising and Marketing & Communications
Zagreb is happy to host the meeting next autumn, from 24 to 26 September 2020.
>>For more information please click here
C. Information about World Opera Day (25 October)
https://opera-europa.org/index.php/world-opera-day
ASSITEJ - International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People
Postponement of the 20th ASSITEJ World Congress & Performing Arts Festival / MIRAI 2020
We would like to express our sympathies to all those who are suffering from the new coronavirus and all those around the world whose lives have been affected by the spread of the infection.
ASSITEJ International and the ASSITEJ Japan Centre have been in repeated discussions, keeping an eye on the rapidly changing situation of Japan and the world. We deeply share the belief that the event is of great significance. We are convinced it will be a great and rare opportunity to experience the fascinating productions of the invited companies from around the world, together with other audiences in the theatre, and the feeling of crossing cultural boundaries. However, the threat of the coronavirus, which has evolved into a global pandemic, is far beyond what we can imagine and respond to. Under these circumstances, what matters most is the health and safety of everyone.
Thus, we make a joint statement here that the 20th ASSITEJ World Congress & Performing Arts Festival / MIRAI will be unavoidably postponed, most likely to the second half of March 2021.
>>For full information please click here
IATC - International Association of Theatre Critics – Congress in Bratislava
The General Secretariat of IATC has announced that their 30th Congress in May 2020, in Bratislava, Slovakia, has been cancelled due to the Covid-19 outbreak. The Congress is now planned to happen in Bratislava as well during the New Drama Festival 10 - 16 May 2021.
More information: https://aict-iatc.org/en/
Contact: contact(at)aict-iatc.org
WMO – World Mime Organization
Invitation to all performing artists: #artistsagainstcorona
The #artistsagainstcorona initiative became a global campaign on Facebook and Instagram and other social networks. We have more and more colleagues posting free artistic content so that people around the world would spend quality time at home in (self) isolation as the only prevention from the Covid-19 virus and the pandemic we are all faced with.
The #umetniciprotivkorone Facebook group has become a central point for all that want to enjoy shared free artistic content. All the national media have promoted this campaign for free.
Other localised hashtags and Facebook groups/pages:
English: #artistsagainstcorona
https://www.facebook.com/groups/498880847462818/
Serbian: #umetniciprotivkorone
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2915161935209567/
Italian: #artisticontroilcorona
https://www.facebook.com/groups/778426539229922/
Portuguese: #artistascontraocorona
https://www.facebook.com/artistascontraocorona/
Indonesian: #senimanmelawancorona
https://www.facebook.com/groups/208927417000684/
Polish: #artyscikontrakoronawirus
https://www.facebook.com/artistsagainstcorona/
Please join this extremely valuable effort to help the uplift the spirit of people around the world so that they are able to survive during this pandemic with the help of performing and other artists.
For more information please write to Marko Stojanović president(at)worldmime.org
Photo Credit: Dara Gravara Stojanović
Call for participation: The International Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Arts Festival Forum / Workshops for Peace and Climate Justice
The program will be observed in the City of Manila, in conjunction with UNESCO’s International Arts Education Week from May 20th to the 26th. For any questions please get in touch with Cecile Guidote Alvarez, President of the Philippine Centre of ITI.
>>Click here to view the Project Brief
>>Click here to view the Newsletter about this event
>>Click here to view the Event Schedule
>>Click here to view the Congratulatory Message of Department of Foreign Affairs
>>Click here to view the letter for ITI Colleagues
The Japanese Theatre Director and Educator Tadashi Suzuki receives the Yuri Lyubimov International Theatre Award 2019
The Yuri Lyubimov International Theatre Award, established by the Lyubimov Charity Foundation for the Development of Theatre Art and the International Theatre Institute (ITI), was presented on 16 November 2019 to the Japanese director and educator Tadashi Suzuki at the Alexandrinsky Theatre after his performance “Cyrano de Bergerac” which was part of the Theatre Olympics, held in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
The award ceremony happened in the Tsar's lobby of the theatre in the presence of actors and interested theatre people. The ceremony was hosted by Katalin Lyubimova, Chairwomen of the Foundation, and Mohamed Saif Al-Afkham, President of ITI. In his speech, the President of ITI underlined the significance of the Yuri Lyubimov Award and the value and importance of the life-long work of Tadashi Suzuki. Welcoming addresses were handed over to the Japanese laureate from Tobias Biancone, Director General of ITI, and Anatoli Vassiliev, stage director and Yuri Lyubimov Awardee 2018 who both could not be present during the cultural event in Saint Petersburg.
Attached are the >>messages of Tobias Biancone, DG ITI; >>and Anatoli Vassiliev for the event.
Connect 35 - Log on, join in, dance!
In a range of 35th-anniversary celebrations, Magpie Dance, the leading dance charity for children and adults with learning disabilities, launch Connect 35, a free, online, participatory dance opportunity.
People with and without a disability, and with and without dance experience, are encouraged to make and upload their own dances, using the number 35 as their inspiration. With participants from all over the UK and beyond, Connect 35 is set to break barriers to dance.
"We hope that you find inspiration from us and want to join in by making your own moves! Take part and upload your own video and help us share Connect 35 around the globe." Erica Moshman, Creative Learning Coordinator.
>>Click here for more information
Calls of the Accademia Teatro Dimitri
The Accademia Teatro Dimitri, member of the ITI/UNESCO Network for Higher Education in the Performing Arts is announcing different calls.
Preliminary Auditions "Bachelor of Arts in Theatre" 2020/2021
The Bachelor of Arts in Theatre offers extensive training in the field of Physical Theatre. The teaching consists of regular lessons in core subjects, various academic workshops, numerous courses for further growth and the development of theatrical shows, which allow the students to gain a solid technical mastery in the theatrical and movement skills. Preliminary Auditions are held in: Bern, Berlin, Paris, Milano and Version. >>More information
Master of Arts in Theatre
The Accademia Dimitri offers two Master of Arts Programms with specialization on "Physical Theatre" and Teatro di Figura: Puppets, Objects and Material Theatre >>More information
Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Performing Arts Practice in Conflict Zones
In a globalized world in which the consequences of violence war and discrimination have become an integral part of our lives politics is created with angst demarcation and isolation determining everyday life. The CAS Performing Arts Practice in Conflict Zones offers an opportunity to open new spaces of reflection and action. >>More information
Easter and Sommer Courses for Adults During the months of July and August, the Accademia Teatro Dimitri offers an interesting and varied program of courses in Verscio. These are aimed at adults, both professionals and non-professionals, who are interested in physical theatre and would like to explore various fields such as dance, circus arts, pantomime, clowning, rhythm and theatrical improvisation. The Accademia also offers courses for kids. >>More information
Chinese Performing Arts – Issue #1 - Available on the Website of ITI
Shanghai Theatre Academy and International Theatre Institute are proud to announce the online availability of their joint publication “Chinese Performing Arts”. The book is available as a PDF. >>Please click here to download. If you would like to have the printed softcover book, please write to info(at)iti-worldwide.org. (Price 10 Euros plus mailing costs.)
Solidarity for the Reconstruction of the “Scène Espace Themacult”
The Theatre Maoundoh-Culture-Themacult (Director: Ismael Vangdar Dorsouma) and its partners, Lafia Compagnie (Artistic Director: Doro Dimanta) and the association Zon'Action (President: Anicet Djoubana Koublengar) request your solidarity for the reconstruction of its theatre scene, located in N’Djamena in Chad. It hosts, produces, co-produces and programmes various activities (shows, exhibitions, meetings, artistic residencies, etc.). The very bad state of this stage is a hindrance to activities in the space and in the neighbourhoods benefiting from these activities.
If you want to have >>more information about the project, please click here. >>To make an online donation click here.
New Publication – UNESCO & the International Theatre Institute ITI
The General Secretariat is proud to announce a new publication about the relationship of UNESCO & ITI. The 40-page publication illustrates the history of how UNESCO laid the first bricks which became the foundation of “The International Theatre Institute”. It sheds light on how ITI and UNESCO collaborate with each other: the UNESCO National Commissions and the Centres of a country, the country´s delegation to UNESCO in Paris with ITI worldwide. The publication is an invitation for the National Commission of UNESCO and the Centres to mutually assist each other and collaborate. It is a kind request to the National Delegations and National Commissions of UNESCO to help ITI to create Centres in countries where there are no Centres of ITI.
Furthermore, it might be interesting for anyone to find out what the relationship of UNESCO looks like.
The brochure is available in English and French. Spanish is in preparation. You may download the brochure here:
UNESCO & ITI – English version
UNESCO & ITI – version française
The General Secretariat of ITI may send you a copy or copies of the printed version. Please write to info(at)iti-worldwide.org to obtain yours.
New Publication “CULTURE 2030 - Indicators”
This 112-page publication, with a foreword by Ernesto OTTONE, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture, has just been released. It focusses on Culture’s role in sustainable development, the key concepts and approaches; on UNESCO Culture Conventions and Programmes towards the agenda 2030; on the overall purpose and guiding principles; it illustrates how Culture fits in the Sustainable Development Goals and informs about the methodological approach and describes the indicators.
The publication is available in English, French and Spanish (online). You may download the Anglophone and francophone versions here:
CULTURE / 2030 – Indicators English version CULTURE / 2030 - Indicateurs – version française
International Symposium 21st CENTURY ACTORS, Lodz, Poland
The Mieczysław Hertz Theater Institute and The Kazimierz Dejmek New Theatre in Łódź are preparing a project called International Symposium 21st CENTURY ACTORS Methods / Traditions / Explorations. The event will take place in Poland in Łódź from the 23 October-25 October 2020. The aim of the Symposium is to review the acting methods that underline the education and artistic practice of actors in the 21st century, and to present brand new explorations in this field.
>>For more information about the Symposium please click here. To have information’s about the MAT click here. All people interested in participation should contact: sympozjum(at)metacademy.eu and visit their website : http://matacademy.eu/en/
IETM/Theater der Zeit – New Publication
The most recent meeting of the IETM (International Network for Contemporary Performing Arts) in Munich has spawned a new publication which they wish to share with everyone. The new book, published in association with Theater der Zeit, is available in English and German, and tackles theatres role in the world alongside issues such as post-colonialism and diversity.
>>For more information, please click here.
The Director General’s Congress Report
35th ITI World Congress, 14 to 22 July 2017, Segovia/Spain
The Director General’s Congress Report (35th ITI World Congress) is now available in English and French for download.
>>Please click here to download different versions.
Discover UNESCO Platform for Cultural Policies
UNESCO's Policy Monitoring Platform supports evidence-based policy making for the promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions in the hope of creating more informed, transparent and participatory systems of governance for culture. A new platform detailing their Innovative practices is now available for you all to look at and get involved with. >>To further explore, please click here.
Intercultural Communications Studies MA Programme / Shanghai Theatre Academy
The Shanghai Theatre Academy is creating an MA Programme in Intercultural Communication Studies. This two-year English-taught programme includes the required first year full-time residency and an optional second year residency for project-based internships. Open to international students. Contact: Shirley ZOU micgirl(at)126.com or sta_international(at)163.com. >>For full information please click here.
Open call for actors
Discover ALthattheatre, an innovative project of self-development for the artist. This is a chance to explore the most complex ideas and questions about the Theatre and your place within its sphere. The aim is not to pass on knowledge, but to engage everyone in the development of knowledge for each individual to become a master. The project consists of several weeks of self-preparation already in dialogue with a teacher followed by three work-intensive weeks in Sestola (Italy) conducted by Jurij Alschitz and his team of teachers. This methodological experiment is limited to a selected number of participants to allow for each artist’s individuality to shine through and continuously develop.
>>Please find here the words of Jurij Alschitz himself explaining his ideas in more detail, and >>here the link to apply.
ITI Inter-Europe Artist Exchange Programme
The Committee for Emerging Artists (ITI NEAP) have been busy over the last few months working on projects all over the world. One of these has been the inaugural ITI Inter-Europe Artist Exchange Programme. After ITI Centres agreed to participate in the project, they were paired together in January via a draw and have since been working together to arrange to send emerging artists to their partnering countries for a short artistic residency. The aim is to give emerging artists the opportunity to create original work in a different cultural landscape from that which they're used to, and to give Centres around Europe the opportunity to strengthen ties and work together on a continent-wide project. The pairings are United Kingdom-Greece, Macedonia FYROM-Italy-Russia, and Switzerland-Slovenia. The dates of the exchanges can be found in the image below. So far, the artists selected to represent each country are as follows: United Kingdom: Adam Wheeler; Macedonia FYROM: Gorjan Milosevski; Slovenia: Dorian Silec and Switzerland: Stefanie Bölzli & Robert Diaz.
For more updates on ITI NEAP's activities and to read interviews with each of the selected artists, please like their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NEAPofITI/ or for more information about the project, please email the project coordinator Fin Ross Russell at fin(at)islandlifeproductions.com
ITI Panels
Panels introducing ITI to the world have been created in English and French. If you want to see them, they are available in low resolution here. If you want to print them, please send an email to info(at)iti-worldwide.org and we will send you the high-resolution version for quality print.
Network for Higher Education in the Performing Arts
The ITI/UNESCO Network for Higher Education in the Performing Arts is a Network that follows the rules and guidelines of UNITWIN, a programme of the Education Sector of UNESCO, intended to twin academia with UNESCO and support UNESCO to reach their goals. The ITI/UNESCO Network is dedicated to working for the education in the performing arts and intends to follow the humanistic, educational and artistic goals of ITI and UNESCO that are formulated in the Charter of the Network. These are the activities and projects that the Network is undertaking or developing: Conferences, Student Festivals, Directory/Mapping Project, Exchange of Students and Educators, Research Projects, Books, Audio & Multimedia Publications, Exhibitions, Intangible Heritage Research & Preservation, Knowledge & Knowhow Transfer, Competitions, Awards and so on. Please get in touch with the Network if your institution is interested in joining by writing to Chen Zhongwen: chen.zhongwen(at)iti-worldwide.org or if you want to subscribe to the Newsletter of the Network by writing to: Tom Johnson: tom.johnson(at)iti-worldwide.org To read the first Newsletter of the Network for Higher Education in the performing art >>in English please click here, >>in French please click here, and >>in Spanish please click here.
Open Call for Publications in ITI info
Short guidelines for Publications for ITI-info, dedicated to the 70th anniversary of ITI. The idea is to represent Arabian, African, Asian, European and American wonderful Faces of Theatre. Please, contribute your love and pride, your thoughts and knowledge to the joint non-commercial project. Here on pages of the magazine we meet each other again, but with a lot of necessary information to make new contacts and share new channels of collaboration. >>For more information please check the call here.
Toolkit for ITI Centres – Tools for Opening and Running a Centre
For quite a while the members of the General Secretariat assembled all the available information that concerns the opening and running of an ITI Centre and put it together in a publication.. It answers questions such as: Who founded ITI? What is the procedure to open a Centre? What are the ongoing artistic, educational and humanistic activities of ITI? How to go about to approach a National UNESCO Commission? What are the tools for increasing membership? Etc. The Toolkit for ITI Centres is available in English, French and Spanish. Please write to info(at)iti-worldwide.org so that we can send you a copy in the language(s) of your choice. The publication exists in PDF format.