Love - winner in all categories of VI Moscow International University Theater Festival

The reason why I decided to spend last part of my trip powered by Schwarzkopf foundation grant and visit Russia in period 17-25th August, was wish to be there during the VI Moscow International University Theater Festival.

Rainy day and sleepy me...not so great combination for walking tour, so I decided to spend my first day in Moscow in visit of Bulgakov's house. Trying to reach the destination, at the edge of getting in fight with navigation, with its instructions to cross the street and no zebra in sight, I was right in front of MOST Theater - the host of the festival.

MOST Theater


As I already was there, I entered to buy the ticket for the show. I told them that I arrived to make a research and write a report about role of the theater in populism time...aaaaaand they call me to come on shows as press presenter!

First show I had chance to see was "Stop here, passerby, stop" based on life and poetry of Marina Tsvetaeva. Short description in English, and my basic level of Russian help me not  to get lost in the story. I think I am not the only one who asked Google more about this famous poet after the applause. 

Acting, singing and dancing - we could enjoy it all on the show "Cafe" of studio "Manequin" from Chelyabinsk. Great technique and perfect timing! With minimal use of words, they lead us trough charming world of one Cafe, where different nations were meeting. 
"Cafe"



"4 Lyubas. The Thaw" is the show of theater MOST, host of the festival. It was one documentary show about the life in Soviet time.  A suit does not make the man, neither costumes make a show - but I really feel in some moments like I am few decades in past! Even it was a small language barrier between me and the scene, I could feel the atmosphere of life in Stalin regime.

"Romeo and Juliet: sonnet to immortal love" from Sofia University "St. Kl. Ohridski"  - for me it was like new theater genre: stand up tragedy. A biggest part of the show actors were speaking in English and I would really congratulate them on this willingness to get close to audience.
Romeo and Juliet


One of the examples of adaptation of classic play to modern theater was also the show "How  love came to Juan Tamad", from Theater Tanhgalang from Philippines. If I realized that there was subtitle over the scene earlier, I could maybe tell you more about this show, than it was really colorful and cheerful. 
"How  love came to Juan Tamad"


Festival had competitive character and some artists went back to their countries with prizes and congratulations. They were divided in three groups: non-verbal theater, documentary shows and modern interpretation of classic plays. And I will mention here just the winner in all categories - LOVE. In some plays it plays the main role, in some of them supporting role.  Romeo and Juliet, Juan Tamad and Maria Mailing, Marina Tsvetaeva and Sergei Efron... Love to theater. Love between human beings. People were exchanging experience on workshops and discussions, which were the part of the program, finding new approaches to plays, rising the awareness how others do it on another continent. Theater MOST really justified its name, which translated from Russian means "BRIDGE".
Closing ceremony


I was just missing one thing - shows inspired by actual social issues. It is great to remind ourselves on history lessons - but I expected more rebels on the scene, especially that it is the student's theater festival. Ok, let's say that LOVE is usually pacifist...

However, this inspired me to make an interviews with professors I met on the World Congress of AITU-IUTA, organized parallel with festival. You will have chance to read it soon. Come back to Petravel to see what they had to say :)  

  

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