PETRAvel

Many monuments and nice places in Saint Petersburg I visited on my own. I took one free tour, get directions to Pushkin cafe, tips for places to have lunch, interesting facts about Saint Isaac's Cathedral  which was turned into the museum of atheism during communism time, was listening about frozen Neva and heard story about midday shoot from  Naryshkin Bastion , which signalized begging and ending of work shift during the Peter's the Great period or  signalized risk of flood. "Maybe I should pay tour to Tsarskoe selo, and get more information about place where Pushkin was studying and where the    Catherine I of Russia decided to build a residence...", I thought. There are many stands on Nevski prospekt, Saint Petersburg main street, where you can book your tour to different palaces, boat trips and other touristic places. I arrived at last moment, paid 2400 rubles (~32 EUR), woman took me to a guide...and I realized th...

One of the theaters, which drew my attention on 31st Ulica festival in Krakow is Grupa Zatrzymac Obrotowke from Poland . They had very attractive performance, with some acrobatic parts. "Performances with the disabled and engaging in worked for local community in the Krakow district of Kazimierz" in the program description inspired me to go to backstage, after the show and ask more about their work. Photo: FB page  Zatrzymać Obrotówkę Attractive performance.. . Photo: FB page  Zatrzymać Obrotówkę ...with romantic moments Sooo...meet Arletta Szewczyk, founder of foundation Fundacja Wszyscy Obecni, actress in theater group Zatrzymac Obrotowke. She also works as a teacher in cultural center in Krakow (SCKM Krakow). She was an international volunteer in Spain and was working with elderly people and people with disabilities. Arletta also works as an tourist entertainer. Beside theater, she loves dogs and Disney movies. Arletta Szewczyk What s...

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 des...

Last days of second part of my trip I spent in Novi Sad, which is the capital of culture this year. Here is an interview with Julija Petkovic, 22 year student of Acting at Academy of Arts in Novi Sad and member of theater "Promena", initiated by students, she and her colleagues, from this city. Read what Julija has to say about cultural life here and role of theater in society. Source: Theater "Promena" FB page You are studying in Novi Sad, which is the capital of culture this year. What does this  title   mean for Novi Sad? Do people have feeling that they really live in capital of culture? Because of this title Novi Sad is definitely enriched by everyday cultural events. This reminds the citizens that it is a city of culture. I think that Novi Sad already invested heavily in culture and events, but now, in addition to such marketing and reminders, cultural events are obligatory. You are actress in theater "Promena" which mean...

The last show at 31st Ulica theater festival in Krakow was Peregrinus, from a host theater - Teatr KTO. It was a honor to talk with Jerzy Zon, the artistic director and director of show Peregrinus, which we had chance to see. The show is about consumerism, as a dominant religion today. People in formal suits, all with same, a bit sad masks go to job every day earning money to spend on massage, on parties, on zumba classes. A lot of after-work pleasure - but their faces stay the same. Peregrinus Jerzy Zon was so kind to tell me more about his inspiration for this show and we made some relation between people habits and lack of their interest in social problems. Jerzy Zon, Photo: www.fakt.pl I read in the program that this theater were censured in some years. Could you tell me how it works today? Do you get support from the government, support from the city...? This theater was established 40 years ago. And all 40 years I an the main director of this fe...

I was pulling the luggage, looking for the hostel address. One girl was trying to repeat the movements of showman at the square and people were laughing and enjoying. That was my first impression of International Street Theater Festival - Ulica. This day I saw three shows. Jay, guy from South Korea was joggling and making tricks, almost without a word.  When I ask him what he thinks if it is easy to connect with audience and if we could talk about some social issues on the scene, he told me the best way to talk is to talk by emotions.  With Jay from South Korea The next two shows were from Russia and Kazakhstan. And all of them had two common things - they were almost without words and they were interrupted by "audience" side. Firstly, guy with almost naked ass and without t-shirt came to congratulate to Jay. Than some guy came to the scene and started to rolling, before the Russian show. And some flying object came directly to the scene of theater from Kazakh...

One of the really great things in London is that you can find free museums and galleries.  I decided to spent second day of my trip in Tate Modern and save more money for shopping and burgers. I tried to figure out why this bulding with so many likes, positive reviews on Facebook and big names as Picasso is free of charge.  Than I entered the first room on second floor and realized that it is probably because it in phase of restoration, and they want to open the door for everyone to see story behind art pieces.  I was impressed by British preciseness. Look all these rubbish put in one cube. Paper, plastic, wood...they for sure need much time but it was a good way to save the space. Arranged rubish Some bricks, again put on very straight manner, were on the floor. Seems sometimes like people with OCD work here. I was very curious what will be built of them. Must be OCD Even that they didn't prepare room yet, they alr...