This year’s International Festival of Children’s Theatre – one of the most important theatre festivals for children up to 18 years of age in Europe and beyond – has been organised with the support of EU Delegation to the Republic of Serbia.
“International Festival of Children’s Theatre in Subotica brings the best children and puppet theatres in Europe and beyond together. Theatre directors and researchers exchange experience and enrich mutual understanding. Children across Serbia have an opportunity to enjoy in top notch plays and gain a valuable insight into different cultures. This is why I am delighted to see European Union supporting this year’s Festival. Let it grow stronger,” said Ambassador and Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport on this occasion.
“Rightfully and with pride we repeat the words of late Jovan Cirilov, long-time President of the Festival, who once said that the Festival in Subotica was a real ‘Bitef of puppet theatre’ with its repertoire being a history of world puppet theatre. We thrive to present global and European and Serbian creativity in particular, and the fact that EU Delegation to Serbia, headed by Ambassador Michael Davenport has joined the company of Festival sponsors – Ministry of Culture and Information, Provincial Secretariat for Culture and Public Information and the City of Subotica – proves we are on the right track. We are rather honoured that the EU Delegation has recognised the importance of this respectable international manifestation and grateful for its support,” says Slobodan Markovic Director and Festival Selector.
The best indicators of the interest the Festival arouses and the reputation this manifestation enjoys around the world, are 201 plays submitted from 52 countries and Serbia to this year’s 22nd Festival edition. It is worth mentioning that the number of submitted plays keeps exceeding 200, which speaks unambiguously about Festival’s enviable reputation, the importance attached to it by expert public, as well as its durable potential, despite the increasingly complex conditions surrounding it. This manifestation, dedicated to presentation and promotion of children’s theatre, is special because it comprises a range of other equally important programmes, such as International Forum for Theatre Research, National Puppet Theatre in Focus, exhibitions, publishing, book promotions, creative workshops, film programme, events in central city square, guest appearances… apart from the competition programme. All of this is being implemented in cooperation with numerous domestic and foreign institutions, with a special place being occupied by Vojvodina Theatre Museum and Faculty of Applied Arts in Belgrade, with which the Festival has extensively cooperated since 2009.
22nd International Festival of Children’s Theatre, taking place from 17-22 May in Subotica, will once again present the most relevant puppet and theatre plays from around the world within its competition programme. During seven days, the city in Northern Serbia will be transformed into epicentre of art for children who will also be able to enjoy diverse additional programmes organised in both squares and city streets.
Selector Slobodan Markovic has chosen 18 plays that will be performed on three different locations (Children Theatre in Subotica, National Theatre in Subotica – Jadran Stage – and Deze Kostolanji Theatre) within competition programme. The audience will have an opportunity to watch plays from Mexico, Germany, Norway (taking part in the Festival for the first time), India, Russia, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, Greece, Croatia, Japan, Romania, Montenegro, Hungary and Serbia.
International Festival of Children’s Theatre takes place in Subotica under the auspices of Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Serbia, Provincial Secretariat for Culture, the City of Subotica and European Union Delegation to the Republic of Serbia. Executive producer of the Festival is Open University Subotica.
Note: Entrance to all of the Festival programmes is free of charge.
