Wednesday 10 October 2007 1:09:16 pm

Festival: THEATRE OF THE WORLD 2008

Theater der Welt 2008 presented its complete programme at the press
conferences on 10th March in Halle (Saale) and on the 11th March in Berlin:
24 international world premieres, European and German first night perfor-
mances guest from 19.6. - 6.7.2008 in Halle (Saale) – 18 days, 18 venues,
18 countries.

The theme of the aesthetic and political concept of "Theater der Welt 2008" is "Komm! Ins Offene" ("Come! Come to the unconfined..." ) and is inspired by an appeal by Hölderlin against the "Leaden Times". It is also an invitation for 24 guest performances which are all presented for the first time in Germany and they can only be seen in Halle/Germany in 2008: 14 premieres of international directors and 10 German and European first-night performances. Half of the guest performances arise with local partners and put Halle into the centre of the project. With 8 international "artists in residence"-groups, that research, interview, shoot and rehearse on site. With this involvement of the local people the festival is anchored in Halle. The worldwide orientation guarantees 500 artists from 5 continents; 18 countries participate with 80 performances. Two international symposia and 8 cooperations with universities, academies and colleges put the festival into a scientific context.

This concept has convinced the regional economy. So it has turned out well, in a region that isn't financially in a bed of roses, to acquire 550,000 Euros cash, 150,000 Euros from the embassies of the invited countries and 300,000 Euros by contributions in kind and partnerships. More than one million Euro has been brought together that way, balance Christoph Werner (artistic director) and Torsten Maß (curator). This is unique. There has never been such a high share in non-state financing (about 40% of the budget) at Germany's most important international theatre festival before.

More information about the programme:
www.theaterderwelt.de

Theater der Welt 2008 was honoured by a jury of 17 prominent people of the Federal Government and the German economy because of this program, as a unique, directional place of ideas. They awarded out of 1500 applicants particularly interesting, creative and trend-setting ideas and projects from the education area, the economy and the research and chose Theater der Welt as winner of the competition "Land der Ideen" ("Land of Ideas" ), a German initiative under the patronage of the Federal President. The jury judged the idea of the festival as original, unusual, future-oriented and obliged to the public welfare; it conveys new, unexpected aspects of the country.

For further questions: Barbara Schwerin von Krosigk, pho. +49-(0)345-27 99 22 20, presse@theaterderwelt.de
Press kit and press photos (download): www.theaterderwelt.de

http://www.theaterderwelt.de

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