The World Amateur Theatre Festival is celebrating its 17th edition this year with acting companies from all over the globe coming to perform in Monaco.
Taking place every four years since 1957, the World Amateur Theatre Festival is returning with shows at the Théâtre Princesse Grace and at the Théâtre des Variétés from 17th to 22nd August. The event is organised through the Studio de Monaco.
Nearly 190 actors from 15 acting troupes selected by their home countries will entertain audiences on two consecutive days during the event. Additionally, each morning a conference joining the festival goers and the three companies who performed the prior evening have a chance to get together and discuss the ways their group works, as well as what amateur theatre looks like in their countries of origin.
The nations represented at the festival are Argentina, Belgium, Cuba, Spain, the United States, Finland, France, Italy, Hungary, Lithuania, Morocco, Portugal, Central African Republic, Slovenia and Slovakia.
Two afternoon workshops will also be on offer to participants under the themes ‘What the mask’ and ‘All together! Create a modern choir in a classic room’. Finally, the 37th Congress of International Association of Amateur Theatre (AITA / IATA) will welcome around 60 delegates to the event.
The main events, the evening theatre shows, are free though reservations are required, and they all have a 6pm start time. There are half hour intermissions between the performances to allow for set changes, and the performances are no more than one hour each. The lengths vary from one evening to another.
In revealing the programme on Thursday, General Commissioner of the event, Patrice Cellario, said that it was “intended to unite and bring together all theatre lovers around their common passion,” and went on to pay tribute to the many volunteers that help make the event happen.
For more information on the programme of events and to make reservations, visit www.mondialdutheatre.com
Photo of Princess Grace Theatre by Monaco Life