Untitled Document

HIGH FEST 2004

2-9 OCTOBER 2004

Second edition

Participants | Special guests | Program

Venues | Seminars | CAMN meeting

The second edition of HIGH FEST International Theatre Festival took place on 2-9 October 2004 in Yerevan, Armenia. The event was organized by the main support of Prime-Minister of Republic of Armenia.

More than 150 participants from 18 countries (Sweden, Russia, Great Britain, Germany, France, Spain Switzerland, Kazakhstan, Israel Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Czech Republic) were invited to enjoy this magnificent event.

Special Program of student performances was included into festival program.

The CAMN (Caucasian Arts Mana-gers Network) meeting was held within the framework of HIGH FEST. The event was attended by the Network members and guests from 11 countries and was aimed at supporting the development of the cultural industry in the Caucasian Region.

"NAZENIK" International Mime Festival

4-10 October 2001

The first International Mime Festival NAZENIK was dedicated to 2000 years of Armenian Pantomime. The first chronicles informing about Armenian pantomime traditions date back to the first century. The outstanding Armenian historian Movses Khorenatsi wrote about mime-games in the palace of Armenian King Trdat. The king was astonished and excited by the playing of vardzak (dancer) Nazenik, who “…was playing songs by hands…”

This chronicle is the beginning of Armenian Pantomime. Also there are many pictures of mimes, mentions of their games and acting in the numerous of medieval manuscript.The Festival “Nazenik” was aimed at presenting Armenian Mime Theatre traditions in the context of Worldwide theatre life as well as to show the most advanced and talented works of contemporary theatre practitioners in mime, to present the palette of Western and Eastern school, new trends and modern tendencies.

The Festival was organized by SCF/BCCP-Armenia, Benevolent Fund for Cultural Development, Yerevan State Pantomime Theatre, Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs and Sports of Armenia... read more>>

INTERNATIONAL THEATRE FESTIVAL "HIGH FEST"

2-9 October 2003

First edition

Opening ceremony | Participants | Master classes
Seminars | Theatre improvisations | Closing ceremony

The theatre traditions in Armenia are coming from centuries. First amphitheatre in Armenia was created in first century BC.

First official chronicles about Armenian theatre, written by Armenian and Hellenic historians date back to 53 BC. It was describing of the Euripides’ “Bacchants” performance in theatre, established by Armenian King Artavazd the Second in the ancient town Artashat. Besides Hellenic playwrights there were performed the plays written by Artavazd himself as well. These chronicles were the beginning of Armenian Theatre.

After, there were many pictures of actors, mentions of their games and actions in the numerous of medieval manuscripts.
During the centuries the Armenian theatrical art has developed in many trends and directions.

This all is absolutely outstanding. And we, theatre practitioners of the present Armenia, must cultivate and promote the huge heritage and history our theatre. To realize this mission we decided to organize the First International Theatre Festival “HIGH FEST”.

Why High Fest? In Armenian language “high” means, just Armenian. So this is Armenian-High event.

“HIGH FEST” International Theatre Festival gives great opportunity for Armenian audience to get in touch with the values of world theatre. The organizers are aimed to bring to Yerevan the best and most innovative of small-scale theatres, presenting the rich palette of worldwide theatrical art. On the other hand, the Festival will show the ancient traditions of Armenian Culture on the international area making it closer to the world theatrical processes. The realization of these goals will consolidate relation between cultural traditions of different countries, nations by stage.

The 25 theatres from 10 countries: UK, Sweden, Russia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Georgia, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Israel, and of course Armenia took part at the “HIGH FEST”.

During the festival 31 performances were presented at the 10 theatre venues: H.Tumanyan State Puppet Theatre, Hamazgain Theatre, National Center of Aesthetics “Little Theatre”, H.Paronyan State Theatre of the Musical Comedy, Yerevan State Chamber Theatre and others.

To promote the mutual understanding and exchange of innovative ideas and valuable experience in the sphere of performing arts as well as arts management 6 master classes and 4 seminars were conducted respectively by foreign theatre companies and well known experts in cultural management.

The objectives of International Theatre Festival are:

• Providing an exchange of ideas and experience;
• Creating an information bank;
• Promoting regional and international cooperation in Art;
• Supporting experimental creative initiatives;
• Looking for innovative forms of theatre works;
• Providing mobility and professional contacts;
• Exposing new faces of actors;
• Increasing professional diversity;
• Spreading information and contact network among theatre fellows.

To make this Festival a permanent traditional event we are planning to have the 2nd, 3rd editions of “HIGH FEST” every year in a wider geographical area. The realization of such a long-term project will create good preconditions for developing Armenian Theatrical art in a whole.

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