theatre
Ousted director Istvan Marta: 'my successor will create a demagogic theatre'
Istvan Marta managed the Budapest’s new theatre for thirteen years. On 1 February, he cleared his desk to make space for György Dörner, a supporter of the extreme-right wing Jobbik party. We talk to the outgoing director who fears that his theatre could become a stage for extremism
Obituary: Vaclav Havel, master of peace
The dissident, thespian and president, who was a symbol of change in the 1989 velvet revolution in Czechoslovakia, died on 18 December at the age of 75 after a serious illness. Homage to a European master of peace, as a three-day mourning period officially begins on 21 December
theatre, literature, euweek, vaclav havel, europe, human rights, prague spring
Multiculturalism in Italy: a Roman cocktail
Is Italy racist? This is the question posed by European media, some of which don’t hesitate to point to a lethal dose of racism particularly following the murder of two Senegalese in Florence. However, four journalists and a photographer sent to Rome by cafebabel.com chose instead to talk about the multicultural imprint of a nation which counts 5.4 million immigrants from non-EU countries. Of course, it’s not all sweetness. The Roma continue to battle for a decent future, while young Italians are fleeing a country which is losing its identity. However, second generation immigrants are aware of the civic role which they can play, while the piazza Vittoria in central Rome is a multicultural epicentre, a mixed drink shaken up in the most open of kitchens. In the view of these diverse facts, cafebabel.com is serving up a Roman cocktail which will warm you to embrace the ‘other’, turning away from the bar-side brawls stirred up by press-gang headlines. (Image: © Ehsan Maleki)
Spanish actor Santi Senso, creator of 'house theatre'
The thirtysomething actor is otherwise known for his 'intimate' theatre performances in people's homes across Spain, something he says is driven by a ‘beautiful madness’ inside him. His latest play 'Orgy Me' has just ended its residency in a hotel room in Madrid
Hungarian singer Erzsi Kiss: ‘My language is based on musicality’
It’s much more meaningful gobbledygook, says the singer in the Hungarian band 'Egy Kiss Erzsi Zene' about her lyrics. The musician and puppeteer talks to us about singing 'in no language'
theatre, hungary, culture, budapest, music, interview, culture calendar
Ascanio Celestini: 'I denounce verbal violence of our time’
He is the mouthpiece of contemporary Italian theatre, a critic of power, an anthropologist who depicts the evils of our time better than anyone else. The 39-year-old actor, director and author talks about coming from outside Rome and where his one-man-show gets its inspirations from
theatre, italy, paris, brunch, best of cafebabel.com, rome, culture
Trio Joubran: ‘It’s hard to be Palestinian musicians in the world’
Samir, Wissam and Adnan Joubran are international musicians whose performance and perspectives nonetheless remain rooted in their homeland: Palestine. Just before the UN is due to consider Palestine’s official bid to become a UN member as well as a state, we meet the brothers in Paris about how their hopes for their country influences their music
theatre, middle east, united nations, paris, palestine occupied territory, culture, music
‘Allez Calais!’ Historic French football match replayed in theatre
‘Come on, Calais!’, a theatrical monologue written by the Italian journalist Osvaldo Guerrieri, tells the story of the amateur football team who played FC Nantes in the historic French cup final in 2000. It’s one in the back of the net for football, as the epic tale of the underdog takes to the stage in Paris
Greek tragedy of a Macedonian tragedy: the story of #Martin in five acts
On 5 June 2011 21-year-old Martin Neskovki was killed at the hands of Igor Spasov, bodyguard to the Macedonian prime minister. Two months on from demonstrations attended by thousands outraged by the government’s inaction, a handful of remaining protesters present their own conclusion to the investigation – onstage and online
Edinburgh fringe festival 2011: the problem with passing around the hat
At first glance, Edinburgh’s Royal Mile in August seems like an anarchic, free-spirited display of all that the world’s largest arts festival has to offer. But after a while you notice how rigidly the twirling street performers stick to their allocated spots, the hard-faced hard selling in the ‘bucket speeches’ after each act and the ever-present banners advertising Richard Branson’s latest venture - a credit card firm
theatre, money, scotland, united kingdom, culture calendar, edinburgh international festival
Sex, Sartre & rock n’roll in Paris theatre
Anyone coming to Jean Paul Sartre’s ‘No exit’ (Huis clos) playing at the Lucernaire theatre until 10 September shouldn't expect a tedious and stiff evening. French director Vladimir Steyaert surprised the entirely young audience with a contemporary, ironically serious version of the classic, which of course, had to have an international cast
Croatia’s writers and playwrights: no post-war no-hopers
It’s impossible for the moment to imagine a literature and theatre scene in Croatia which does not blend in the story of Yugoslavia’s collapse. The wounds are too fresh, holding back the development of a certain maturity. One young generation of playwrights and writers between Zagreb and Split literally put the streets on their stages and pages, as they move between the daily quest for an identity and the desire for renewal
theatre, literature, street, zagreb, orient express, balkans, culture
Claire Ruppli: ‘Erasmus generation have to create Europe now’
The lovemaking Swiss theatre actress is taking on a one-woman stage interpretation of a haunted figure in Prague on Parisian floorboards. She talks getting into theatre, Europe and passion
theatre, contemporary art, paris, culture, prague, czech republic, france
Theatre: French director Pierre Notte’s Bidules Trucs in Paris
A variety of characters from every corner of the world have come to life in French theatre director Pierre Notte’s fairytales. Rendezvous: the Theatre La Bruyère in Paris
theatre, animals, culture, culture calendar, pierre notte, family
Warsaw wannabe
Dare we call it the new Berlin? The Polish capital's showing off with its edgy art and theatre expos, amidst fancy glass towers which spring up like mushrooms in the otherwise socialist scope of the city. Euro 2012, which Poland co-hosts with the Ukraine, assures a further polishing-up of the international reputation of the eastern metropolis. Meanwhile there's only one neighbourhood to be on the other side of the city on the Vistula; the Amy-Winehouse-statued 'Praga' is an artist and party people hotspot. Five pan-European cafebabel.com journalists analyse 'WaWa' - as the locals affectionately call their city -in the antepenultimate city special edition of our monthly series
German clown Marenka: 'hit a woman and it's almost taboo'
For seven years, the 37-year-old has acted in German-language performances throughout Europe, a trade she refined in Hannover, France and California - how does her public react to her clownish mishaps?
theatre, germany, brunch, men and women, fun, art, united states
'Conciliabules': French women fight for European poverty via theatre
Marginalisation, precarity - in any case, women are 'poorer' than men. But the ladies from this French troupe use art, not negativity, in their official response to Europe's designated 'year of poverty and social exclusion'
theatre, european year for combating poverty and social exclusion, social networks, culture, poverty, art, european union
Budapest: stand-up comedy and playback theatre 'cures' crisis
It's an American pursuit gaining momentum in central Europe. Young comedian Balàzs Hajdù explains why he might eventually have to leave his job, and a doctor explains how theatre helps cure his patients
theatre, eucrisis on the ground, civil society, hungary, economical crisis, culture, budapest
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