AZG Armenian Daily #170, 23/09/2005

Culture

50 PLAYS IN 9 DAYS

Organizers of ‘High Fest’ Complain of Culture Ministry

“High Fest” international theatre festival will launch in Yerevan on
September 28. 40 troupes from 28 countries of the world will perform their
plays on 14 stages of Yerevan, Vanadzor, Gyumri and Artashat till October 6.
The range of performances include drama, puppet theatre, modern dance
theater, psychological mono drama and others, representatives of the Actors’
Union of Armenia and ALFAEL producer center told a press conference
yesterday. “The ‘High Fest’ of 2004 was labeled the main international
theatre festival of the Caucasian region. This is a sign of trust towards
us”, president of the Actors’ Union and chairman of the festival, Artur
Ghukasian, said. Austrian producer Christian Pronau, who is the chief
producer of arrangements on Mozart’s anniversary, rector of China’s State
Theatre Institute, president of French d’Avignon Festival Bernard d’Atrcie
and many others will take part in “High Fest”.

The organizers say that it’s easier to include western European theatres in
the festival than, say, a Serbian troupe as there are many cultural
organizations in the west that back their theatres.

“The Ministry of Culture does not help us, to say the least of that. Last
year it promised to assign 1 million drams for the festival but failed to
fulfill. We have a promise for this year as well. Who should we turn to?
It’s very difficult to get through to the ministers. Deputy ministers
usually receive us with a gentle smile but do nothing”, Artur Ghukasian
says.

Levon Abrahamian, president of ALFAEL producer center, pointed out that 40
per cent of money for the festival was provided by RA President and Defense
Ministry. Many states partially covered the expenses of their troupes here
in Armenia. “We have to hire the halls as well though the Culture Ministry
could solve this problem. We’ve been questioning the needs of this year’s
festival. There will be no festival next year unless the president or prime
minister show assistance”, Abrahamian says.

A workshop titled “Creation of Theatre Network of the South Caucasus and the
Central Asia” will be held within the frameworks of the festival as well as
the guesting art directors and actors will hold 30 master-classes and more
than 10 seminars thus opening doors for international cooperation.

By Tamar Minasian

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress