Uzbekistan, UK open new horizons for cooperation in theater art

May 23, 2011

The Fund Forum contributes to cooperation between Uzbekistan and European countries in theatre art. An Uzbek delegation of theatre workers visited UK, Germany and Denmark as part of preparations for Theatre.UZ International Theater Festival scheduled for October 2011. The Fund Forum with its Representative Offices in Europe, as well as the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Uzbekistan, Uzbek Embassies in the UK, Germany and Russia facilitated successful meetings with the heads of leading European Theatres in Great Britain and Denmark, participation in international theatre festivals and congresses in Germany and Russia.

The delegation members are Omonulla Rizaev, Director General of Uzbekteatr Association; Nabi Abdurahmanov, Art Director of Uzbekistan Youth Theatre, and Vassa Vasilyeva, leading actress of Uzbekistan Youth Theatre. On May 19-23 the delegation was in the UK, where they held talks with heads of famous theatres such as Theatre Royal Stratford East in London, Sherman Cymru Theatre in Cardiff, and Quicksilver Children's Theatre in London were held on 19-23 May.

Phillip Mackenzie, Head of Creative Learning, Sherman Cymru Theatre, noted that the projects of Uzbek theatres very interesting to cooperate with. “A modern actor works with no word, but space and light. This approach is reflected in performances of Youth Theatre, which I have witnessed during our meeting. I will surely come to Uzbekistan to work on joint productions, master classes and to develop collaboration between our theatres”, Mackenzie said.

Kerry Michael, art director of Theatre Royal Stratford East, also showed interest in participation in Theatre.Uz Festival. Quicksilver Children's Theatre unveiled plans to collaborate with Uzbekistan in organizing master classes and joint projects.

The Youth Theatre was also invited to Augenblick mal! 11th Festival of Theatres for Young Audiences, held in Berlin on May 14-19.

The next stop is the ASSITEJ International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People in Copenhagen and Chekhov International Festival in Moscow.

“It’s amazing that the Fund Forum’s initiative and support made such interesting meetings possible in such a short span of time”, said Nabi Abdurahmanov, art director of Uzbekistan Youth Theatre. I think this trip will guarantee the success of the forthcoming Theatre.Uz Festival, as well as of collaboration development between Uzbekistan and European countries in the area of theatre art”.

A press conference to focus on Theatre.UZ preparations is scheduled for June 7, 2011.

In 2010, the Fund Forum unveiled an initiative to organize “Theatre.UZ” International Festival, for the purpose of further bringing theatre cultures of various countries closer together for a better mutual understanding, mutual respect, and internalization of theatre traditions and to expand friendly and artistic contacts, and to enrich theatre life in Uzbekistan by demonstrating the achievements of local and foreign theatres. The Festival is held annually as part of “Style.Uz” Art Week.