There is no better place to be this summer for arts and theatre enthusiasts than the beautiful Croatian city of Dubrovnik, as it hosts its annual theatrical and artistic extravaganza, Le Petit Festival du Théâtre.
Tipped as being to art what Woodstock was to music, Le Petit Festival du Théâtre – to be held this year from 24 June to 2 July – is an international art fair, a showcase of magnificent theatre and a networking event for bods from the global arts scene. Drawing cultured types from all corners of the world, the festival takes place at a location that couldn’t put Dubrovnik more on a pedestal if it tried.
The Lazareti complex, situated just outside the city walls, is a stunning edifice build by the Republic of Dubrovnik and dating back to the 16th Century. With views over the old port, the fort of St John and the island of Lokrum, the complex is the perfect place for visitors to Croatia to soak up the festival offerings, and plenty more besides.
There is a serious side to the frivolity and fun of the festival. Its aim is to unite different cultures, beliefs and religions through the arts, and it does so by bringing together artists and performers from the music, theatre, modern and classic dance, haute couture, visual arts, liberal arts and holistic medicine worlds.
The festival was borne out of a desire to illuminate the role that the arts play in the support of human relations and citizenship in Europe and globally, with The Le Petit Festival du Théâtre website saying, “More than ever, we need to come together as the inhabitants of Planet Earth to learn how we can better cooperate to spread awareness, tolerance, unity, beauty and affirmative actions in the world through art and culture.”
In previous years, local artists from across Croatia have displayed their work and acted alongside contributors from France, Finland, Germany, Holland, Turkey, Serbia, USA, Slovenia, Switzerland, Sweden and Japan.
Nobody is left out – free theatrical performances are offered to the elderly and poor, held at the Domus Christi Hospital, the Children’s hospital of Dubrovnik and the Maslina orphanage and run by volunteers and visiting artists and actors. Prizes will be awarded to the best art and the best performances of this year’s festival, some of which include Serbia’s Milica Gotovic’s “Booked concert,” – a play inspired by the novel written by German author Franz Xaver Kroetz. Young actress and ballerina Gotovic’s 50-minute stage performance, representing three days of the heroine’s life, is entirely based on movement, with no sound.
Another performance at this year’s event will be “FolleMente,” a stage show which has been composed by two Italian actor-animators, Stefano Giomi and Margherita Cavalca. Combining comic street cabaret, poetry and puppets, FolleMente is a laugh-a-minute extravaganza.
Away from the fun of the festival, Dubrovnik has much to offer. The city’s fortified old town – now a UNESCO World Heritage Site – overlooks the sparkling Adriatic over limestone cliffs. It boasts the oldest port in Europe where trade between Europe and the East began and subsequently flourished, and the marble-paved streets are lined with traditional churches and palaces.
Dubrovnik has that rare ability of being able to appeal to culture vultures, history buffs and sun worshippers alike, boasting a host of great beaches such as Banje beach alongside buzzing nightlife – check out the famous Eastwest Beach Club, which lies just below the Lazareti complex, where the Le Petit Festival du Théâtre will be held.
Visit www.lepetitfestival.com to read more.
(Image: Michael Cavén)
