Mondial du Théâtre

Mondial du Théâtre
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Location(s)	Monaco
Foundation	1957
Founded by	International Association of Amateur Theatre
Date(s)	Last held August 17–26, 2009
Type of Play(s)	Each participating country performs in its own language
Official website

The Mondial du Théâtre, also titled the International Festival of Amateur Theatre and the World Festival of Amateur Theatre is the premier festival in the world celebrating amateur and community theatre. It is organised by the Studio de Monaco and the International Association of Amateur Theatre and held every four years in the Principality of Monaco since its inaugural festival in 1957.^[1]

History

In 1957 Guy and Max Brousse and René Cellario, early leading figures of the International Association of Amateur Theatre, approached the Monegasque government to gain support for an International Festival. The first such festival, termed the International Festival of Amateur Theatre, took place in Monaco and attracted twelve troupes from across Europe at which the IATA held its 3rd Congress.

Both the festival and congress were a success and the Studio de Monaco, (the National Centre of the IATA), made an undertaking to organise every four years in the Principality of Monaco with the help of the Monegasque authorities, an International Festival and official Congress of IATA. The festival helped to increase the profile of the IATA and in turn as its stature grew so did that of the festival.

By the 1970s the number of participating drama troops had reached twenty, with countries from outside of Europe also participating. In 1997 a record 24 troupes from all 5 continents participated and this number has been maintained since. From that year the festival adopted a new name, the “Mondial du Théâtre”.^[2]

Participating nations

The 2009 festival saw the following 24 countries represented:^[3]

•  Australia - Lieder Theatre Company (Goulburn) performing The colour play
•  Austria - Theater Abtenau Theater Holzhausen (Abtenau & Holzhausen) performing "My Monster" by Felix Mitterer
•  Belgium - Stalteater (Oelegem) performing "Cyrano" after Edmond Rostand
•  China - China Liaoning Province Art Association (Shenyang) performing "Folk Arts" by Kai Cui
•  Congo - Marabout Theatre (Kinshasa) performing "Zérocrate" by Nzey van Musala
•  Faroe Islands - Hudrar (Torshavn) performing Othello after Shakespeare
•  Finland - Ylioppilasteatteri (Tampere) performing "Kielipuolipolitas" (Dumb Show) by Neil Hardwick & Jussi Tuominen
•  France - Théâtre du Torrent (Annemasse) performing "Le Premier" by Israël Horovitz
•  Germany - Dokumentartheater (Berlin) performing Tänzerin hinter Stacheldraht (Dancer behind barbwire) by de Marina Schubarth
•  Hungary - Kompania Theatre (Budakeszi) performing "Roméo et Juliette" after Shakespeare
•  India - Akhil Bharatiya Sanskrutik Sangh (Maharashtra) performing "Maharashtra Maza"
•  Indonesia - Satu Kata (Jakarta) performing "Mission in peace" by Alika Chandra
•  Ireland - Balally Players (Dublin) performing "Melody" by Deirdre Kinahan
•  Italy - Teatro dei Picari (Macerata) performing "Pulcinella" by Manlio Santanelli
•  Japan - Kasai & Bungeiza (Toyama) performing "The butterfly wavering in the wind" by Takagi Toru & Haruka Kasai
•  Lithuania - Pasvalys Theatre (Pasvalys) performing "Helver’s Night" by Ingmar Villqist
•  Morocco - Atlantis (Casablanca) performing "Dounya"
•  Peru - Maguey Teatro (Lima) performing "Inticha y el Pajaro Nubero"
•  Slovakia - Theatre A Theatre Shanti Prievidza (Prievidza) performing "A respectable wedding" by Bertold Brecht
•  South Africa - Rebel Production (Johannesbourg) performing "father's sons" by Craig Van Zyl
•  Spain - La Galerna Sosten Teatro (Gijon) performing "Las Criadas" (The Maids) by Jean Genet
•  Great Britain - Drama Association (Inverclyde) performing "Tam O'Shanter" by Robert Burns
•  United States - Heider Center for the Arts (West Salem, Wisconsin) performing "Cotton Patch Gospel" written by Clarence Jordan and Russell Treyz, original Music by Harry and Tom Chapin
•  Venezuela - Perras del Infierno Teatro (Caracas) performing "Passport" by Gustavo Ott

Venues

The performances take place in some of the most beautiful theatres in the Principality of Monaco:

• Salle Garnier - (Opera de Monte-Carlo)
• Princess Grace Theatre
• Théâtre des Variétés

References

1. ^ Official site of the Mondial du Théâtre
2. ^ Official site of 2009 festival - History of the festival
3. ^ Official site of 2009 festival - participating countries