22nd international figurines.theatre.festival goes digital

The 22nd international figuren.theatre.festival 2021 has been re-planned three times by the cities of Erlangen, Nuremberg and Fürth - now it comes in all the forms and formats that virtual theatre has to offer. The festival brings together around 20 projects from all over the world in the digital edition. The multifaceted programme series starts today, Friday, 7 May, and runs until Sunday, 16 May. As the 22nd international figuren.theatre.festival, the festival programme naturally has more in mind than what is possible in the current situation: as soon as the situation allows, all postponed projects will be made up. Until then, the online audience can look forward to a spectrum ranging from encounters on the phone, instagames, interactive performances and short films to lecture performances and live streams.

Theatre gaming, AR and city walks

The participating companies are equally diverse: In addition to productions from Germany, El Salvador and France, there are projects from Israel, Austria, Turkey, the USA and Switzerland. Among the programme items, all target groups will find their highlights, whether creative Accompanying programme for children, Performance as an on-screen duet, or Puppet Theatre Special in the virtual cinema hall - the choice is wide.

Those who want to participate interactively have the Instagame The Cult of the Dead Cow by Swiss artist Laura Tontsch is the best opportunity to do so. The game develops its participatory narrative daily over a period of ten days. Digital theatre with gaming elements is also available with the interactive performance  Map to Utopia  in the livestream of the German-Turkish fringe ensemble and Platform Tiyatro.

AR brings dancers home

For friends of Augmented Reality, the free app Zooomworld by Anna Steward, a performative mood board of sensitivities in times of the pandemic. The augmented reality app brings two dancers to your home - risk-free - and lets them dance for you. The private living space becomes a theatre - whether it's the kitchen table, the sofa or in front of the balcony window. Oscillating between paralysis and emotional rampage, the two protagonists stagger through a fragmented existence, accompanied by atmospheric electronic sounds that evoke memories of earlier club visits, of lost places of collective experience. The pandemic mood board is accompanied by a narrative voice that addresses the users directly as a virtual counterpart.

And those who are willing to get involved in a smartphone game in the urban space of Erlangen will get their chance with the Theatre in plays from the Erlangen Theatre. This trailer gives a first taste of the 2021 festival programme:

Some of the projects are available at any time from the beginning of the festival, others at a specific time. The complete overview of the programme schedule can be found at the Festival website.

Source: kulturnews