BE festival
By Dave Woodhall.
Birmingham’s unique European theatre festival is set to bring an eclectic, cross-cultural feast back to the city from 4th-10th July when BE FESTIVAL returns with 20 of the most original, daring and delightful shows from across the continent.
Tickets for the official launch of BE FESTIVAL on Wednesday 9th June at the mac, are now on sale. The launch evening will include an exclusive performance of the Best Performer winner from last year’s festival, Posthumous Works by Danish company Out of Balanz, music from local band Mellow Peaches and details of the full festival programme will also be revealed.
The artist-led festival will present an enthralling mix of short, high quality performances, food, music, debate and workshops, creating an unforgettable experience in the atmospheric old AE Harris Factory, in the city’s revived Jewellery Quarter.
BE FESTIVAL aims to blur the lines between what the organisers see as very British boundaries of traditional artistic genres. The performances use various physical, visual and multi-lingual styles to reach audiences of multiple nationalities, cultures and backgrounds – so language will no longer be a barrier.
Engagement and participation are also key to the festival’s ethos: free public master classes and presentations, including some events with award-winning artist Anne Bean, will create an event that goes far beyond the normal audience experience.
Opening BE FESTIVAL are two performances at the mac on 4th and 5th July of the winning show from the 2010 festival – Theatre Ad Infinitum’s Translunar Paradise.
The core programme on 6th-9th July will see four 30 minute shows staged each night at AE Harris, along with a full sit-down interval meal courtesy of caterers Blanch & Shock.
Installations by local visual artists have been commissioned for display at the venue during the festival, and live music will be on offer in the bar before and after the performances.
New additions this year include Little BE on Sunday 10th July, an international programme of performances and fun workshops at the mac appropriate for 6-12 year olds. BE Next, a series of creative workshops for local young people, will run alongside the festival, and after the main programme is BEMIX, a night of improvisation, collaboration and work-in-progress from the main programme artists, created during the festival itself.
For more information or to buy tickets, visit www.befestival.org www.macarts.co.uk or phone 0121 446 3232.