Festival de Teatro de Bogota
Performing Arts Enthusiasts in Colombia Rejoice
The world famous Festival de Teatro de Bogota is back in town in 2008 and promises to delight all with street performers, stage productions and more from March 7-23.
Created in 1988 by Fanny Mikey and Ramiro Osorio and subsequently held every two years in the Colombian capital city, the Festival de Teatro de Bogota has become one of the largest and most important theatre festivals in the world. In 16 years of existence the festival has hosted 520 theatre companies from 50 countries ranging from all 5 continents, more than 2 million spectators have attended each festival and the celebrations look set to continue. 2008’s 11th edition should be no less extravagant.
Opening Ceremony
The festivities are set to open in the opulent, bohemian and appropriately theatrical surroundings of the Plaza de Bolivar in the capital’s Candelaria district. Expect large crowds to fill the Plaza from the early afternoon on Saturday 8th of March from 3pm to watch the opening parade that will take in the Plaza de Toros, Carrera 7 and all the way to the Plaza. In the throng of performers will be jugglers, human chains, acrobats, Chinese dragons, clowns, dancers and other street performers all making light of Bogota’s grey and overcast days.
Closing Ceremony
The closing ceremony will be held at the other end of the city on the 23rd of March in the Parque Simón Bolívar with special shows put on by the French troupe, Compañía Grupo F. You may recognise them from their performances at the closing ceremonies at both the Summer Olympics in Athens (2004) and the Winter Olympics in Turin (2006).
Guest Country
The United Kingdom is renowned for its strength and depth in the performing arts and has been selected as the guest country for this year’s festival. The critically acclaimed Kneehigh Company will be performing their version of William Shakespeare’s Cymbeline in the atmospheric environs of the Teatro Colon and the Forced Entertainment Company will surely turn some heads with their work, Bloody Mess, which will be held in the Teatro Faenza.
Special Events
In addition to all of the fine works to be held through Bogota during the festival, what makes the biannual event so special are the other opportunities available. This year there is an emphasis on inclusivity and several theatre groups from Spain to the Czech Republic are holding acting workshops, playwriting classes, a clown school, an opportunity to explore the works of Chekhov and so on. Storytellers will keep their audiences rapt and there are also three sure to be well attended concerts.
Concerts
Needing no introduction to the adoring Colombian public, Carlos Vives will strut his stuff in the Plaza de Bolivar on the evening of the 8th of March from 8pm. Mexican chanteuse Lila Downs will perform at Corferias on Wednesday March 12 at 8pm and Ultratango from Argentina will headline the Leon de Greiff auditorium on March 13th at 8pm.
For further information about the festival see here.
