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International Children's Festival in Šibenik
http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/9571/1/International-Childrens-Festival-in-ibenik.html
By Prof.Dr. Darko Zubrinic
Published on 06/22/2008
 
International Children's Festival in Šibenik, Croatia, promotes aesthetical education of children and young adults, and develops all artistic forms of children's creativity. The festival has the support of the UNICEF and UNESCO, as well as the permanent sponsorship of the President of Croatia. The first festival was held in 1958, ie 50 years ago.

Already 50 years of tradition


Photo from www.mdf-si.org

 
The theatre tradition in Šibenik started 130 years ago, on January 29, 1870, when the theatre building was inaugurated. It makes the theatre, after the one in the town of Hvar on the island of the same name, the oldest theatre in Croatia. That's where the Croatian language was spoken and defended from those who wanted not only to conquer but to subjugate Šibenik and Dalmatia.

Nevertheless, the most distinctive trait of the cultural scene in Šibenik, and its trademark of a kind, is the International Children's Festival - internationally recognised Croatian cultural event, unique in the world for four decades.

The first festival was held in 1958, the result of the initiative and efforts of several children arts enthusiasts, but it quickly turned into a big, complex, internationally important festival and stage mechanism, founded on three elements - children, the festival and the city. It is certainly a multidisciplinary multimedial cultural event, which not only displays but invites participation actively. It is a review of the best works for children as well as of the best works by children.

The basic cultural and pedagogical justification of the festival is that it promotes aesthetical education of children and young adults, and develops all artistic forms of children's creativity. The festival not only initiates, but also stimulates many ideas in art forms for children and by children: dramatic and music arts, puppetry, film, literature and visual arts.

The festival has been accomplishing this through three aspects: through an annual review of carefully selected Croatian and foreign performing companies (works for children) through workshops as a form of involving children in the act of creation (works by children and education) through organising symposiums on creativity and art, and on other topics important for the aesthetic education of children (the scientific aspect) During the forty years, the best drama companies from Croatia and abroad succeded each other on the open-air stage in front of the old City Hall and in the theatre, presenting the best plays imagined by writers, shaped by directors and played by actors with the magic of their singular skills.

The music is in us and around us. Particularly in the city of music and musicians, Šibenik. The music, vocal or instrumental, artistic or folk, local or foreign, but always a unique celebration of rhythm, sound and harmony, has a permanent place among the festival events.

An old festival chronicler claimed that the puppets acquired the citizenship of Šibenik and turned the city into a big playground, full of imagination, magic, merry play. The city, that used to have a professional puppet theatre, has been visited by all Croatian puppet theatres, as well as many of those from abroad. They all left gifts under the pillows of all those who saw them; images of a memorable childhood, regardless of the viewers' age.

There is a special quality in the festival's visual arts programmes, not only the ones created by masterly, though awkward, children's little fingers, but also those created by the most distinguished names of visual arts in Croatia and the whole world: painters, graphic designers, photographers, architects and other artists who, in their works, succeeded in preserving the precious ties to the childhood.

During the festival, Šibenik is the place where poets and children meet, where the open-air cinema on the stairs of the old town shows films for children, where there are workshops for journalism, sculpture, comics, film and video, architecture and building, poetry, painting, graphic design, information technologies, puppetry, music and dance. Various artistic forms bring together, in the streets and squares of Šibenik, representatives of the cultures of all continents, who have been contributing in creating a nobler, culturally enlightened person of today's global community.

In the fifty years of the festival's existence, there have been numerous discussions held about various areas of education and the influence of arts on children: children and books, children and films, children and television, children and visual arts, children and puppets, directing for children, dramatic arts for children, acting in plays for children, stage settings for children's plays, as well as about many other topics. For those discussions, the Šibenik Children's Festival has been bringing together the most eminent names from particular fields, who talked about aesthetic, artistic, educational and social aspects of the work with children.

The festival programme receives support not only in Šibenik, but in the whole of Croatia, too, as well as throughout the world. The concept and humanitarian aims of the festival have the full support of the UNICEF and UNESCO, as well as the permanent sponsorship of the President of Croatia. The festival used to be a member of the International Festival Association - F.I.D.O.F.

During its fifty years, the festival has been able to face doubts, self-doubting, challenges, criticism and numerous questions and difficulties. Even during the War in Croatia, when the warring pushed children's games into background, the festival kept its continuity, offering joy, play, hope. Today, relying on its experience and respectable associates, relying on the understanding and support of the city, county, ministry, media and all those who participate in the organisation, the festival is looking for fresh, unexplored paths to the new millennium, wishing to initiate, stimulate and promote the relationship between arts and children.

Looking forward to the end of the restoration of the theatre building, we hope that the stage of one of the oldest and most beautiful theatres in Croatia will come alive again in time for new festival plays.The city and its children are awaiting you. Both big and small children. The play, imagination and reality are awaiting you. The festival is awaiting you.

Source: www.mdf-si.org



PROGRAM OF INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL IN ŠIBENIK FOR 2008


Saturday 21rd June
 

Summer stage 9 p.m.

***OPENING CEREMONY***

THE CITY THEATRE TREŠNJA, Zagreb
Nana Šojlev – Desanka Virant
CHOCOLATE

Directed by: Nana Šojlev
Choreography by: Desanka Virant
Song lyrics by: Ozren Feller

 

Sunday 22th June

 

Theatre foyer 10 a.m.

PRESS CONFERENCE


Opening of the exhibitions at 12.00

THE TREE OF LIFE
The exhibition of children's works by the pupils of
Croatian primary schools
The Centre of visual culture for children and youth Of City library Juraj Šižgorić, Šibenik and The International Children's Festival – Croatia


Studio of St.Krševan Gallery

LUISE KLOOS, Graz, Austria
ELEVEN AND ONE
An interdisciplinary performance and art workshop for children
at the age 6-12


St.Krševan Gallery

The exhibition named WITH THE ART OF PLAY TO ART
VOJIN HRASTE, Split
and VLASTA ŽANIĆ


City Museum of Šibenik

The exhibitions can be seen from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and
from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.


King Držislav Square at 8 p.m.

DRAGAN PETROVIĆ, Zagreb
THE GOLDEN MAN
(miming show)


Medulić Square at 8 p.m.

MATIJA VULETIĆ
THE CHESTNUT'S STORY
(street show)


Summer stage at 9 p.m.

YOUNG MOSCOVITES, Moscow, Russia
RUSSIAN TRADITIONAL DANCES
Artistic leader: Aleksander Lopatto
Choreography by: Vera Ingel and others

 

Monday 23th June

 

Theatre foyer 11 a.m.

PRESS CONFERENCE


Medulić Square at 11 a.m.

MATIJA VULETIĆ
THE CHESTNUT'S STORY
(street show)


Poljana Square at 18 a.m.

OPENING OF THE 2nd CHILDREN'S BOOK FAIR


City theatre at 7 p.m.

THE CHILDREN'S THEATRE BRANKO MIHALJEVIĆ, OSIJEK
THE BIG BIG LAND OF OZ
based on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Nina Mitrović
Directed by: Zlatko Sviben


King Držislav Square at 8 p.m.

DRAGAN PETROVIĆ, Zagreb
THE GOLDEN MAN
(miming show)


Medulić Square at 8 p.m.

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH STILTS INTERNATIONAL
Newcastle upon Tyne, Great Britain
LES OISEAUX DE LUX
Authors: Paul Miskin and Maysie Sharp


Summer stage at 9 p.m.

TEATR LALKA
Warsaw, Poland
Michal Walszak:
THE LAST DADDY
Directed by: Michal Walszak

 

Tuesday 24th June

 

Theatre foyer 11 a.m.

PRESS CONFERENCE


Theatre 7 p.m.

ZAGREB PUPPET THEATRE, Zagreb
Marin Držić: PLAKIR
Directed by: Joško Juvančić

Kralja Držislava Square 8 p.m.

DRAGAN PETROVIĆ, Zagreb
THE GOLDEN MAN
(miming show)


Medulić Square at 8 p.m.

MATIJA VULETIĆ
THE CHESTNUT'S STORY
(street show)


Summer stage at 9 p.m.

SARAJEVO NATIONAL THEATRE
Bosnia and Herzegovina
H. C. Andersen: THUMBELINA
Choreography and directed by: Nermina Damian

 

Wednesday 25th June

 

Theatre foyer 11 a.m.

PRESS CONFERENCE


Medulić Square at 8 p.m.

PANE TEMOV PUPPETEER
Skopje, FYR Macedonia


King Držislav Square at 8 p.m.

DRAGAN PETROVIĆ, Zagreb
THE GOLDEN MAN
(miming show)


Summer stage 9 p.m.

FONDAZIONE AIDA
TEATRO STABILE DI INNOVAZIONE
Verona, Italy
PIERINO AND THE WOLF

Text and voice by: Dario Fo
Music by: Sergey Prokofyev
Set design by: Emanuele Luzzati
Directed by: Nicoletta Vicentini

Thursday 26th June

 

Theatre foyer 11 a.m.

PRESS CONFERENCE


Medulić Square at 11 a.m.

PANE TEMOV PUPPETEER
Skopje, FYR Macedonia


City Theatre at 7 p.m.

SPLIT PUPPET THEATRE
Dubravka Ugrešić
LITTLE FLAME
Directed by: ROBERT WALTL
Text adaptation by: RONA ŽULJ

King Držislav Square at 8 p.m.

LITTLE DEVIL AND FRIENDS
CONCERT


Summer stage 9 p.m.

THE MUSICAL YOUTH DANCE THEATRE – SPLIT
LOVE AT FIRST MIAOW
Based on the story by Dunja Kalilić
Choreography and selection of music by: Luciano Perić
Choreography assistance by: Branka Ćića Trumbić
Music by: K.M. Weber and G. Bizet

 
Friday 27th June
 
Theatre foyer 11 a.m.

PRESS CONFERENCE


Medulić Square at 11 a.m.

PANE TEMOV PUPPETEER
Skopje, FYR Macedonia


City Theatre at 7 p.m.

TOI HAUS
Theater am Mirabellplatz, Salzburg, Austria
HERE AND THERE
Directed by: Myrto Dimitriadou
Dance and choreography by: Gudrun Raber-Plaichinger


Medulić Square at 8 p.m.

KUD KOLEDIŠĆE, Jezera
PROGRAMME OF TRADITIONAL CULTURE
Presenter: Nenad Milin


Meterize at 8 p.m.

PANE TEMOV PUPPETEER
Skopje, FYR Macedonia


Summer stage at 9 p.m.

SIREA FILM artistic centre, Tirana, Albania
SWEET AND BITTER PLANET
Script by: Leonard Bombaj
Directed by: Verjana Abazaj
Choreography by: Ermelinda Voja and Llagi Nako

 

Saturday 28th June

 

Theatre foyer 11 a.m.

PRESS CONFERENCE


City Theatre at 7 p.m.

IVANA BRLIĆ MAŽURANIĆ Puppet Scene, Zagreb
Grigor Vitez:BLUE COLOUR OF SNOW
Directed by: Zvonko Festini
Composed by: Davor Rocco
Choreography by: Zaga Živković
Light designer: Olivije Marečić


At the port 8 p.m.

KRILA OLUJA (WINGS OF STORMS)
AEROBATICS SHOW


Summer stage 9 p.m.

ZAGREB YOUTH THEATRE, Zagreb
Ivan Kušan: KOKO IN PARIS
Directed by: Ivica Boban

 

Sunday 29th June

 

Theatre foyer 11 a.m.

PRESS CONFERENCE


City Theatre at 7 p.m.

RIJEKA CITY PUPPET THEATRE, Rijeka
Mark Twain: THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER
Directed by: Saša Anočić


Dobrić Square at 8 p.m.

WRITERS AT THE FESTIVAL
TITO BILOPAVLOVIĆ
Book presentation – PIJESKU VEĆ OPLAKANOM
Published by: Fraktura

 

Monday 30th June

 

Theatre foyer 11 a.m.

PRESS CONFERENCE

Book presentation: ADAM WALNY
Theatre of objects
(original title: Teatr przedmiotu. Kulisy warsztatu, arkana rzemiosla, Staromiejski Dom Kultury, Warszawa, 2007)

Translation: Pero Mioč
Published by: ICF, 2008


Dobrić Square at 8 p.m.

Book presentation:
ALJOŠA VUKOVIĆ
STREET OF PUZZLES


Summer stage at 9 p.m.

BALLET ARA DE MADRID
Spain
DANZAS DE ESPAŃA
SPANISH DANCES
Choreography by: Carmina Villar

 

Tuesday 1st July

 

Theatre foyer 11 a.m.

PRESS CONFERENCE


City Theatre at 7 p.m.

MALA SCENA Theatre, Zagreb
A group of Dutch authors
(conceived by Inez Derksen)
KING A.
Directed by: Ivica Šimić


Dobrić Square at 8 p.m.

WRITERS AT THE FESTIVAL
ENES KIŠEVIĆ – SARA KIŠEVIĆ
Poem collection presentation:
MUM, YOU ARE MY AIR


Summer stage at 9 p.m.

OTANI BALLET STUDIO, Tokyo, Japan
MIRACULOUS JAPANESE FOLKLORE
Choreography by: Yoko Otani
Drummer: Akihiro Fukai

 

Wednesday 2nd July

 

Theatre foyer 11 a.m.

PRESS CONFERENCE


City Theatre at 7 p.m.

DUBRAVA CHILDREN'S THEATRE, Zagreb
Erich Kästner: TWINS
Directed by: Oliver Frljić


John Paul II Square 9-11 a.m. and 7,30 – 8,30 p.m.

PLEMENITAŠI, Ivanec
MERRY-GO-ROUND AND ORGAN


Dobrić Square at 8 p.m.

WRITERS AT THE FESTIVAL
NAUM POPESKI, Skopje, FYR Macedonia


Summer stage at 9 p.m.

NAIVNI DIVADLO, Liberec, Czech Republic
Iva Perinova: JACK AND THE MAGIC BEANSTALK
Directed by: Mihaela Homolova

 
Thursday 3rd July
 

Theatre foyer 11 a.m.

PRESS CONFERENCE


Theatre 7 p.m.

Young musicians at the Festival
PETAR KLASAN
CONCERT
Piano


Source: www.mdf-si.org


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