Bitef

CREATIVE WORKSHOPS OF MAPPING THE TEN YEARS OF THE EXISTENCE OF BITEF POLYPHONY PERFORMANCES, PRESENTATIONS, WORKSHOPS, DISCUSSIONS, ENCOUNTERS Bitef Polyphony celebrates the first decade of its existence. As in previous years, it explores and promotes innovative, participatory and engaged theatre which reveals diverse spaces of action, scopes a wide range of generations and involves different social categories. Bitef Polyphony puts into focus the theatre for, from and with young people inclined to introduce changes and go beyond the established practice. The first Bitef Polyphony took place at the 34th Bitef Festival in 2000, with the support of European Cultural Foundation and Open Society Fund Network from 7 countries of South-East Europe. The Art for Social Change-Play against Violence project was dedicated to artists and their role in working with young people during the times of crisis, war, conflicts... This year's topic of Bitef Festival is "Crisis of Capital - Art of Crisis", meaning that after ten years, Bitef Polyphony is to deal with this problem again, but this time, the focus being on the creative capitals -'yielded' from the years of crisis - both those brought by the times we live in, and those that come with certain ages. Where are, and what are the creators and participants of the first Bitef Polyphony doing now? Daily creative mapping workshops designed as the focal point of encounters, exploration and documenting the work of the program with an ongoing mission will provide the answer to this question. To reflect the 10 years of existence, Bitef Polyphony lasts for 10 days. Each day has a topic - and topics are moving backwards, from this year's "Creative Capitals of the Years of Crisis" to the very first, Art for Social Change - Play against Violence which is to end the 10th Bitef Polyphony. This year, Bitef Polyphony presents the works and trends aimed at marginalized groups, revealing their creative capitals and powerful messages communicated to us using the language of art. Bitef Polyphony program will present the work of professional theatres for children and young people, which explores modern forms of expression and deal with contemporary issues and working processes directly affecting young people. On the other hand, we will see three drama studios from the Region (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia), with their performances which resulted from working with young people on their life issues and dilemmas.Thefact that this year we are able to present four theatre groups and their productions with inclusive approach is of great significance. Last year's initiatives of Shakespeare's Children and Forum Theatres will take place through peer education workshops, presentation of school theatres and drama in education programs, a youth performance etc. Inspired by the musical form in its name, Bitef Polyphony develops its concept as a composition having specific structure of a cyclic organization and feedback, since in this Bitef's accompanying program, polyphony as a metaphor is a conceptual sign for the multitude of voices, multitude of sounds, partsinging, counterpoint, variations... Time will tell whether Bitef Polyphony, as well as Bitef the great, grew to become the distinctive history and the future of theatre for generations to come.

LJUBICA BELJANSKI - RISTIĆ

All performances are for teenagers and above.

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Ceeteum