"TERRITORIЯ-2010": EXPLOSION OF THE MIND, BERLIN-STYLE

09.16.2010
english.ruvr.ru

Berlin-Moscow. Such is the vector for TERRITORIЯ– an international festival-school of modern art, which takes place in the Russian capital in September.

Five years ago the newly created TERRITORIЯ literally took the theater community by storm. The Festival, which proclaimed itself to be the playground for experimental, innovative theater, was not kindly taken to. However, today the boldness of the forum appears to be duly appreciated. The very concept of the event seems very fortunate – a festival-school for the young, called upon to destroy stereotypes and taboos and expand the boundaries of creativity. The ideologists of the TERRITORIЯ have jokingly called it an "explosion of the mind". Yevgeny Mironov, famous Russian actor and one of the Festival's creators, tells us more.

"Time flies – it is already the 5th Festival! So much has happened in this time. Last year the Festival went to the Ural region, to Perm, this year it's taking place in Moscow again. We think it would be great if the Festival became a regional event. "

This year the Festival's participants and audience will be treated to a stunningly multi-faceted meeting with Berlin. And this comes as no surprise. The entire team behind the TERRITORIЯ believes that Berlin today is a young city, hungry for renewal. It is a city where a huge number of different cultures coexists successfully. In this sense, a lot can be learned from Berlin. "TERRITORIЯ-2010" is called upon to become an extension of the cultural dialogue between the two cities. A representative of the German side – the director of the Goethe Cultural Institute in Moscow Johannes Ebert – can't conceal his excitement in anticipating a feast of modern-art delights prepared by Berlin.

"Last year we celebrated the 20-year anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall." he reminded. "This year, we celebrate the reunification of Germany, which is of great significance to the German people. Certainly, the Festival, which revolves around Moscow and Berlin, is a very important occasion for us. In my view, the program is very interesting and soundly represents the modern art scene in Berlin today."

Theater, music, cinema and documentary films (incidentally, for the first time at the TERRITORIЯ), exhibitions of theater production posters, master classes from leading Berlin actors, meetings with directors and theater historians, readings of modern German plays... TERRITORIЯ has yet to see such fireworks in terms of cultural events. Organizers encourage the audience to take part in everything: this is the only way to get a true sense of the modern art scene in Berlin and the TERRITORIЯ Festival itself.