SELECTION

OF THE 31st FESTIVAL OF ECOLOGICAL THEATRE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH

The Artistic Committee of the Festival of Ecological Theatre for Children and Youth (abbreviated as FEP in the following text) reviewed more than 100 applications from around the world, that is, 40 different countries, which arrived at the competition for the performances at the 31st FEP, and made the following selection:

• 1. BLUP?

  
  

  Kuskus Institute (Zavod Kuskus), Slovenia,
  Teatro al Quadrato,, Italy and
  Cankar Centre (Cankarjev dom), Slovenia
  
  Musical puppet show
  Target audience: 5-11 years old

  
  
  
  Suddenly, in the middle of an water experiment, the aquatic creature called Blup bursts into the laboratory and sets off on a puppet adventure together with the aquatic objects he meets along the way, who become characters in his adventure... Blup observes events and comes to the aid of anyone in need: he gives water to a thirsty dog, puts out a fire, waters a flower, and cleans up a mess.... However, the main question is - why do we only notice his kindness when he suddenly disappears?
  
  Concept and music: Peter Kus
  Directing: Peter Kus, Filip Šebšajevič and Gašper Lovrec
  Dramaturgy: Maria Giulia Campioli
  Animation consultants: Miha Arh, Filip Šebšajevič
  Puppet design: Katarína Caková
  Costume design: Iztok Hrga
  Scenography: Primož Mihevc
  Lighting design: Borut Bučinel
  
  Cast: Peter Kus, Filip Šebšajevič and Gašper Lovrec
  
  
  
  

• 2. MY TAIL AND ME / MÓJ OGON I JA

  
  

  Holobiont Collective and Performat Foundation,
  Żarów, Poland
  
  Interactive dance performance
  Target audience: 3+ years old

  
  
  
  ,,My tail and I” invites families to join the performers and experience the evolutionary process of human creation and learn about the animal nature of the human body, with a focus on what we have lost, but our ancestors had: the tail. This performance, based on a somatic approach to the body and movement, is an artistic response to one of the contemporary problems of civilization - prolonged sitting without movement, which often causes back pain, especially in the tailbone. One of the main goals of the performance is to deepen body awareness and encourage enjoyment of family dance together.
  
  Concept: Hanna Bylka-Kanecka
  Co-authors: Aleksandra Bożek-Muszyńska, Hanna Bylka-Kanecka, Dana Chmielewska, Wojciech Furman
  Choreography: Holobiont collective, in cooperation with Heike Kuhlmann, Adalisa Menghini and Ka Rustler
  Scenography: Mr. Tail
  Music: Józef Buchnajzer
  Lighting design:Łukasz Kędzierski, Ewa Garniec
  
  Cast: Aleksandra Bożek-Muszyńska, Hanna Bylka-Kanecka, Dana Chmielewska, Wojciech Furman
  
  The guest performance was realized with the help of the Polish Institute in Belgrade.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• 3. RIVER / ŘEKA

  
  

  Damúza Studio (Studio Damúza),
  Prague (Praha), Czechia / Czech Republic
  
  Puppet show
  Target audience: 2+ years old

  
  
  
  ,,River” is a play about nature that is performed in nature, and thus develops curiosity about this important topic for the youngest, in the best possible way.
  ,, When you go to the river, look around you. The river is an element, the river is a powerful force, the river is a source of water, the river is home to thousands of animals..”
  
  Director: Štěpán Gajdoš
  СScenography: Anna Gumboldt
  Music: Matěj Štrunc
  
  Cast: Sára Vosobová, Matouš Fendrych, Matěj Šumbera, Kryštof Grygar
  
  
  
  

• 4. ARCHIPELAGO

  
  

  Telaio Theater (Teatro Telaio) ,
  Brescia, Italy
  
  Interactive theater installation
  Target audience: 7-12 years old

  
  
  
  ,,Archipelago” is an interactive theater installation that comes to life when children, guided by symbols and metaphors, immerse themselves in it and activate it with their actions.. One by one, they enter a dark space where they find a small archipelago made up of many islands: tiny luminous points scattered across the floor (the sea), each able to accommodate only one of them. In front of each island is a message with a suggestive question or symbolic request - some installations offer interaction, while others are for contemplation only. Every child is free to express themselves however they wish, and is encouraged to find their own answer. When the experience on one island is over, each child moves on to a new location, looking for the next island to explore...
  
  Concept and dramaturgy:Angelo Facchetti and Francesca Franzè
  Scenography: Giuseppe Luzzi
  Costume design: Laura Montefusco
  Sound design: Alessandro Calabrese
  Stage setting: Erika Natati
  
  The guest performance was realized with the help of the Italian Cultural Institute in Belgrade.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• 5. ASHIK WANTS TO TELL YOU A STORY / گل آشیق سنه ناغیل دئسین

  
  

  Hojjat Zeinali ,
  Tabriz, Iran
  
  Interactive performance in the form of visual storytelling
  Target audience: 4-8 years old

  
  
  
  This interactive performance, with an innovative form, combines Azerbaijani tradition with modern technology to weave a magical tapestry of stories in celebration of the power of storytelling. "Ashik wants to tell you a story" with paper puppets, which the performer animates with his hands. The main character Ashik - a traditional storyteller of Turkish culture - introduces children to the world of imagination through five simple but diverse stories and reminds them that anyone can become a storyteller by using the materials and objects at their disposal. After such imaginative storytelling, children's hearts are left filled, imaginative, and empowered with the belief: "I can do it!"
  
  Director: Хођат Зеинали (Hojjat Zeinali)
  Composition: Parham Javadi
  Puppets and visual identity: Vaghar Aghaei
  
  Cast: Hojjat Zeinali
  
  
  
  

• 6. CHAKWAJA / ČAKWÁJA

  
  

  Damuza Studio (Studio Damúza),
  Prague (Praha), Czechia / Czech Republic
  
  Puppet and interactive show
  Target audience: 3+ years old

  
  
  
  The interactive play ,,Chakwaya" takes place in nature, through walks with a little Indian girl, Chakwaya, who sets out on a journey to find water. This playful show takes children to an Indian village, a river, and deep into the forest where they will explore the elements of nature with Chakvaja, meet animal guides, and engage in the story through games, rhythms, and rituals..
  
  Director: Nikola Isaković
  Scenography: Jana Nunčič
  Cast: Jana Štíplová and Andrea Krejčová
  
  
  
  

• 7. SEX FOR BEGINNERS

  
  

  Youth Theatre
  Novi Sad, Serbia
  
  Dramatic performance
  Target audience: 13+ years old

  
  
  
  In an increasingly conservative society, teenagers have fewer and fewer opportunities to learn important information about sex from adults, experts, caring and experienced people. They are mostly left to themselves, their peers, and unfiltered content from the internet. Regardless of the fact that at their age, the peer environment is the most important, it is necessary to talk about sex freely, but also professionally, in order to introduce young people to this part of growing up in the healthiest possible way. The retrograde nature of the ruling ideology is still delaying the introduction of sex education in schools, as it is difficult to accept long-acquired rights and freedoms. Our children already know a lot about this aspect and accept everything with ease, but, paradoxically, they remain deprived of basic information regarding biological, physiological and emotional components, as well as safety… The ,,Sex for beginners”play, based on the book of the same name by Jasminka Petrović, intends to change that.
  
  Director: Jana Maričić
  Dramatization: Jelena Mijović
  Scenography: Milica Surutka
  Costume design: Biljana Grgur
  Composition: Božidar Obradinović
  Stage movement: Igor Greksa
  
  Cast: Ksenija Mitrović, Marija Radovanov, Aleksandar Milković, Vučen Vuk Pećanac and Đorđe Mitrović.
  
  





• 8. BEETLE / PUPA

  
  

  Maribor Puppet Theatre / Lutkovno gledališče Maribor,
  Maribor, Slovenia
  
  Puppet show
  Target audience: 2+ years old

  
  
  
  This play introduces us to Pupa, who says goodbye to her little sisters after receiving a mysterious letter and sets off on a journey alone. Her journey is exciting, sometimes even dangerous, but during it Pupa learns new things and discovers new feelings. This is a play for the youngest that will bring nature closer to children, playfully, as only theater can do.
  
  Director: Katja Povše
  Dramaturgy: Tanja Lužar
  Scenography: Andreja Peklar
  Composition: Andrej Hrvatin
  
  Cast: Barbara Jamšek and Uroš Kaurin
  
  





• 9. YOU’RE MY SISTER, SOEUR

  
  

  “in Vitro” Company / Compagnie in Vitro,
  Reims, France
  
  Choreographic drama
  Target audience: 12+ years old

  
  
  
  This duo-choreodrama explores the memories of our emotional relationships, both those that exist and those that no longer exist, as well as those that never existed but still form our foundations. The choreographic basis for this performance are three photographs of the author and her late sister from the period of their joyful and carefree childhood. The ,,You’re my sister, soeur” play invites the audience to rediscover memories of their free and joyful bodies.
  
  Concept and directing: Marine Mane
  Composition: Franky Gogo and Nuage Rose
  Choreography: Sophie Billon and Clemence Dieny
  Lighting design: Lucien Valle
  
  Cast: Sophie Billon and Clemence Dieny
  
  
  The guest performance was realized in cooperation with the French Institute in Serbia and the Teatroskop regional program.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• 10. HOW LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD SURVIVED THE WOLF FOR THE SECOND TIME

  
  

  The group "Let's...",
  Belgrade, Serbia
  
  Interactive inclusive performance
  Target audience: 10-12 years old

  
  
  
  ,, How Little Red Riding Hood Survived the Wolf for the Second Time” “is not just a show — it's an invitation to a conversation that's long overdue. It is inspired by the audiobook of the same name from the series "Twisted Stories" but in this version, Little Red Riding Hood is a teenage girl who is dealing with a repressed memory – an experience of sexual violence from early childhood. Uncovering her long-suppressed trauma, her journey to her grandmother becomes an inner journey of healing and personal transformation. The performance combines audio narration, acting, movement and dialogue with the audience within the form of a ,,relaxed” performance - an open, adaptable approach in which audience reactions are not constrained, but become part of the stage flow.
  "This play calls for caution and prevention of violence against children, but it also offers compassion and answers to those who have unfortunately already been subjected to such harm. Therefore, my message as a developmental psychologist is that this play needs to find its way to the audience and that it is important for everyone who is in a position to give their support." (From a review by Ivana Stepanović Ilić)
  During the performance, all spoken and audio parts are translated into Serbian Sign Language, and the performance is followed by a discussion with the audience in the form of a workshop.
  
  Directing and dramaturgy: Marko Pejović (in collaboration with the performers)
  Original music: Katarina Ranković
  Costume design: Boris Čakširan
  Dance teacher: Isidora Stanišić
  Drama teacher: Đorđe Živadinović Grgur
  Lighting design: Milica Babić
  
  Cast: Anđela Žugić, Ana Obradović, Miloš Janjić , Isidora Poledica
  Voice: Vladislava Đorđević
  
  
  The performance was hosted in collaboration with the Independent Culture Festival "On Our Own Power", organized by the Association of the Independent Cultural Scene of Serbia, and supported by the Heinrich Böll Foundation (Heinrich Böll Stiftung)..
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

The general sponsor of the festival is the company INCANTO INDUSTRIES LLC.

The 31st Festival of Ecological Theatre for Children and Youth was supported by the European Union within the project “EU for the Green Agenda in Serbia.” This project, with the financial support of the European Union and in partnership with the Ministry of Environmental Protection, is implemented by UNDP, in cooperation with Sweden and the European Investment Bank (EIB), with additional funding provided by the governments of Sweden, Switzerland, and Serbia.