The Liverpool International Theatre Festival will bring a dozen theatre troupes from across the globe to the Astor Theatre stage this fall.
LITF artistic directors Andrew Bursey and Jon Paterson unveiled the list of competitors for the biennial festival today.
It includes some old fan favourites like a Chinese opera troupe and a group from Wales.
Liverpool’s own Winds of Change Dramatic Society will also compete with an original play – Oliver’s Bench by local Greg Tutty, which will be performed without words.
Tutty’s entry marks his second original play to enter the festival.
Paterson says the festival will have a lot of the same crowd pleasers from previous years.
“There are going to be late night parties, coffee critiques, award ceremony, opening ceremony, school performances, and workshops.”
One of those workshops will be headed up by drama teacher Richard Finch, who has attended in the past.
He’ll be joined by an African choreographer as well.
“And there is a troupe from Central African Republic that’s coming as well and there’s going to be some tie in with that,” says Paterson.
Participating troupes are also coming from Iran, Egypt, China, Bangladesh, Nepal, Argentina, and two troupes are coming from Mexico.
The troupes will present one act plays for audiences, and an adjudicator who will mark their performances.
The plays are generally performed in either a troupe’s native tongue or English.
The audience is provided a written synopsis for non-English plays, though they often can be understood without.
This year’s festival takes place October 18 – 21.
That’s a departure from their usual spring time date.
The move was announced several months ago in an aim to broaden the festival’s audience base.
Liverpool has hosted the festival since its creation in 1992.
For more information head to the LITF website.
Story by Brittany Wentzell
@BrittWentzell
