Liverpool, NS – A palpable excitement is in the air as the town of Liverpool
makes final preparations for the 9th biennial Liverpool International
Theatre Festival (LITF 2008). Months of planning and hard work will
culminate on May 14 when the highly anticipated festival opens at the
historic Astor Theatre. The festival will take place from May 14 - 18 and,
with performances from renowned theatre troupes from around the globe, is
sure to offer something for everyone.
Artistic Director Chris Heide has scoured the world amateur theatre scene to
present an unprecedented line-up of first time visitors. From Yarmouth to
Inverness, Nova Scotia’s best community theatres will also be showcased.
Theatre groups from around the world will compete for prizes in the
following categories: Best International Production, Best Canadian
Production, Best Director, Best Visual Presentation, Best Actor/Actress,
Best Supporting Actor/Actress, and the ever-popular People’s Choice Award.
This year, LITF 2008 is also pleased to announce a new award, “Best Original
Script," to honour outstanding playwrights.
In addition to enthralling performances from Asia, Europe and North America,
two of this year's more intriguing entries hail from the Middle East. The
Al-Khareef Theatre Troupe from Damascus, Syria is centered on performers
Nawar Bulbul and Ramez Alaswad. Working together to evolve their own
performance material, Bulbul and Alaswad have developed a new creation, “The
Solitary.” The Open Theater from Jerusalem, Israel meanwhile, is a company
new to international festivals, bringing celebrated American playwright
Arthur Miller’s modern classic, “A View From the Bridge.”
From Europe come two dynamic companies. The Theatre Association Partizanske
from Slovakia has had tremendous success with “The Dreams, Wings and
Hurricane Dog” by Jozef Krasula and Ivan Hanzlik. This was presented in
Glasgow, Newcastle, Birmingham and London in 1997 and, more recently, in
Holland, Germany and Spain. The company also toured Switzerland, Mexico,
Japan, Denmark, Finland, Germany and Yugoslavia and was featured at the
AITA/IATA festival of amateur theatre in Turkish Ankara and at the XII World
Amateur Theatre Festival in Monaco. THAG-Theater Fellbach from Germany
presents the Festival’s only musical, “Bluebird,” an adaptation after Lola
Blau with music from Georg Kreisler and John Kander. Like others new to the
festival, THAG-Theater Fellbach is a veteran of touring.
Internationals performing in English include the Blackwood Little Theatre
from Gwent, Wales and the Port Tobacco Players from Maryland, USA. Blackwood
presents “Fancying Sheep” by Vic Mills, a finalist in the Wales amateur
competition in 2007 and winner of the ‘Crawshay Cup’ for best new writing.
Representing the USA will be the Port Tobacco Players from Maryland.
However, their entry has a distinctly Canadian origin. “Never Swim Alone”
was written by Cape Breton's Daniel MacIvor. MacIvor, a playwright, actor,
and director in theatre and in film, is likely our province’s most
frequently produced playwright, with scripts in almost continual rotation in
theatres across Canada. “Never Swim Alone” is a haunting experience that
takes audiences through a gambit of emotions as they witness the lives of
two lifelong friends who have based their relationship on petty competitions
while avoiding the dark secrets of their past.
Alongside the international roster, five equally impressive Nova Scotia
companies have been invited. Since LITF is the province’s principal
celebration of amateur theatre, it is fitting that the Theatre Arts Guild
(TAG) of Halifax makes an appearance. Founded in 1931, TAG is Canada’s
oldest community theatre. It will present Harold Pinter’s “The Lover.” Also
from Nova Scotia, Wolfville's Red Rock Theatre Company will present “The
Loner” by Dean Taylor, and The Yarmouth Drama Society will contribute “I
Ain't Dead Yet!” by Christopher Heide. A new voice from Cape Breton, the
Centre Stage Players of Inverness, brings "Cobbler, Stick to Thy Last" by
Kay Hill.
Finally, the host company, Winds of Change (WOC) of Liverpool, returns with
a presentation of Act 1 from "Voices from the Titanic” by Pat Cook. WOC
captured Outstanding Canadian Production for “A Promise is a Promise” at
LITF 2006. They have traveled across Canada and internationally, receiving
critical acclaim and awards for their work.
The director of the Sarwanam Theatre Group of Nepal, Ashesh Malla, will be a
unique presence at the 2008 Liverpool International Theatre Festival. Mr.
Malla will present an example of his work as part of the opening ceremonies
for LITF on the evening of May 14.
This year, the festival is privileged to feature Martha Irving and
Christopher Shore as adjudicators for this internationally acclaimed event.
Martha Irving is an acclaimed actor, teacher and director who has earned
vumerous disctinctions including the Best Theatre Actress Award (2006) by
The Coast Magazine. In Nova Scotia, she has worked for Neptune Theatre,
Ship's Company, Festival Antigonish, Atlantic Theatre Festival, and Mulgrave
Road Co-op.
Christopher Shore is a well-known professional actor and playwright. The
Executive Director of Theatre Nova Scotia, he has more than 19 years of
experience in the artistic and administrative aspects of professional
theatre. A graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada’s acting
program, Shore has appeared in theatres across Canada such as the Tarragon
Theatre, Theatre Passe Muraille, The Globe Theatre, Persephone Theatre, and
The National Arts Centre to name a few.
Further information on the LITF 2008 lineup can be found at the website
www.litf.ca www.litf.ca> . Click on the TIX HUB button to be
redirected to online booking. Tickets are also available through The Astor
Theatre by phone (902.354.5250) or at the Box Office (open Monday to Friday
10 a.m. - 4 p.m).
