International
DAW is active in promoting amateur theatre in Wales on an international basis.
Through its membership of the International Theatre Exchange (the GB National Centre of the world amateur theatre association known as AITA/IATA) we can also be instrumental if your group is interested in:
- taking a production overseas
- exchanging a production with another country
- attending an international theatre festival or course
In recent years, DAW has assisted with the selection of groups from Wales to represent the UK at both the Liverpool International Theatre Festival (Canada) and Mondial du Théâtre (Monaco). Find out more about our
recent international activity.
FEATS
DAW also maintains a close relationship with FEATS: the
Festival of European Anglophone Theatrical Societies. For information about FEATS history, and how it works, take a look at
Teresa's article from Spring 2009 DAWN magazine. (Word document)
Update for the 2011 FEATS Festival
The 35th Annual FEATS Festival will take place over four nights from 10th to 13th June 2011 in Geneva, Switzerland.
The festival takes place through the medium of English and along with the Brits there are people of all nationalities in the various groups. Although British groups are not eligible to take part in the main festival, they can appear at the ‘Fringe’, which is a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining event in its own right. The venue in 2011 will be at Forum Meyrin, Geneva.
For more information please contact Teresa at DAW: teresa@dramawales.org.uk or go to the FEATS 2011 Website
Recent Activity
DAW works in partnership with amateur theatre organisations from overseas organising international events such as the recent Shakespeare Today master class led by Michael Bogdanov.
As a result of international relationships developed in recent years, DAW embarked on an ambitious project in partnership with the following organisations: OPENDOEK the Flemish Amateur Theatre organisation, JSKD the Republic of Slovenia Public Fund for Cultural Activities and the England based members of the Little Theatre Guild.
The project offered sixteen actors the opportunity to attend a week-long residential International Shakespeare Master class in Ghent, Belgium led by theatre legend Michael Bogdanov - four actors each from Wales, Flanders, Slovenia and England.
Participants to the course were recruited through open application process in each participating country. Participants funded their travel to and from Ghent but the cost of accommodation and meals in a university hostel was met by the organisers.
The working language of the course was English but Mr Bogdanov aimed to use all the languages available within the group of actors in the final piece which was performed as a work in progress before an audience.
The broad criteria for participation were for actors who were:
- experienced actors committed to acting in the amateur environment
- able to work quickly and to assimilate easily into a group
- feel comfortable putting on a performance at the end of the week
- able and willing to use their experience within their home groups and perhaps take their knowledge even wider.
The Shakespeare master class was part of a larger theatre festival in Ghent. The Landjuweelfestival, which ran from 29th October to 2nd November 2008. The process took place at the Tinnenpot Theatre, Ghent and the resulting performance piece was presented there before a capacity audience.
