3 cities, 5 locations, 14 days, 20 theatre performances, more than 30 accompanying programs, 600 participants. This is how this year's Colloquium of Ethnic Minority Theatre, which took place on October 18–31, shows in numbers. Organized by Figura Studio Theatre and Figura Society for the fourteenth time; this time in partnership with the Csíki Játékszín Theatre and Sándor Tomcsa Theatre. Until now according the longest two week theatre festival will feature performances, exhibitions, book launches, a book fair and children's activities.
The national theatre festival, known as Colloquium is taking place this year in a different way than usual, due to the renovation of the cultural center in Gheorgeni, the three theatres in Hargita county have been able to collaborate, so the festival will be stationed in Miercurea Ciuc and Odorheiu Secuiesc in addition to Gheorgeni. The festival consists of four parts: the first part takes place at the Gheorgheni Foundry and the Petőfi Sándor Cultural Centre in Alfalva between 18 and 20 October, the second part of the festival is hosted by the Tomcsa Sándor Theatre in Odorheiu Secuiesc from 21-24 October. The third part of the event takes place at the Csíki Játékszin in Miercurea Ciuc from 25-28 October and the final part between 29-31 October returns to Gheorgeni, this time to a different location, the Basilides Tibor Sports Hall.
The fourteenth edition of the festival is featuring the following performances:
Andrei Mureșanu Theatre (Sfântu Gheorghe), National Jewish Theatre (Bucharest), Csíki Játékszín (Miercurea Ciuc), Figura Studio Theatre (Gheorghe), Dezső Kosztolányi Theatre (Subotica, Serbia), National Theatre of Targu Mures - Tompa Miklós Company (Tirgu Mures), Radu Stanca National Theatre - German Section (Sibiu), Northern Theatre of Satu Mare - Harag György Company (Satu Mare), Szigligeti Theatre (Oradea), Tamási Áron Theatre (Sfântu Gheorghe), German State Theatre of Timisoara, Hungarian State Theatre of Timisoara (Timisoara), Tomcsa Sándor Theatre (Odorheiu Secuiesc), Theatre of Novi Sad (Serbia).
In addition to hungarian and german theatres, several independent theatre companies will also be presenting at the festival. The Arad Chamber Theatre, the Giuvlipen Theatre Company from Bucharest, the Waiting Room Project from Cluj-Napoca, the Yorick Studio from Tirgu Mures, the M Studio from Sfântu Gheorghe and the acting students of the Faculty of Theatre and Film of the Babeș-Bolyai University from Cluj-Napoca will also perform at the Colloquium.
The performances are available with romanian and/or hungarian subtitles and each performance is followed by an audience meeting. The organisers provides theatre-themed activities for the children during the entire duration of the programs.
This year's festival could not have happened without precious co-organizers: the Municipality of Miercurea Ciuc, the Theatre of Miercurea Ciuc and the Tomcsa Sándor Theatre of Odorheiu Secuiesc; the Government of Romania - Office of Interethnic Relations is the main partner, other partners are: the Petőfi Sándor Cultural Centre of Gheorghe and the Municipal Sports Club. The main sponsors of the Colloquium are: the European Union's #NextGenerationEU programme within the framework of the PNRR - National Recovery and Resilience Plan, the Ministry of Culture of Romania, the National Cultural Fund, the Mayor's Office of Gheorgheni, the RMDSZ and the Communitas Foundation, the Council of Harghita County and the Bethlen Gábor Fund.
Tickets for the Colloquium performances cost 30 lei, with student and pensioner tickets available at a discounted price of 20 lei. The festival season ticket costs 500 lei and includes all the theatre performances in the programme. For the stages in Odorheiu Secuiesc and Cluj-Napoca (4 to 4 performances) these cost 100 lei, while tickets for Gheorgheni (12 performances) cost 250 lei and include admission to the performances in the city. Participation in the accompanying programmes requires a valid theatre ticket also.
Tickets can be purchased from 9 October at www.kollokvium.figura.ro, at the theatre ticket offices in Cluj-Napoca and Odorheiu Secuiesc, and at the venues one hour before the performances. Information and reservations for performances in Gheorgheni: 0752-227-011 or org@figura.ro; for performances in Odorheiu Secuiesc: 0266-212-131 or for performances in Cluj-Napoca: 0748-168-506. The detailed programme will be available soon on the official website of the festival: https://kollokvium.figura.ro/
6 October 2023