Ekaterina Mazmishvili,
General Manager of Tbilisi International Festival of Theatre,
She talks about <Woyzeck> and <Pallae>.

Unique movement synchronized and refined to details, highest creativity with almost minimalist ways of expression - this is what we watched on the stage in Woyzek, by Sadari Movement Lab in Tbilisi, Georgia. This was a first meeting of Georgian audience with Korean Theater and quite successful – we discovered a whole new world of innovative, very energetic and confident artists. The circumstances in life of a man leading to a tragic end for him and closest people around him, was conveyed to audience in a special atmosphere of despair though little text but movement. Each gesture  of actors were increasing the tension, combined with very special lighting, music and text , the performance as a whole, left  each of spectators very emotional with the story.

                                          

                                                       <Woyzeck> by Sadari Movement Laboratory


SADARI MOVEMENT LAB created and produced the performance about the world that is cruel and can discourage and ruin soul. But it was done with great discretion, with deep understanding how fragile human’s mind  and soul is, where spectators undergoes the whole contradictions  in feelings of  Woyzek with himself, trying to follow the human in his endeavors to contradict life difficulties. But he never won.  He is not only guilty; he is a victim at the same time. 

There is no cruelty in PALLAE Womanhood story - there is only beauty of women, beauty of life, grace ness of movements that brings the audience to a unique world of Korean women, opens their poetic and very pure world. Simple daily routine is presented in most beautiful scope and we follow the beautiful women towards their world. The movements, the scenes are revealing completely different aesthetics of movement and stage art.

What we really aspire  with TBILISI INTERNATIONAL Festival OF THATRE, apart from our  professional aims and goals,  is to celebrate human with his/her wish to make world and life better. We think that Korean theater world that was a new discovery for the Georgian and International audience, contributed to this idea exactly.

The first edition of TBS INTERNATIONAL was the first host of Korean Performances in Georgia. The Festival was established in 2009 by Municipality of Tbilisi. 

The Festival consists of International program a Georgian Show Case. It is annual and is held in late September until Mid October every year. With modern, popular and intelligent programming we show that theater has no boundaries.

With the Festival TBILISI INTERNATIONAL, we will try to become one interesting and challenging member of Festival’s big Family in world, connect artists with each other, and became good partner for all theaters, performing arts groups and theater professionals. 

We think that the Festival can give birth to new cooperative projects, new ideas, conversations, stories and even tendencies!  Yes, something new is a driving force, a new source of inspiration that which we personally and as institutions or as group of colleagues are looking for.

Usually, the festival is working routine for the companies, but we think to make it more celebration of Theatre and create special atmosphere for participants. It is impossible otherwise - Tbilisi is indeed very special city. With its 15 centuries of history, Tbilisi always, even in most difficult times, was famous for its hospitality, warmth, artistic people and atmosphere even in daily life. 

With TBILISI INTERNATIONAL we will endeavor to be understood as a celebration of Tbilisi - as one of the most attractive, diverse, beautiful and theatrical cities in the world!

Right now we are in preparation for second edition of Festival. Certainly, it is very difficult but at the same time quite exciting period. What we are going to get, how we are going to surprise audience in 2010?  It is a big responsibility again. We are not going to suggest our taste to audience, however, it happens even not deliberately, we rather think to suggest to audience to think together with theater professionals and consider the meaning and role of theatre in our lives, the whole new breath of theater art in the new age, the role of human creativity in development of life and future.

In the end, we would like to say, that we had pleasure in working with KAMS, with artists and everybody, who participate in whole process starting from the first “hello” until “goodbye”. Definitely, we want to see you again in Tbilisi.

Ekaterina Mazmishvili, Manager, Tbilisi International Festival of Theatre

MA in Arts (History of Arts and Architecture)

Born in Tbilisi, Georgia. Graduated from Tbilisi State University and Prague Central European University as an art historian, critics. Diploma works in History of Contemporary Arts. Even some projects, done in past, are several exhibitions or events with contemporary Georgian Artists (amongst them summer residencies in Georgia, Exhibition of Modern Georgian Arts in World Bank USA), her professional development and basic work is mostly related to management. The first experience was with the Basement Theatre -  the first independent performing arts space in Tbilisi. Since 1998 till 2005 she was general manager of the Basement. In 2006 the artistic and management group was invited to Marjanishvili State Drama Theatre and they run the theatre till now. In 2009, she was appointed the general manager of TBILISI INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF THEATRE. The Festival is managed by the board of advisors and small group of management team.