A-FESTIVAL 2024

THE WORLD'S A CIRCUS!

october 10th-12th

A-festival is an international festival of independent theatres and student theatres that started in 2012.

The purpose of A-festival is to convene foreign collectives from the edges of the theatrical world, professional and recreational, state-budget and project-based, text- and movement-based, narrative and compositional, psychological and formalist, and bring them together with the local theatre audience. Being part of the network of student theatres, our goal is also to popularise the activity of student theatres in Estonia and to introduce this culture more closely.

programme

Tartu Student Theatre
"Encounters"

October 10th at 19:00
Kalevi 24, Tartu

TICKETS

People are born. They learn about the world and each other – they meet. They encounter other people, but also problems and questions. They learn about beauty and pain, happiness and misfortune. Despite it all, they strive to remain true to themselves. These are the stories of our young members.

“Encounters” is a production based on etudes and lessons learned in the studio. The stories, ideas and problems brought forth by our young actors and actresses are woven into a non-verbal, but in essence a narrative and psychological collage. Through physical theatre and drawing from the experiences of the troupe, the play reveals what’s on our young people’s minds today.

Additionally, the play showcases the studio work and development at Tartu University Theater, where the young troupe has dedicated an entire year to their craft. From mastering acting techniques to shaping ideas and staging exercises, the audience gains insight into the personal and creative aspects of Tartu University Theater and its young generation.

Direction: Jörgen Sinka, Peeter Piiri & troupe
Sound and lighting design: Jörgen Sinka
Scenic design: Peeter Piiri
Technical consultant: Enor Niinemägi
Cast: Eliise Renser, Heli Piht, Ilona Jalkanen, Karina Reisi, Kerstin Loit, Kerstin Üksvärav, Oskar Piik, Rudo Verner Vallner, Sandra Tinnuri

Directing: Matteo Spiazzi

Performers: Arno Uhl, André Reitter, Bernhard Zandl

Music: Roxanne Szankovich

Light and Sound: Stefan Kubalek

Production: Arno Uhl

Speaker: Linda Holly (German Version), Livia Heiß (English Version)

Choreografy: Arno Uhl, André Reitter, Bernhard Zandl
Outside Eye: Michael Zandl, Katharina Nelböck-Hochstetter, Sebastian Berger
Props and scenery: Bernhard Zandl, Michael Zandl
Photography: Natali Glisic, Marcus Wollmuth
Video: Liisa Sadovnik

Dada Zirkus
"Genesis"

October 10th & 11th at 21:00
Magasini 5, Tartu

TICKETS

The modern circus theater from Austria that won the hearts of the Tartu audience three years ago is here again! The much-acclaimed Dada Zirkus talks about life and being through the prism of humor and acrobatic tricks.

All religions have their own creation myth. Now the Dada Circus has one too. According to the most important theologians, it is already among the ten most plausible creation stories of the universe.

With "Genesis", Dada Circus is bringing its third surreal circus play and its own version of the history of origin to stage. Specially composed live music, acrobatics and juggling merge with physical theatre and puppetry to create a circensian masterpiece; somewhere between slapstick and poetry.

Three higher beings with one goal: To create life in order to immortalise themselves. The absurd foundation for a bizarre and clownish undertaking has been laid. They stumble inexorably from one failure to the next and find their own role in the process. But if the world shapes them and not they the world, what then distinguishes them from humans and their destructive struggle for control? Giving life and taking life are two sides of the same omnipotence fantasy. As we know, after pride comes the fall, but what comes after that?

VU Kinetic Theatre
"Hommo in Maxima"

October 11th at 19:00 Kalevi 24, Tartu

TICKETS

VU Kinetic Theatre dance performance "Hommo in Maxima" is an experiment that tries to cover the evolution of four values after Lithuania’s accession to the European Union. Love, affection, safety and understanding of the meaning of life. Maybe we call love just a fun party experience? Maybe affection is just addiction to brands and safety is granted in- and out-group squabbles. Then we should not look for meaning, because it is buried under the gravestone of artificial intelligence, answers and feelings of personal redundancy.

Deus ex machina is dead. Now starts the formation of hommo ex machina situation, which seeks to become an emotionally complete instruction for use. Values are superseded by a written codex of “life” - administrational instructions. They are squeezed in an Excel spreadsheet in clamps of mandatory productivity. This fits our mandatory criteria. Alas, it does not care for honesty. Thus, it degenerates into Hommo in Maxima.

Flame Rain Theatre
&
Fire Theatre Zerkala
"Big flames
and little disasters!"

October 12th at 19:00
Tartu Town Hall Square

“Big flames and little disasters!” is a unique mixture of a breathtaking fire show at the highest level with clownish humour and theatre. It was specially developed for street art festivals with a lot of passion and dedication.

Flame Rain Theatre impresses in each moment with a rich variety of skills. In one moment explosive acrobatics and special effects take away the breath. In the next moment the poetry of harmonious dance choreographies enchant the audience. Continuously the show gets interrupted by little disasters and cheeky audience interactions.

A fire show is a beautiful but also dangerous performance. It requires high precision and concentration. Jokes normally don’t belong there, and specially no pranks

or accidents. But luckily things don’t always turn out the way they are supposed to. And even if the stage and the performers are set on fire, one thing is clear:

THE SHOW MUST GO ON!

During the show, artists from the local Fire Theatre Zerkala will take the stage to add even more spice to the performance. Zerkala has been active in Tartu for over ten years, offering professional fire performances across Estonia. Their acts are based on colourful characters and tell captivating stories through fire and dance elements.
Note! The show is free for the audience, but donations, both in cash and via online link, are highly appreciated!