XXX International Theatre Festival "White Vezha" solemnly opened in Brest

Today, on September 10, on the embankment of Francisk Skaryna in Brest, the XXX International Theatre Festival “White Vezha” opened. The start of the anniversary forum was given in the open air, and after the ceremony, the State Academic Theater of Classical Ballet named after N. Kasatkina and V. Vasilev from Moscow presented “Swan Lake”, the correspondent of sb.by reports.

The history of "White Vezha" began in Brest in 1996. The first festival was held on the initiative of the Honored Artist of the Republic of Belarus, winner of the National Theatre Award Alexander Kozak. For three decades, the forum brought together artists from more than 60 countries, and 770 performances were shown at its venues.

This year, the anniversary "White Vezha" will be held from 10 to 19 September. The theme is “White Vezha – 30 years together!” The gold fund of the festival”. In Brest invited teams that in different years have become laureates of the forum and have already won the recognition of its public. At the same time, the participants will present new productions, so the anniversary program will not be a repetition of previous posters, but a continuation of the general festival history.

About what place "White Vezha" took in the cultural life of the country, spoke at the opening ceremony. The participants, organizers, guests and spectators were welcomed by the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Belarus Marat Markov, who admitted that he came to the festival for the first time both as a minister and as a spectator:

- I am very happy to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the White Vezha with you today. Over the years, the festival has not just taken place – it has become one of the most significant theatrical events of our country. It is especially exciting for me to be here for the first time and speak in front of my fellow countrymen. I come from Luninets district, since childhood I often visited Brest and always treated this city with special warmth, Marat Markov said.

The Minister of Culture read out the welcome address of the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko. It was noted that over the years of its existence, “White Vezha” has become a significant event in the cultural life of the country and a meeting place for talented stage artists from different countries. The head of state expressed confidence that the anniversary festival will find a wide response in the hearts of the audience, fill the halls with sincere emotions and deserved applause. The welcome address was handed over to the director of the International Theatre Festival “White Vezha” Alexander Kozak. Alexander Lukashenko: I am sure that the anniversary “White Vezha” will find a wide response in the hearts of the audience For 30 years, the festival has become an important part of the cultural biography of not only Brest, but also the entire region. This idea was continued by Deputy Chairman of the Brest Regional Executive Committee Viktor Rafalovich, who addressed the participants and spectators from the stage:

The thirty-year history of the International Theatre Festival “White Vezha” is not just a journey, but a serious page in the culture of Brest region and the whole Republic of Belarus. Over the years, on the stages of the region, the audience saw many talented artists and original directorial decisions. I am sure that the festival will give us many new names, bright performances and sincere emotions, and its participants will receive deserved recognition and applause from the public.

Viktor Rafalovich conveyed a welcome address from the Chairman of the Brest Regional Executive Committee Petr Parkhomchik to the General Director of the Brest Academic Drama Theater Anna Senkovets.

The international history of “White Vezha” consists not only of performances, but also of professional ties that arise between theaters of different countries. It is about the unifying power of the stage in his video address said the People's Artist of Russia, Chairman of the Union of Theatre Workers of Russia Vladimir Mashkov:

- For 30 years, the White Vezha has become truly legendary. 770 performances, artists from more than 60 countries are a vivid proof that the theater unites. I want theatrical ties between our countries to strengthen, so that we exchange experience and move along the path of development together. I wish the festival prosperity, the participants - inspiration, and the audience - unforgettable impressions.

Now the anniversary history of the festival will continue on stage. For ten days, Brest will host theater groups from different countries, and the program will meet various genres, national traditions and directorial schools.

The first to speak to the audience was the language of classical ballet. After the official ceremony, the artists of the State Academic Theater of Classical Ballet named after N. Kasatkina and V. Vasilyov came to the stage, installed at the water itself. The Moscow troupe presented “Swan Lake” to the music of Peter Tchaikovsky.

The choice of production and venue gave the opening a special symbolism. Familiar to the whole world history came to life not in the theater hall, but on the city embankment, where the water and the evening sky over Brest became natural scenery.

So the XXX International Theatre Festival began its ten-day program. Congratulations and welcoming words were replaced by Tchaikovsky’s music, and the promenade named after Francisk Skaryna turned into a large open-air theater for one evening.