European Co-operation Day in Timisoara – Virtual Theatre – Cultural Bridge 2 October 2013
The European Cooperation Day will take place for the second time this year on 26th September, 2013 in the framework of the Hungary-Romania Cross-Border Co-operation Programme 2007-2013, where an extraordinary event is organized by the Gergely Csiky Hungarian State Theatre of Timisoara and Inno-Motive Nonprofit Ltd. of Szeged. The play entitled Alice (based on the manuscript by Lewis Carroll) was adapted for stage by the E-THEATRUM project team.
The simultaneous theatre production linked via the Internet was first performed on 10th June 2013 in Timisoara and Szeged. The 24 young people acting in the play received intense art training in mentoring lessons.
The play will be performed again on the European Co-operation Day at 4.00 p.m. on 26th September in the Great Hall of the Gergely Csiky Hungarian State Theatre of Timisoara. The young Romanian and Hungarian talents will be separated by the wall and a window, just like in Wonderland. The audience, the same way as in the famous novel written by Lewis Carroll, will be seated on the two sides of the “mirror”, where the events happening on both sides can be followed in English. The novel adapted to stage by Emőke Kedves is made really magical by the music composed by Tibor Cári and performed by children’s choirs with live by an ensemble. Due to virtual technology the play can also be watched online.
The objective of the E-THEATRUM project is to establish a “cultural bridge” that allows for a new way of communication and contact between the theatre and the audience by connecting Hungarian and Romanian talented actors, actresses, producers, e-trainers and the audience. The methodology of the project is an excellent example to demonstrate how connections can be made, strengthened and maintained between the two countries with the support of information and communications technology, which is the essential element and also the basis of the co-operation.
The European Co-operation Day, which builds on the slogan “Sharing borders, growing closer”, wishes to draw attention to the advantages of the co-operation of border regions. The campaign is coordinated - in cooperation with the European Commission - by the INTERACT Programme providing practical support, training and consultancy for European territorial cooperation programmes and also supported by the Committee of the Regions and the European Parliament.
The Hungary-Romania Cross-Border Co-operation Programme 2007-2013 has joined the initiative with the special theatre performance and various project events addressing a wide audience including, of course, children and families.
On the same day events focusing on connecting border communities will be organized in several European countries. For further information on the events and a few examples of cross-border co-operation please visit www.ecday.eu.