review 32nd International mime festival 2014
The 32nd International Mime Festival Dresden took place from 6-9. November 2014. With many satisfied guests, artists, paticipants, spectators and organizers, this festival joins the long portrait gallery of Dresden Mime Festival. Shortly after moving to a new venue and without some of the most experienced staff the organizers were nervous, the festival this year could connect to the successes of previous years. In retrospect, however, it has exceeded all expectations.
It is a tradition that the ensemble of Mimenstudio opens the festival with its latest production. That was this year A Respectable Wedding by Brecht. It was directed by Ralf Herzog and is demanding for the performers as the audience sits on multiple sites. But with a clear delineation of character and plenty of wit, the Mimenbühne was able to present itself very well. On the following days, the guests had the (silent) word. With the three performances "Confused in Syracuse", "Pronk" and "Push the Button" the audience definitely get their money's worth. Especially for the professional audience, it was an interesting compilation, as there was a piece in pre- Marceau-style, one in classic Marceu style and a very contemporary shown. This inspired many interesting discussions of how to classify the pantomime history and how the future of the art form might look like. Furthermore, four workshops were held which covered the whole range from the comical to the grotesque performing style in mime. Ralf Herzog started with the comic acting in mime. In theory and with numerous practical examples and exercises he made the topic accessible to the the participants. During the two following days, the opposite pole was examined in detail. Eric Wilcox prepared with his stage presence workshop on the theme of the grotesque acting before that was examined in detail on Saturday by OPS theater from St.Petersburg. On the last day the workshop by Ralf Herzog thought improvised theater. The culmination of the festival was then the closing gala in which all artists have performed together forgetting all language barriers. The joint improvisation was admired by audience as well as performers who had have much joy. The organizing committee would like to thank for the successful Festival to its partners, the artists and sponsors as well as the woderful audience. We hope to see you all again.
33
rd International mime theater meeting Dresden
November 5.-8. 2015
International mime review 2013
picture: PR
The 31st International Mime Festival ended furiously with the traditional closing improvisation. Together with Ralf Herzog and his ensemble all the artists of the festival performed together. The audience send them to China, to a sword fight, to a concert rehearsal and many other adventurous places. They have been accompanied both spontaneously and stimulating at the piano by Bürge Terlan. This event was not the only one in the course of the festival, when the artists of the different groups performed together . Even on the eve of the “mime summit”, the audience could enjoy the full range of our guests within one presentation. For this summit they have received a packet with several props. All were given a rope, a sock , a spoon , a flower and an envelope. The starting point was therefore the same for everyone. The more exciting it was to observe the differences that emerged in the stories and the playing. This "mime summit" was a highlight for the audience as well as the actors.
Even before the German -American duo MMR had entertained the Saturday night audience. Their mix of cheerful and philosophical scenes has thrilled the spectators. Teatr Nikoli from Krakow had a lot to do at the festival. They gave a workshop and contributed to the Summit, participated in the improv night and showed two performances. The first was on Friday night. "The smile of women" conjured up a smile on the faces of the audience - men and women. On Saturday morning, Teatr Nikoli has been on stage of Theatre House Rudi again. With their very colorful and vibrant piece "Maruczella" they (not only) aimed at children made the Dresden audience laughing before lunch. The performance "De Architectura" went beyond the boundaries of pantomime. The Italian Jobel Theatre cooperated with the American mime Gregg Goldston and the Indian dancer Dipika Das. They showed a reminiscence the history of architecture. From ancient sculpture they came to modern high-rise and highlighted the interaction of human and technical evolution. Different spheres of life need different buildings. For example religious buildings, cinemas, living houses etc. were built. Goldston played the visionary architect Vitruvius next to construction workers, home builders, movie heroes and many more. The festival was opened by the Mimenbühne ensemble. With their "Kaleidoscope of never happened" they showed a premiere of studies on absurd, but not unthinkable episodes and incidents. The organizing team, even if exhausted now, thanks all the guests, artists and volunteers who are greeted at this point with many thanks. Without you, this could not take place. We also thank our sponsors. The support of the Cultural Foundation of Saxony, the city of Dresden (Department for Culture and Heritage), the Artis Hotel Dresden, the Peugeot car dealer Mellmann and GenussArt restaurants. We all together have created a domestic place for mimes where they can meet. The well-attended, often sold-out shows show the huge interest of the Dresden inhabitants. In addition, several guests came from outside to participate in it. From all over Germany, but even from Poland and Italy visitors wanted to see where the mimes in the world have their home.
"Like a fairy tale" - The 30th International Pantomime Festival Dresden Summary The 30 th International Pantomime Festival Dresden has ended with a wonderful closing ceremony on November 18. During the ten days the participants and audience experienced an unprecedented range of styles of pantomime. But also the artists, invited from all around the world, were excited and overwhelmed about this festival. "Like in a fairytale," they felt as the organizing team met every imaginable desire. Highlights of the festival were e.g. the performance "Pantomix" by Csaba Mehes from Hungary, that were running in cabaret Breschke and Schuch, brought the audience to laugh, but also repented contemplative and thoughtful moments. Or "The Dustfall" in the laboratory theater in the Dresden University of Fine Arts. The excellent technical equipment and remarkable commitment of the laboratory theater director and his team allowed a performance in which the audience enthusiastic about MI MInor. The combination of fine body work and deep soul with a good sense of humor made this presentation to a big party. A festival like this is not just a collection of different performances, but an event of artistic development. Therefore, the organizers were daring some experiments.
For example the gala evening that replaced the traditional festival opening by the in-house ensemble. Here the old familiar Ralf Herzog, Rainer König and Alf Mahlo performed the event, which was under the festival theme "The blossom of art" and presented to the audience all facets of the pantomime. It contained the magician Vito Lupo, kabuki performer Yass Hakoshima, the group Beat Fanatics and Alexey Mironov, who each showed the connection of pantomime to magic, to traditional Japanese theater, to break dance and to clowning. With Gregg Goldston, Bodecker and Neander, Shinya Murayama four more Star pantomimes were performing and enriched the gala with their own, powerful handwriting. Among the more than 300 spectators, many who knew the festival from the times in which it filled the largest halls in Dresden, but it also gave many people an impressive first contact to the pantomime. Another experiment was the integration of lecture demonstration on Marcel Marceau. It was clearly observed that the public was interested to get a demonstration of the operation, the history and background of the pantomime. With "Anders" (different) and "Ansichtssache” (matter of opinion) two complete new and fresh productions were in the program, which were to be seized upon an experimental approach, and made the audience interested. The many friendships and future collaborations that were establishd during the festival make us happy. We thank our many supporters who have made all this possible.
Pantomime - Theatre of Variety. This was the motto that we have taken for the 33rd International Mime Theatre Meeting Dresden. Our Festival series presents each year a wide range of varieties of mime, but this year we have summarized it in one evening. In the opening gala of the festival all the artists together showed the whole range of this artform. From solo to large ensemble, from comedy to horror piece, with music or in silence, from grotesque to poetic, everything could be seen here. The early sold-out performance was appreciated by an enthusiastic audience and the artists enjoyed it very much to work together. The event at the student stage in Vitzthum grammar school has had a very mixed crowd, where many ages were represented. The further performances took place as a home game in AUGUST Theater Dresden, where Mimenbühne is located. On the second day of the festival, the opera Magic flute (Zauberflöte) has been shown as a mime interpreted by ensemble of Mimenbühne. This event was simultaneously embedded in the school concerts. With this piece, the Mimenbühne has been successful for years and was able to present itself to our guest artists in a very good way. Unlike this long-running performance the event on Saturday has been a premiere. Students of the Poznan Academy of Performing Arts performed the play "Devil Revolution". Here the audience could see in deep and cruel precipices, but there were also poetic and funny moments that stood out in the black tone of the performance. As always, the Mime Theatre Meeting hosted an event for children. Of course, it could also be older kids. The German-American duo Mind Movement Research showed its performing style. The two actors are known to the Dresden audience from earlier mime festivals as well as from the Dresden student days. Here the audience had lots to laugh. The latter happened at the final improvisation performance, too. The hosts performed together with the artistic guests - spontaneous and live on stage. After the audience went home, we celebrated the end of the festival and said goodbye to our guests. Come again! Many thanks to our artists, sponsors and helpers.
33rd International MimeTheaterMeeting Dresden- Review
09.-12. November 2017
review 33rd International mime meeting 2015
International mime meeting Dresden
Pantomime - Theatre of Variety. This was the motto that we have taken for the 33rd International Mime Theatre Meeting Dresden. Our Festival series presents each year a wide range of varieties of mime, but this year we have summarized it in one evening. In the opening gala of the festival all the artists together showed the whole range of this artform. From solo to large ensemble, from comedy to horror piece, with music or in silence, from grotesque to poetic, everything could be seen here. The early sold-out performance was appreciated by an enthusiastic audience and the artists enjoyed it very much to work together. The event at the student stage in Vitzthum grammar school has had a very mixed crowd, where many ages were represented. The further performances took place as a home game in AUGUST Theater Dresden, where Mimenbühne is located. On the second day of the festival, the opera Magic flute (Zauberflöte) has been shown as a mime interpreted by ensemble of Mimenbühne. This event was simultaneously embedded in the school concerts. With this piece, the Mimenbühne has been successful for years and was able to present itself to our guest artists in a very good way. Unlike this long-running performance the event on Saturday has been a premiere. Students of the Poznan Academy of Performing Arts performed the play "Devil Revolution". Here the audience could see in deep and cruel precipices, but there were also poetic and funny moments that stood out in the black tone of the performance. As always, the Mime Theatre Meeting hosted an event for children. Of course, it could also be older kids. The German- American duo Mind Movement Research showed its performing style. The two actors are known to the Dresden audience from earlier mime festivals as well as from the Dresden student days. Here the audience had lots to laugh. The latter happened at the final improvisation performance, too. The hosts performed together with the artistic guests - spontaneous and live on stage. After the audience went home, we celebrated the end of the festival and said goodbye to our guests. Come again! Many thanks to our artists, sponsors and helpers.
