Last year, Festival Theaterformen invited eleven grant-holders to attend the festival in Braunschweig and this year, twelve young theatre practitioners from all over the world are invited to experience twelve days of contemporary theatre in Hanover. They are writers, actors, directors, choreographers and set designers and are all at early stages of their careers. They are invited for the whole festival and will attend all performances. They will enter discourse with one another, meet the artists present at the festival, mix with the local audience and tell of their experiences at the Festival Breakfast. In their dual role as artist and audience, they enrich the entire festival. Project management Sylvia Franzmann
Leila Anderson - SOUTH AFRICA
Leila Anderson (*1984) is a performer, director, writer and costume and set designer. She lives and works in Cape Town. This year she was seen as a performer in the production of Strand by Athina Valha at the Infecting the City, Public Arts Festival in Cape Town, whose artistic director Brett Bailey is also a guest at Theaterformen in Hanover 2011. In her production Exotic Alien, which was shown this year at the Edge of Wrong Festival in Cape Town, Anderson was actress, director and designer in one.In 2010 Anderson performed internationally the solo-work, Foreign Affair: Trotsky, created with director Rodney Place, which was seen in Holland, Finland and at the Kunstmuseum Bonn, Germany.
Leila Anderson (*1984) is a performer, director, writer and costume and set designer. She lives and works in Cape Town. This year she was seen as a performer in the production of Strand by Athina Valha at the Infecting the City, Public Arts Festival in Cape Town, whose artistic director Brett Bailey is also a guest at Theaterformen in Hanover 2011. In her production Exotic Alien, which was shown this year at the Edge of Wrong Festival in Cape Town, Anderson was actress, director and designer in one.In 2010 Anderson performed internationally the solo-work, Foreign Affair: Trotsky, created with director Rodney Place, which was seen in Holland, Finland and at the Kunstmuseum Bonn, Germany.
Denis Biro - HUNGARY
Denis Biro (*1981) studied drama at the Academy of Drama and Film in his native city of Budapest, where he still lives and works. Biro has been working as a dramaturg since 2007, he has also written several articles for the daily newspaper Magyar Hírlap. Most recently he worked with the playwright Anna Lengyel on the documentary theatre production Szóról szóra - Word for Word, which deals with racism and the recent murders of members of the Roma community in Hungary. In addressing new issues, Biro takes the liberty to constantly change between the different genres of theatre. During the Festival Theaterformen he will be taking particular interest in the children's and youth programme.
Denis Biro (*1981) studied drama at the Academy of Drama and Film in his native city of Budapest, where he still lives and works. Biro has been working as a dramaturg since 2007, he has also written several articles for the daily newspaper Magyar Hírlap. Most recently he worked with the playwright Anna Lengyel on the documentary theatre production Szóról szóra - Word for Word, which deals with racism and the recent murders of members of the Roma community in Hungary. In addressing new issues, Biro takes the liberty to constantly change between the different genres of theatre. During the Festival Theaterformen he will be taking particular interest in the children's and youth programme.
Ghassan Ismael Kareem - IRAQ
Ghassan Ismael Kareem was born in 1979 in Iraq and lives in Baghdad. He has been working as an actor for television and theatre productions since 2002. In 2010 he could be seen in the theatre production Hamlet under the Freedom Monument and in 2008 and 2009 in the TV-series Assad Babil -Babylon Lion and Bayit al-Banna-The Girls' house for the Iraqi television. He has also been directing since 2000.
Ghassan Ismael Kareem was born in 1979 in Iraq and lives in Baghdad. He has been working as an actor for television and theatre productions since 2002. In 2010 he could be seen in the theatre production Hamlet under the Freedom Monument and in 2008 and 2009 in the TV-series Assad Babil -Babylon Lion and Bayit al-Banna-The Girls' house for the Iraqi television. He has also been directing since 2000.
Aly Khamees - EGYPT
Aly Khamees (*1986) has been studying contemporary dance in the Studio Emaddedien and Descent Dance Association in Cairo since 2008. He took part in workshops in the fields of acting, dance and song. Most recently, he has been working as a film and television actor, and can be seen in productions such as Last Days of the City directed by Tamir Al Said and Asmaa by Amro Salama. Since 2007 he has also been working in theatre and as a performer and in 2010 he worked for the French organisation Clowns Sans Frontières.
Aly Khamees (*1986) has been studying contemporary dance in the Studio Emaddedien and Descent Dance Association in Cairo since 2008. He took part in workshops in the fields of acting, dance and song. Most recently, he has been working as a film and television actor, and can be seen in productions such as Last Days of the City directed by Tamir Al Said and Asmaa by Amro Salama. Since 2007 he has also been working in theatre and as a performer and in 2010 he worked for the French organisation Clowns Sans Frontières.
Alexandra Kuechler Cafall - USA
Alexandra Kuechler Cafall (*1983) will complete her directing studies at The New School for Drama in New York City in the next year. She is a founding member of Lamb&Drum, which produces magazines, short films, concerts, happenings and performances in a low-tech manner. From 2006 to 2008 she was responsible for costume and set design at the Artist's Repertory Theatre in Portland. Since 2008 she is assistant director and casting director with Nonsense in New York - a company which joins site-specific theatre with music, video, performance and installation.
Alexandra Kuechler Cafall (*1983) will complete her directing studies at The New School for Drama in New York City in the next year. She is a founding member of Lamb&Drum, which produces magazines, short films, concerts, happenings and performances in a low-tech manner. From 2006 to 2008 she was responsible for costume and set design at the Artist's Repertory Theatre in Portland. Since 2008 she is assistant director and casting director with Nonsense in New York - a company which joins site-specific theatre with music, video, performance and installation.
Kamila Mamadnazarbekova - RUSSIA
Kamila Mamadnazarbekova (*1986) is a theatre graduate, critic and is currently studying at the RATI-GITIS Theatre Academy in Moscow. She works as a translator for festivals and theatres in Moscow, such as the NET Festival, Golden Mask Festival and the Stanislavsky Music Theatre. As a freelance journalist, she is a regular contributor to the newspaper Vedomosti, GQ magazine, Afisha magazine and Seance magazine. Most recently, she published a comprehensive article on the history of documentary theatre in the Russian magazine Theater (No. 2, 2011).
Kamila Mamadnazarbekova (*1986) is a theatre graduate, critic and is currently studying at the RATI-GITIS Theatre Academy in Moscow. She works as a translator for festivals and theatres in Moscow, such as the NET Festival, Golden Mask Festival and the Stanislavsky Music Theatre. As a freelance journalist, she is a regular contributor to the newspaper Vedomosti, GQ magazine, Afisha magazine and Seance magazine. Most recently, she published a comprehensive article on the history of documentary theatre in the Russian magazine Theater (No. 2, 2011).
Alexandre Paulikevitch - LEBANON
Alexandre Paulikevitch (*1982 in Beirut).He studied theatre and dance at the University of Paris VIII, and returned to live in Beirut in 2006. In his work as a dancer, choreographer, dance instructor and event organizer he reflects about gender and about the so-called "oriental dance", which, amongst others, he performed with the Leila Haddad Dance Company at the Ecole de Danse de Paris Marais till 2004. In his 2009 production Mouhawala Oula Paulikevitch investigated oriental dance and its cultural role beyond its expectations as a piece of light entertainment, with a predominantly male interest. In March 2011 he organized a workshop entitled "Queer Geography", which explored gender and sexuality in the urban environment, examined the social norms and codes of public space which were then translated into an artistic language. In a publication, the experiences with "Queer Geography” made by people from Copenhagen, Tijuana and Beirut will be documented.
Alexandre Paulikevitch (*1982 in Beirut).He studied theatre and dance at the University of Paris VIII, and returned to live in Beirut in 2006. In his work as a dancer, choreographer, dance instructor and event organizer he reflects about gender and about the so-called "oriental dance", which, amongst others, he performed with the Leila Haddad Dance Company at the Ecole de Danse de Paris Marais till 2004. In his 2009 production Mouhawala Oula Paulikevitch investigated oriental dance and its cultural role beyond its expectations as a piece of light entertainment, with a predominantly male interest. In March 2011 he organized a workshop entitled "Queer Geography", which explored gender and sexuality in the urban environment, examined the social norms and codes of public space which were then translated into an artistic language. In a publication, the experiences with "Queer Geography” made by people from Copenhagen, Tijuana and Beirut will be documented.
Mariana Senne - BRASIL
Mariana Senne (*1977) has been an actress with the Brazilian company Cia. São Jorge de Variedades in São Paulo, since 1999. Cia. São Jorge de Variedades works at expanding the theatre space to include corridors, dressing rooms, backstage areas, foyers, streets, homeless shelters, so that by intercepting and interfering directly in daily events, the urban landscape will become restructured and revitalized. Their productions have included their own work and plays by writers such as Qorpo Santo, Max Frisch, Gero Camilo and Heiner Müller. In 2010 Senne worked with andcompany&Co. for the German-Brazilian co-production FatzerBraz. She has also been teaching since 2007 at the prestigious theatre school, Escola Livre de Teatro, Santo André.
Mariana Senne (*1977) has been an actress with the Brazilian company Cia. São Jorge de Variedades in São Paulo, since 1999. Cia. São Jorge de Variedades works at expanding the theatre space to include corridors, dressing rooms, backstage areas, foyers, streets, homeless shelters, so that by intercepting and interfering directly in daily events, the urban landscape will become restructured and revitalized. Their productions have included their own work and plays by writers such as Qorpo Santo, Max Frisch, Gero Camilo and Heiner Müller. In 2010 Senne worked with andcompany&Co. for the German-Brazilian co-production FatzerBraz. She has also been teaching since 2007 at the prestigious theatre school, Escola Livre de Teatro, Santo André.
Azade Shamiri - IRAN
Azade Shamiri (*1982) is a playwright, freelance researcher and translator. She finished her Masters degree in dramatic literature at Tehran University with a thesis on post-colonial theory in dramatic literature. She is a member of the editorial staff for the arts and culture pages at the Roozegar newspaper and, since 2002, has been writing reviews for magazines and newspapers such as Simia Quarterly, Etemad, Art Quarterly (Faslname-ye Honar). Her work as a researcher and writer first received attention while she was still a student, but most recently she has received the first prize at the12th Iran and International Festival of University Theatre in Tehran, as a playwright, for her play Black Skin, White Masks.
Azade Shamiri (*1982) is a playwright, freelance researcher and translator. She finished her Masters degree in dramatic literature at Tehran University with a thesis on post-colonial theory in dramatic literature. She is a member of the editorial staff for the arts and culture pages at the Roozegar newspaper and, since 2002, has been writing reviews for magazines and newspapers such as Simia Quarterly, Etemad, Art Quarterly (Faslname-ye Honar). Her work as a researcher and writer first received attention while she was still a student, but most recently she has received the first prize at the12th Iran and International Festival of University Theatre in Tehran, as a playwright, for her play Black Skin, White Masks.
Ana Sofrenovic - SERBIA
Ana Sofrenovic (*1972) lives and works as an actress and singer in Belgrade. After graduating from the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade, she also completed three years of vocal training at the Royal Academy of Music in London. She is particularly interested in the possibilities of the human voice in contemporary performance, in concerts and in theatre. In addition to Serbian theatre engagements, in 2008 she presented her own production, Coda in Belgrade. She has also appeared as an actress in national and international film productions, most recently in Raven by director James McTegue (2010) as well as Serbian and British TV series. As a singer, she has worked with film composers, written her own compositions and performed live on stage. Recently her work took her to New York, where she was to be heard in Songs of Ascension by Meredith Monk.
Ana Sofrenovic (*1972) lives and works as an actress and singer in Belgrade. After graduating from the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade, she also completed three years of vocal training at the Royal Academy of Music in London. She is particularly interested in the possibilities of the human voice in contemporary performance, in concerts and in theatre. In addition to Serbian theatre engagements, in 2008 she presented her own production, Coda in Belgrade. She has also appeared as an actress in national and international film productions, most recently in Raven by director James McTegue (2010) as well as Serbian and British TV series. As a singer, she has worked with film composers, written her own compositions and performed live on stage. Recently her work took her to New York, where she was to be heard in Songs of Ascension by Meredith Monk.
Ruhanie Perera - SRI LANKA
Ruhanie Perera (*1979) is a performer, theatre-maker and currently a visiting lecturer at the University of Colombo. In 2009 she completed her MA on “Performance and Culture: Interdiscplinary Approaches”, at Goldsmiths, University of London. In 2007, together with the theatre practitioner Jake Oorloff, she founded the theatre company floating space. In 2010 she directed Letters, which was shown at the Dance Platform, organised by Goethe Institute. As a performer, she was most recently seen in the floating space production My Other History (April 2011), which she also co-directed. In addition to tours in Sri Lanka and India, she performed in Dries Verhoeven’s production Lifestreaming, which could be seen in Great Britain, Holland and Germany in 2010. In her current research she is mainly concerned with the practice of storytelling and the socio-cultural contexts of performance.
Ruhanie Perera (*1979) is a performer, theatre-maker and currently a visiting lecturer at the University of Colombo. In 2009 she completed her MA on “Performance and Culture: Interdiscplinary Approaches”, at Goldsmiths, University of London. In 2007, together with the theatre practitioner Jake Oorloff, she founded the theatre company floating space. In 2010 she directed Letters, which was shown at the Dance Platform, organised by Goethe Institute. As a performer, she was most recently seen in the floating space production My Other History (April 2011), which she also co-directed. In addition to tours in Sri Lanka and India, she performed in Dries Verhoeven’s production Lifestreaming, which could be seen in Great Britain, Holland and Germany in 2010. In her current research she is mainly concerned with the practice of storytelling and the socio-cultural contexts of performance.
In 2011 Theaterformen participates in the Goethe Institute’s advanced training programme “Cultural Management in Africa“. In line with the initiative “Culture and Development“, the trainee Léonard Kofi Yakanou from Togo will support Theaterformen during the festival.
Léonard Kofi Yakanou - Togo
Léonard Kofi Yakanou was born in 1963 in Lomé, Togo. He works as a mathematics teacher, cultural manager and author and is the director and co-organisor of Festival de Théâtre de la Fraternité (FESTHEF) in Assahoun, as well as the director of the agency Téré Culture in Lomé. In his research he focuses on theatre, story-telling, dance and music. He has written several plays, such as Les aigris du Boulevard de la libération and Ella et Bafon. He sees himself as a „cultural activist“ and considers cultural development to be a key factor in the successful battle against poverty in Togo.
Léonard Kofi Yakanou - Togo
Léonard Kofi Yakanou was born in 1963 in Lomé, Togo. He works as a mathematics teacher, cultural manager and author and is the director and co-organisor of Festival de Théâtre de la Fraternité (FESTHEF) in Assahoun, as well as the director of the agency Téré Culture in Lomé. In his research he focuses on theatre, story-telling, dance and music. He has written several plays, such as Les aigris du Boulevard de la libération and Ella et Bafon. He sees himself as a „cultural activist“ and considers cultural development to be a key factor in the successful battle against poverty in Togo.
