First awarded in 2010, the Festival Theaterformen Grant enables young theatre makers from all over the world to attend the Festival. They often come from countries in which access to contemporary theatre is not self-evident. They are invited for the whole festival and attend all the performances. They exchange information, meet the artists participating in the Festival, mingle with the local audience and share their experiences at the Festival Breakfast. So far, our grant holders have come from Australia, Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Great Britain, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Latvia, Lebanon, Mozambique, Russia, Serbia, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Togo, Turkey and the United States. In 2012, three further countries will adorn the list."Being part of the festival while you are supposed just to see the plays has a meaningful message; it tells me that sometimes it is better to forget your career and presuppositions and just to be an audience. To be an audience is as worthy and vital as being artist. In the other hand, interactive relation of some groups with audiences drives audiences to think about their roles and positions in a process of theatre.“ Azade Shahmiri, Grant holder 2011
Project management Sylvia Franzmann
Sopheak Soung - Cambodia
Sopheak Soung (*1978) works as a director, author and set designer in Phnom Penh and is committed to furthering the social concerns of young people in particular. Sopheak Soung has been in charge of the "Cambodian Childrens Fund" cultural education department in Phnom Penh since 2004. His most recent production there was Daytime's Darkness in which he focussed on everyday working life at the largest waste disposal site in Phnom Penh. Prior to the production he carried out a number of interviews with the children and youths working there. The resulting production reflects this intensive phase of research in the impressive rendering of the fate of many Cambodians.
Sopheak Soung (*1978) works as a director, author and set designer in Phnom Penh and is committed to furthering the social concerns of young people in particular. Sopheak Soung has been in charge of the "Cambodian Childrens Fund" cultural education department in Phnom Penh since 2004. His most recent production there was Daytime's Darkness in which he focussed on everyday working life at the largest waste disposal site in Phnom Penh. Prior to the production he carried out a number of interviews with the children and youths working there. The resulting production reflects this intensive phase of research in the impressive rendering of the fate of many Cambodians.
Carlos Alejandro López Tavera - Mexico
Carlos Alejandro López Tavera (*1987), a young theatre maker from Veracruz, studied at the theatre institute of the Universidad de México from 2007 to 2011. During his studies he worked as a director and actor in a number of different stage projects. In 2007 he worked together with the Mexican theatre group "Lagartijas tiradas al sol" who are performing their production The Sound of Fire at this year's festival. Carlos has been a member of the theatre group "Teatro Ojo" since 2011.
Carlos Alejandro López Tavera (*1987), a young theatre maker from Veracruz, studied at the theatre institute of the Universidad de México from 2007 to 2011. During his studies he worked as a director and actor in a number of different stage projects. In 2007 he worked together with the Mexican theatre group "Lagartijas tiradas al sol" who are performing their production The Sound of Fire at this year's festival. Carlos has been a member of the theatre group "Teatro Ojo" since 2011.
Mlu Zondi - South Africa
Mlu Zondi (*1975) works and lives as a dancer and performance artist in Durban. He is the artistic director of “Sololique Projacts”, a group of artists who produce video and performance art. In the last few years, his artistic basis has progressively shifted to the realms of theatre and visual art. Mlu Zondi's work is conceived both for the stage, galleries as well as public spaces. His artistic development has been greatly influenced by personalities including Boyzie Cekwana or Faustin Linyekula, whose productions were both invited to participate in Festival Theaterformen 2010.
Mlu Zondi (*1975) works and lives as a dancer and performance artist in Durban. He is the artistic director of “Sololique Projacts”, a group of artists who produce video and performance art. In the last few years, his artistic basis has progressively shifted to the realms of theatre and visual art. Mlu Zondi's work is conceived both for the stage, galleries as well as public spaces. His artistic development has been greatly influenced by personalities including Boyzie Cekwana or Faustin Linyekula, whose productions were both invited to participate in Festival Theaterformen 2010.
