GIFT Festival Summary
Today is the final day of the 2018 Georgian International Festival of Arts in Honor of Michael Turmanishvili. The festival has been running for a month, bringing international theatre, film, song, dance and cultural discussions to the city of Tbilisi.
This week kicked off with the culture-clashing "Simulacrum" at the Marjanishvili Theatre. Bought to Tbilisi by Norwegian director Alan Lucien Øyen and his company winter guests, the piece was a meeting of Argentinian dancer Daniel Proietto and 77-year-old Japanese flamenco legend Shōji Kōjima. Themes and narratives from both of the performer's lives were interwoven with detailed studies and presentations of each impressive art form, flamenco and kabuki.
Our Norwegian focus continued with choreographer Ingri Fiksdal's dance-concert, "State", performed at the Royal District Theatre to sold out audiences. Ritual dances from all over the world, live sound and beautiful costumes combined to create an multisensory journey for the audience.
Tonight's final performance of the festival will take place at the Rustaveli Theatre. British dance company Hofesh Shechter Company will perform their piece, entitled "Show" for the second time, having performed to an excited audience last night. The dance performance is composed of three acts: The Entrance, Clowns and Exit. It revolves around a group of anarchic performers as they play their parts in a macabre circus of comedy, murder and desire.
I'm so sad that we've come to the end of the festival. Gift has been such a wonderful experience for me. As a young person starting my career in the arts, I couldn't have hoped for a better opportunity or a more welcoming team. Not only have I seen some of the best international theatre of my life here, but I've also learned about working behind the scenes, helping the performers and crew to get everything ready for curtain up. I'm so grateful to have had this opportunity and I hope I can come back next year! For now, Tbilisi, its breaking my heart, but I have to love and leave you.
By Holly Taylor-Zuntz
Photo: Ilia Baburashvili