Moscow. March 26-June 9, 1998
51 performance from 19 countries
Dedicated to the centennial of the Moscow Art Theatre
The basis of the first and second festivals were, first of all, the productions of directors who determined the theatre of the past decades: Giorgio Strehler, Peter Brook, Otomar Krejča, Peter Stein. In the playbill of the 3rd Festival there were names, widely renowned in the West, but barely known in Russia. For the first time, the public in Moscow had the opportunity to see the works of legendary Ariane Mnouchkine, the great master of special effects Robert Wilson, the most fashionable director of the German-speaking world Christophe Marthaler, the leader of the Polish theatre Christian Lupa, the American avant-garde director Lee Breuer, and others.
The program of the Festival featured meetings with artists, discussions of the productions, seminars, and workshops of all these major figures of the world theatre – Peter Stein, Christophe Marthaler, Valery Fokin, Robert Sturua, Petr Lebl, Lev Dodin, Robert Wilson, Declan Donnellan, Tadashi Suzuki, Ariane Mnouchkine. For the first time, the Festival was attended by Declan Donnellan and his Cheek by Jowl theatre company.
We have dedicated the 3rd Chekhov Festival to the centennial of the Moscow Art Theatre. Thanks to this theatre, Moscow has become and continues to be one of the main theatre centers of the planet. We are close to the idea of constant renewal, openness to all things new and talented, which was laid in the foundation of the Moscow Art Theatre by its founders: we aim to show all of the most interesting that is present in the world theatre today. The program of the present festival features many names of the renowned modern directors, whose productions will be played in Russia for the first time. There are also those who will come here for the second or third time. We are looking forward to keeping the old friendships and starting new ones. It is important that the festival strengthens the feeling of a world theatre brotherhood, that does not know ethnic and political boundaries...
…The 3rd Chekhov International Theatre Festival allowed us to imagine the theatre on which face, as well as on the forehead of the centenary, the Moscow Art Theatre, wrinkles and scars from wounds inflicted by this century are visible. Thank you for that.
For a short history of existence, Chekhov Festival has risen in one line with such world-known festivals, as Avignon and Edinburg... Of course, there will be no awards: participation in it for directors with the world-renowned names is prestigious. It’s outstanding that the authority has been earned literally for two festivals and in six years.
Dear Kirill Yuryevich! Dear Valery Ivanovich!
I would like to sincerely thank you for the wonderfully organised the Third International Chekhov Theatre Festival. I salute you for giving for so many directors, artists, actors, other practitioners of theatre and spectators a great opportunity to meet theatres from many countries around the world. Thank you!
If ever you need the help, my personal assistance or the assistance of the Union of Theatremakers of Russia - I will always be glad!
Chairman of the Union of Theatremakers of Russian Federation