The Most Famous Theater Festivals On The Planet

Theater festivals are a great opportunity to  have fun  and also learn about different cultures. Who does not entertain and learn by watching a good live performance, without the artificiality of the screens?

At present, the theater constitutes a true entertainment industry that involves various categories. For this reason, some cities have launched specialized theater festivals that attract enthusiasts from around the world. Competitions that are international in nature and group the best proposals. We are going to know some of them.

1. Avignon Festival in France

This contest has been held since 1947, making it the oldest in France and one of the most important in the world. It also enjoys great prestige and tradition. It is held annually during the month of July in the city of Avignon.

The festival has 15 venues. Some of them are unconventional, such as cloisters, gardens and even an abandoned quarry, where the best of the performing arts from around the world are presented. However, the most emblematic setting is the Gothic Palace of the Popes, built in 1335.

In 2013 the festival created La FabricA, a space for theater groups to participate in residencies for the next edition of the festival. The event has high-tech resources to carry out the most demanding presentations.

2. Chekhov, one of the best theater festivals

This festival takes place in Moscow (Russia), a city that maintains a very rich and active cultural life. Among its many events, the Chekhov International Festival is established as one of the most spectacular theater festivals in the world, with a tradition of more than 27 years.

The event brings together theater companies from all latitudes, with works by both classical and contemporary authors. The Russian city has more than 170 theaters available to carry out the festival, with stagings of the best quality that are worth seeing.

The event takes place every two years with a program that covers four main areas: international, national, experimental and youth. Prices are accessible to most audiences and there are guides that provide guidance on which works are being presented and the ticket purchase process.

3. Ibero-American Theater Festival of Bogotá

The Ibero-American Theater Festival (FITB) is held in Bogotá every two years and for 15 days in the month of March. It brings together the most representative and original of the world theater. It is considered the most important cultural event in Colombia.

It is also considered the largest performing arts festival in the world. More than 170 Colombian companies and more than 100 international companies from five continents have passed through it and more than 800 functions have been represented.

Within its varied offer in different parts of the city, the festival includes storytelling and street theater totally free. It also offers theater in theater, classical dance, international concerts and children’s and youth theater, among other events.

4. United Solo Festival in New York

The United Solo Festival in New York is really special, since all the presentations that are made have only one actor on stage. The proposals come from all over the world.

This event is a literally unique initiative. It takes place at Theater Row, at 42nd Street. There is no greater challenge for an actor or more exciting moment for a viewer than to be transported to another dimension only from the body and the word.

The event constitutes a catalog of solo categories, such as puppets, multimedia, dance, storytelling, magic, improvisation, comedy, stand-up and drama. The funds raised by the festival go to a foundation of actors.

5. Athens Theater Festival

The Athens Theater Festival is national in nature and is held every year between June and September in venues of great historical value. These become the venue for shows that combine dance, drama and music.

During the festival, classic works that have been immortalized over time and contemporary works that fascinate viewers are performed. Let us not forget that the theater has its cradle in Greece, with the rituals to Dionysus.

The works that are presented during the festival change from the tension of the dramatic genre to the laughter of comedy, which at times borders on the absurd. In any case, there is something for everyone.

The festival is represented on stages ranging from neoclassical architecture, and at affordable prices, to small venues for a voluntary contribution. The important thing is the affection for dramaturgy and the taste for theater festivals. Drama and comedy run through the veins of the Athenian city.