The festival, which currently holds the “Best European Award”, is set to return to Punchestown Racecourse in Ireland from 9-11 July. This year the bigwigs have also published the fan’s favorite bands from this year’s Oxegen following an online poll.
Here’s the list ordered most to least popular:
1. The Killers
2. Kings of Leon
3. Blur
4. Snow Patrol
5. The Script
6. Pendulum
7. Nine Inch Nails
8. Florence and the Machine
9. Katy Perry
10. Bloc Party
11. Lady Gaga
12. Pet Shop Boys
A series of protests by the Czech artists and intellectuals has been successful in changing the city’s cultural policy. Milan Richter, Councilor for Culture and Tourism, had the contentious idea of subsidizing the city’s theatres based upon the number of tickets they sell. But the system, introduced in November 2007, led to a minor rebellion in the Czech arts world. Non-commercial theatres, art galleries and others complained they would go out of business within months if starved of state grants. A petition followed signed by 30,000 people, public demonstrations and even a raucous sit in at Prague City Hall.
On the occasion of the French Presidency of the EU and within the framework of the meeting of the “Cultural Points” in the European Union, Relais Europe Culture, the Ministry of Culture and Communication and their partners organized a professional day on European cultural cooperation. This day is projected to consider the place of European cultural cooperation relative to major European issues and strategies: Society of Knowledge, Sustainable development and the role of Europe on the international scene and crossing the artistic, intellectual and political points of view.
In July 2008 the “Festival de Teatro Clàsico de Almagro” in Spain presented “Three Cheek” by Jowl productions in three languages viz. English, French and Russian.
-”Troilus and Cressida” (in English), from July 9 to 12 2008
-”Andromaque” (in French) from July 10 to 11 2008
-”Twelfth Night” (in Russian) from July 12 to 13 2008
Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod are also recipients of the 2008 Corral de Comedias Award, presented by the Almagro Festival.
Anatoly Vassilief leaded a cast of Greek actors in a production of the Municipal and Regional Theatre of Patras, presenting for the first time “Medea” by Euripides at the Epidaurus Ancient Theatre on the 15 & 16 August 2008, following his production of Heiner Müller’s “Medea Material”. The Russian master has tackled two issues with one shot here:
• Condemning male infidelity and the unequal treatment meted out to woman
• Delivering a poetic text without resorting to verbal and emotional stereotypes.
In 2008 “Habimah National Theatre” of Israel celebrated its 90th anniversary. Founded in 1917 and keeping alive the spirit and dedication of its founders, Habimah is now a member of the “Union of the Theatres of Europe”.
At the occasion of this special anniversary, funded by the UTE, Habimah organized a showcase of recent new productions, classical and original ones, ensemble works, and modern dramatic re-enactments of ancient Semitic sources.
Site: http://www.habima.co.il