Aims of Holding the Theatre Festival This Year
The long-lasting COVID-19 pandemic continued to cast a heavy shadow over exchanges between people, and economic stagnation has accelerated the widening of economic disparities. The decline of regional cities, which has been ongoing for some time, seems to have been exacerbated by COVID-19. BIRD Theatre Festival has revitalised rural areas through theatre as its primary goal since its inception. It does not mean creating a temporary bustle through events. It was an attempt to look at hopes and challenges in globalised society today through encounters between theatre arts and everyday people as well as between theatre artists in and outside of Japan and everyday people. As an initiative of "encounter, thought and action", it was a continuation of the people-to-people connections activated by the heat of theatre, intending to gain a future unique to this place. Bird Theatre Festival celebrates its 15th edition this year. With its firm resolution for a leap to overcome various difficulties, the festival's theme is "Soar!". The festival aims to provide an opportunity to look beyond the blockages that cover the world and to trigger new practices through theatrical performances, art exhibitions, workshops, lectures, and other activities, with individual themes for each week.
Artistic Director NAKASHIMA Makoto
