THE 30th ACCO FRINGE THEATER FESTIVAL

THE 30th ACCO FRINGE THEATER FESTIVAL
4-8 OCTOBER 2009

The 30th Acco Fringe Theater Festival will take place among the crusader castles and beachfront promenades of the old city from October 4-8, 2009, featuring special performances of original, avant-garde fringe theater from Israel and around the world. The five day festival will include 450 performances by 72 artists from around the world; a competition, ceremonies in honor of the 30th anniversary, special premieres, guest performances, street theater and outdoor events.

The festival will open with Israeli singer Ahinoam Nini performing many of her hit songs, singing together with Arab singer and co-Eurovision competitor Mira Awad (4 October, 20:00).

Ten productions (selected from 160 applications) will premiere as contestants in the competition, including Whispering Alleys, a theatrical story that takes place while walking through the alleyways of Acco and Metuko's House, a surrealist work that includes poetry, clowns and physical theater in the best tradition of the Hulgab Ethiopian theater.

The new western promenade to the city, overlooking the Mediterranean, will serve as the entrance to the festival, featuring street theater and outdoor productions from around the world, including European artists. A total of fifteen international theatrical productions feature works from 10 countries – including Japan, the Czech Republic, Russia, the United States, Italy, Australia and Poland. These performances include mime theater from Teatro Pantomissimo (Czech Republic); The Vengeance Cell (Japan), a work about evil; Project Acco, a co-production of the Acco Fringe Theater Festival 2009 and the new Acco center for culture, youth and sports, created with Jewish and Arab Israeli artists together with artists from France, Lebanon, Iran and England and Teatro Pavana (The Netherlands), street theater with professional stilt-walkers in the commedia dell'arte style. , will perform two surprising and interactive stilt parades as outdoor events: "The Antelopes" and "Giraffes".

The festival will also include, among other special events, a photography exhibition Children Making Faces about children in Acco from 40 years ago; an ethnic musical and cultural area; an authentic Arab cooking workshop; a spectacular light show and messianic hip-hop performances.

Free guided tours of the Old City of Acco will leave at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00 from the Tourist Parking Area beside the box office (minimum of 20 per tour).

Further details on the festival (in English): http://www.accofestival.co.il/