Central Europe Review: politics, society and culture in Central and Eastern Europe
Vol 1, No 7, 9 August 1999

E V E N T S:
Coming Up in the UK

Andrew J Horton

Details of selected Central and East European cultural events in the UK over the next few weeks, including angelic sounds from Bulgaria; love in an elevator - Bosnian style; a puppet-performed contemporary Hungarian opera; and highlights of the forthcoming Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

In this week's Coming Up section we have:

Click on the appropiate heading or just scroll down to browse.


East Goes West:
Central European Theatre at the Gate


The Gate, located in ultra-trendy Notting Hill, is one of London's smaller but more innovative theatres. This year, for the first time, the Gate is presenting a summer season of international work. To inaugurate what will hopefully become a regular summer feature, the Gate offers five productions by young companies from Central Europe. Four of these productions have already come and gone (See HERE for a review of one of them)

Mr Single by Zeljkio Vukmirica, Matko Raguz and Pavlica Bajsic

Teatar EXIT (Croatia)
10 - 14 August 1999, 7.30pm

For bookings and more information contact:
The Gate Theatre, 11 Pembridge Road, Notting Hill Gate, London W11 3HQ
Tel: 0171 229 0706

Back Up!


The Edinburgh Fringe Festival


In 1947, the Edinburgh International Festival was formed with the idea of an international arts festival helping to bring about peace to a Europe still recovering from war. The concept may sound idealist but it must have resonated at the time, because 8 theatre companies turned up uninvited and, playing at hastily arranged venues, they cashed in the success of the official festival. The trend continued the following year and the phenomenon of the uninvited guests was labeled the Fringe Festival. Today the proportions of the Fringe, held every August, are staggering, with over 500 theatre, dance and music groups from all over the world performing 1,643 shows with 14,108 seperate showings. And that's on top of the events connected with the official festival.

Full details can be found on the Fringe website, which has details of performances, venues, times, prices and even a map of Edinburgh to help you find your performance. Their site also usefully has a search engine which enables you to search by performer, title, country or venue

The listings below contain some of the Fringe events, covering performers hailing from Siberia to Bosnia and most places in between. For full details click on the links to the Fringe's own pages. Eulogies copied from the Fringe's blurb appear in quotes and are by no means always endorsed by CER!

Back Up!


Gyorgy Kurtag


Kurtag has emerged in recent years as one of Hungary's foremost contemporary composers. The Edinburgh Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival honour him in a series of concerts and events.

Concerts

Concert including Kurtag's music (Hommage a R Sch and Jelek)
24 Aug 1999, 11.00am
The Queens Hall, Clerk Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9JG
Phone: 0131 473 2000

An Evening of Gyorgy Kurtag's Music
28 Aug 1999, 7.30pm
The Queens Hall, Clerk Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9JG
Phone: 0131 473 2000

The Sayings of Peter Bornemisza by Gyorgy Kurtag
29 Aug 1999, 3pm
The Queens Hall, Clerk Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9JG
Phone: 0131 473 2000

Concert including Kurtag's music (Stele)
29 Aug 1999, 8pm
Usher Hall, Lothian Rd, Edinburgh EHI 2EA
Phone: 0131 473 2000

Concert including Kurtag's music (Grabstein fur Stephan)
3 Sept 1999, 8pm
Usher Hall, Lothian Rd, Edinburgh EHI 2EA
Phone: 0131 473 2000

Talks

The Music of Gyorgy Kurtag (by Rachel Beckles Wilson)
27 Aug 1999, 1.05pm
The Queens Hall, Clerk Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9JG
Phone: 0131 473 2000

Conversations (with Kurtag himself)
27 Aug 1999, 5pm
Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 13-29 Nicholson Street,
Edinburgh, EH8 JG
Phone: 0131 473 2000

Back Up!


Bosnian Events


Secrets - Nomad Dance Company
16 - 21 Aug 1999, 2pm
St Mary's Cathedral, Palmerstone Place, Edinburgh
Phone: 0131 557 0707

"An Islamic woman and a Western man are suspended together in an elevator shaft in London, unwitting pawns in a terrorists game. Their own battles over faith, trust and elevator music reach acrobatic heights. Spectacular Dance." Click here for more information.

Back Up!


Bulgarian Events


The Bulgarian Voices: Angelite
Various times, various venues, Edinburgh
Phone: 0131 557 8330

Internationally acclaimed female choir. "...the most unearthly, beautiful, eerie, joyous sounds the voice can make" (Guardian). A highly recommended series of shows which will undoubtedly sell out. Pounce soon. Click here for more information.

"Fly, Fly my Sadness": Huun Huur Tu, Angelite, Moscow Art Duo
24 - 30 Aug, various times
Graffiti Cafe, Edinburgh
Phone: 0131 557 8330

"Final performances of a five year world adventure. Incredible visionary musical collaboration. Beyond anything ever heard." Intriguing Russo-Bulgarian mixed bill. Click here for more information.

Back Up!


Croatian Events


Croatian Theatrical Triple Bills
18,19,21 Aug 1999, various times
Theatre Workshop, 34 Hamilton Place, Edinburgh
Phone: 0131 226 5425

Three of Croatia's top theatre companies in repertory with a different combination of shows presented each day. Includes a world premiere.Click here for more information.

For more Croatian theatre see also East Goes West

Back Up!


Czech Events


Cinema

Modern Czech Classics at the ICA
ICA, The Mall, London, SW1
Tel: 0171 930 3647

The nineties have not been the brightest decade in Czech cinematic history. However, this week the ICA is showing two films from the last few years which have managed to attract considerable recognition abroad for their wry views of modern morality . Jan Svankmajer was already internationally famous for his grotesque animations with a dark philosphical bent when he probed middle-class passions in Spiklenci slasti. Knoflikari on the other hand shot Petr Zelenka to international attention when it triumphed at the Rotterdam International Film Festival two years ago. To read Kinoeye's review of the later click here.

Spiklenci slasti (Conspirators of Pleasure, 1996)
Fri 13 August 1999, 5pm

Knoflikari (Buttoners, 1997)
Fri 13 August 1999, 9pm

Rough Trade at the Lux
Lux Cinema, 2-4 Hoxton Square, London N1 6NU
Tel: 020 7684 0201

"A lot can be bought for the price of a cinema ticket if you know where to get it" starts the Lux's blurb for their Rough Trade series of films on men who sell their bodies. Most of the films are American with classics such as Gus Van Sant's My Own Private Idaho and John Schlesinger's Midnight Cowboy, the only x-rated film to have won an Oscar. Three of the ten films, however, take us to the seedy back-streets of Prague. Scraping off the thin veneer of Europe's most beautiful city, Wiktor Grodecki exposes the exploitation festering underneath in three films: two documentaries and a later feature film that was based on his hard-hitting investigations.

Mandragora (1997)
20-22 August 1999, 6.30 + 9pm Click here for Kinoeye's review of this feature film.

Body Without Soul, documentary (1996)
26 August 1999, 9pm

Not Angels but Angels, documentary (1994)
27 August1999, 9pm

Art

Hommage a Jiri: Czech Collage of the 80s and 90s
24 June - 2 Sept 1999
The Czech Centre, 95 Great Portland Street, London, W1N 5RA
Phone: 0171 291 9929

Picture poet Kolar's latest work presented in the context of other prominent collage artists.

...And More Czech Culture in London

The Czech Cultural Centre in London has just gone electronic! Look here if you want to see a full calendar of Czech related events in London.

Back Up!


Hungarian Events


Dance

Turul - Grotesque Myth of a Plucked Angle
16 - 21 Aug 1999, 8pm
St Mary's Cathedral, Palmerstone Place, Edinburgh
Phone: 0131 557 0707

"Hungarian company Artus' incomparable talent lies in its East European poetic language. The absurdity of scenes obeys the logic of dreams, surrealistic images connect dark humour with audacious fantasy. Awarded and played worldwide." Click here for more information.

Music

Ando Drom
9 - 12 Aug 1999, 12.30am (!)
Famous Grousehouse, 5 Chambers Street, Edinburgh
Phone: 0131 220 5606

"Award winning, renowned Gypsy music group, topping World-Music charts and spreading fantastically frenetic folklore throughout Europe. Compared to the Gypsy Kings and Loyko." Highly recommended Click here for more information.

Kati Szvorak and the Water Carriers
16 ñ 19 Aug 1999, 12:20am (!)
Famous Grousehouse, 5 Chambers Street, Edinburgh
Phone: 0131 220 5606

Folk, jazz and world music described as"beautiful material with a Balkan edge, pretty wonderful stuff" by Folk Roots playing into the early hours. Click here for more information.

Kalman Balogh: Romano Kokalo
18 - 24 Aug 1999, various times
Cafe Graffiti, Edinburgh
Phone:0131 557 8330

"9 piece Hungarian Gypsy Cymbalom band playing a wide range of wonderful music - traditional, flamenco, jazz... perfect!" Click here for more information.

Opera

Marriage of Kocsonya Mihaly
16 - 21 Aug 1999, 8pm
St Mary's Cathedral, Palmerstone Place, Edinburgh
Phone: 0131 557 0707

"The modern opera company, Kolibri presents this one-act opera. A 17th-century masterpiece using exciting and innovative, man-sized puppets. The contemporary music has been especially composed and is heavily influenced in its style by Hungarian folk traditions." Click here for more information.

Poetry

The Scottish Poetry Library Presents: The Poetry of Hungary
13 Aug 1999, 3pm
St Cecilia's Hall, Cowgate, Edinburgh
Phone: 0131 557 2876

With guests Zsuzsa Rakovszky, Gyozo Ferencz and George Szirtes. Music and song. Click here for more information.

Theatre

Laodamia
6 ñ 29 Aug 1999, 8pm
Famous Grousehouse, 5 Chambers Street, Edinburgh
Phone: 0131 220 8606

An English language performance of Mihaly Babits's play by the Hungarian Merlin Theatre group as part of Edinburgh's Fringe Festival.Suicidal macho pride kills King Protesilaos in Trojan War. Lusting widow Laodamia begs the gods for his ghost's return. Her gruesome wish is granted but for three hours only. Click here for more information.

...And More Hungarian Culture in the UK

Check out the website of the Hungarian Cultural Centre in London. As well as listing events of international importance, the site also carries details of their support network for Hungarian au pairs working in the UK and Catholic mass in Hungarian.

Look here if you want to see a full calendar of Hungarian events in the UK.

Back Up!


Polish Events


Dance

The Light - Magapar
8 - 14 Aug 1999, 7pm
Grindlay Court Centre, Grindlay Street
Phone: 0131 221 9009

"Based on the myth of Prometheus, performed by 16-17 year olds who have given up words for language of the body. Theatre of light and illusion traversing the boundaries between childhood/ maturity, truth/ illusion - revealing man's quest for a perfect place on Earth." Click here for more information.

Theatre

Carmen Funebre (Funeral Song)
13 Aug 1999, 10pm
The Quad, University Old College Quad, Edinburgh
Phone: 0131 667 8740

"Tragic testimonies from Bosnian war victims inspired this astonishing anti-war show which won The Scotsman Hamada Prize in 1996. A unique outdoor performance in aid of Amnesty International's work with Kosovo refugees." Click here for more information.

Drink Vinegar Gentlemen
23 - 29 Aug 1999 (not every day), various times
Theatre Workshop, Hamilton Place, Edinburgh
Phone: 0131 226 5425

After Teatr Biuro Podrozy's 1996 Fringe success (see above), the group reveal their versatility with this new show inspired by a short (less than 200 words) story by persecuted Russian satirist and master of the absurd Daniil Kharms. Already it has received a top Polish award. Click here for more information.

...And More Polish Culture in the UK

Check out the website of the Polish Cultural Institute in London.

Look here if you want to see a full calendar of Polish events in the UK.

Back Up!


Romanian Events


Theatre

ION by the Hard and Fast Theatre Company
5-29 August 1999 (not every day), 1.45pm
C Theatre, Over-Seas House, 100 Princes Street, Edinburgh
Tel: 0131 225 5105

"This terrifying vision of the future sees a Romanian boy delivered from conflict by an Enlgish professor. But is the reluctant relationship formed whilst searching for a solution amongst the atoms too great a price to pay for freedom?"

...And More Romanian Culture in the UK

There is the website of the Romanian Cultural Centre based in London. Click here if you want to see a their diary page.

If you are a Romanian academic or student working in the UK or have links to Romanian studies you might be interested Romanul's site. It aims to give wider support to educational, scientific and cultural issues and has pages devoted to the Romanian community's acitivities in the UK. Click here to have a look.

Back Up!


Russian (and Eurasian) Events


Dance

Moorland - Evgueni Panfilov's Ballet
Continental Shifts at St Brides, Edinburgh
Phone: 0131 346 1405

"Physical In the aspiration to the World Spirit, you see the spiritual substance in the uncovered bloody flesh the unity of human substance ascending to Death. The choreographer transfers the national worldly drama into the crystal of the world tragedy." Click here for more information.

Music

Farlanders
6 - 7, 10 - 16, 21 - 30 Aug 1999, 10.30pm
Cafe Graffiti, Edinburgh
Phone: 0131 557 8330

"Highly original, brilliant, driving five piece fusion jazz/folk/rock band fronted by charismatic singer Inna Zhelannaya. Unbelievable!" Click here for more information.

Loyko: The Russian Gypsy Band
11 Aug 1999, 7.30pm
Graffiti Cafe, Edinburgh
Phone: 0131 557 8330

Click here for more information.

Prodigies
13 - 30 Aug 1998 (not every day), various times
Cafe Graffiti, Edinburgh
Phone: 0131 557 8330

"Two astonishing solo singers, Pelageya (12, Siberia) and Katya Chilly (18, Ukraine) with their band, astonish, delight, exhilarate, amaze!" Click here for more information.

Eurasian Guitars: Two Virtuosos
Various dates, various times
Cafe Graffiti + Greyfriars Kirk House, Edinburgh
Phone: 0131 557 8330

"Solo electric guitarist, Crimean Tartar, Enver Izmailov creates incredible musical universe. Ivan Smirnov Trio: acoustic guitar and accompanists - powerful delivery, total mastery, passion and poetry. Both world class." Click here for more information.

Theatre

Mozart & Salieri - Ulysses Theatre Company
18 - 24 Aug 1999 (not every day), 12.25pm
Greyfriars Kirk House, Edinburgh
Phone: 0131 225 3626

"Why did Mozart perish? Did Salieri poison him? Who was the man in black who commissioned the Requiem? Two actors - Scottish and Russian - desperately and selflessly play Pushkin's Little Tragedy as an unexpected version of Superstar Amadeus's mysterious death." Click here for more information.

Pushkin on the Moon - Ulysses Theatre Company
20 - 28 Aug 1999 (not every day), 1.30pm
Greyfriars Kirk House, Edinburgh.
Phone: 0131 225 3626

"A troupe of wandering actor clowns perform a farce. The great Russian poet's spirit doesn't come alone... Masks images people puppets fairytales mysticism transform into a joyous carnival of love and dance of death." Click here for more information.

Back Up!


Compiled by Andrew J Horton

 

 

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