Flanders International Mime Festival
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I am strongly convinced that also this year we will get all the enthusiasm we need of both audience and artists. I am also sure that we will again be able to increase the proportional number of visitors, and that the Mime Festival will be the driving force in integrating mime in the existing theatre landscape at regional, Flemish and international level. Although the subsidies that were allocated for the 2006 and 2007 editions are not enough to realize all our ambitious plans, they guarantee the continual existence of this project and allow us to refine the festival formula. We will progressively begin to organise activities during the season, the periods between two festivals, and we will have to ensure that this type of theatre can be integrated, on the long term, in the variety of art performances. The new name of the festival, “INTERNATIONAAL MIME SQUARE FESTIVAL”, marks a new era. The name “MIME SQUARE” refers to training, creation, presentation and international dialogue, which are the four points of interest and the keystones that will be able to integrate mime in theatres in Flanders in the future.
Moreover, I determinedly sent the festival, on the basis of the individual character of mime, into a unique and ‘self-willed’ artistic direction. Throughout the years, people have always asked me for the definition of mime and I never understood why they asked me. For me, mime was and is as logical as theatre, dance or music, but I discovered that the obscurity of mime is related to the non verbal and visual aspect that is also part of dance and the emotional aspect that you can also find in music. Those aspects allow you to have many different perceptions of the mime performance. Whereas the written word brings people into contact with their consciousness, mime brings people into contact with their subconsious. I now resolutely want to continue with this thought. I do not know where this will lead me, but what I do know is that it is a fascinating and clearly defined challenge. The INTERNATIONAAL MIME SQUARE FESTIVAL is the first theatre festival in the world that, as from present, creates its line-up on the basis of theatre that connects us to our subconscious.
Allow me, dear audience, to thank you once again for your massive turnout of the last four years and of course for your enjoyable enthusiasm! After all, you are the living proof that the art of mime is a meaningful performing art that is understood by each and carried in our hearts.
I extend a warm welcome to you all!
Marc Crauwels
Founder and artistic director of the project “Internationaal Mime Square"
INTERNATIONAL MIME SQUARE FESTIVAL
Address: Gasthuisstraat 24 - B 3200 AARSCHOT
website : www.mime.be
Tel : +32/16/491032
Fax : +32/16/491034
e-mail : mimefestival@belgacom.net