The Story of BE FESTIVAL
BE FESTIVAL 2010
Awards 2011
Awards 2010
THE STORY OF BE FESTIVAL
In November 2009, we attended an Arts Council-hosted conference entitled ‘The Challenge of Change: How can we make a better future for theatre, here in the West Midlands?’ Many needs and problems were aired, and in response several schemes and ideas were cooked up to develop the region’s artistic resources and reputation.
BE FESTIVAL was one such invention, as a reaction to our positive experience touring our work in European festivals such as ACT Festival from whom we were mostly inspired by.
Seven months later it had turned from an idea in a conference to a fully-fledged reality! Over the four days of the first edition of the festival, audiences saw15 unique performances by companies from across Europe. The festival would not have been brought to life without the support, openness and encouragement of the Birmingham arts community, who generously gave us advice, ideas, contacts, time and buckets of positive energy.
It was also made possible by those kind Birmingham residents who opened their homes to visiting artists, and those who offered their energy and time to the project as volunteers. Finally, we could have achieved nothing without the support of Arts Council England, Birmingham City Council, Stan’s Cafe, mac, ACT Festival and Birmingham School of Acting. Thank you everyone and thank you Birmingham!
BE FESTIVAL 2010
Watch highlights video of 2010
Download BE FESTIVAL 2010 dossier
Download BE FESTIVAL 2010 brochure
AWARDS 2011
BE Festival development prize: As the flames rose we danced to the sirens, the sirens by Sleepwalk Collective, Spain
BE Festival – Act Festival touring prize: The Furies by Kindle Theatre, UK
Best direction/choreography: Le Pli by Mala Hierba (?), Belgium
Best dramaturgy: André & Dorine by Kulunka Theatre Company, Spain
Best male performer: Pierre-Yves Massip for Tell me the truth, by Autour du Mime, France
Best female performer: Iara Solano Arana for As the flames rose… by Sleepwalk Collective, Spain
Audience Prize: André & Dorine by Kulunka Theatre Company, Spain
Jury Members
Carlos Aladro, Corral de Comedias Alcalá
Paul Burns, DanceXchange – International Dance Festival Birmingham (IDFB)
Nihad Kresevljakovic, MESS International Theatre Festival in Sarajevo
Helen Lannaghan, London International Mime Festival
Toni Racklin, Barbican International Theatre Events (BITE)
AWARDS 2010
BE Festival development prize: Translunar Paradise by Theatre Ad Infinitum, UK
BE Festival touring prize: The Planet by AbOvo, Greece
Best direction/choreography: Un Gouffre sous l’épaule by Mala Hierba (?), Belgium
Best male performer: Troëls Hagen Findsen for Posthumous Works, by Out of Balanz, Danemark
Best female performer: Marielle Morales for Un Gouffre sous l’épaule by Mala Hierba (?), Belgium
Special mention: Ros. Melógamo Mínimo by Angélico Musgo, Spain
Jury Members
Amanda Roberts, mac
Danièle Sanderson, Birmingham School of Acting
Michael Brown, LISPA
Fernando Montoya, ACT Festival Bilbao
David Hernandez, dancer and choreographer
