Get Ready For The Summer of European Theatre
BE FESTIVAL, Birmingham's annual summer festival of European performing arts, returns to The REP from 4 - 8 July bringing new theatre, dance, circus and visual arts from Spain, Italy, Switzerland, France, Germany, Greece and beyond. And tickets go on sale today.
A year on from the EU Referendum BE FESTIVAL remains as relevant as ever as Miguel Oyarzun, co-director of BE FESTIVAL says:
“BE FESTIVAL has never had more relevance and a greater responsibility than right now, one year since the referendum. Here, in the inclusive city of Birmingham, the multifaceted cultural identities and creativity of a continent will once again be celebrated through performance and art. In addition to the array of entertainment, there will be a healthy platform for debate and expression throughout the festival. We expect this year to be particularly lively and energetic with audiences and artists buzzing around the various nooks and crannies of The REP”.
Co-director Isla Aguilar also said:
“As we look further ahead to the eventuality of Brexit and beyond we must focus on building bridges within our communities with the ultimate aim of breaking down borders that serve only to divide us. At BE FESTIVAL we are immensely thankful and proud to have Birmingham residents providing temporary homes for all our visiting artists and if ever there was an example of the kind of outward, inclusive community spirit and action needed, it is here on our own doorstep in Birmingham where we can look for inspiration.”
Every day at BE FESTIVAL audiences are invited to meet in the festival HUB, bar and cafe that pops up in the backstages of The REP to take part in professional workshops and chat to the artists at the Feedback Cafés; or venture out across the city to enjoy the site specific and visual arts programmes. Every night, audiences can expect to sample four performances, eat dinner together on The REP's mainstage, and dance into the dawn with our BE Late Stage programme of live music and DJs.
BE FESTIVAL takes place from Tuesday 4 to Saturday 8 July.
More In
“When someone sits and watches the performance, it is about what is happening to them in their head" Hofesh Shechter on Grand Finale
“Many times people want to know what I meant in a particular dance piece,” says Hofesh Shechter, “And I think it doesn't really matter. What matters is what happens on stage...
"I’ve been surrounded by inspiring women throughout my life": Happy International Women's Day
In celebration of International Women's Day and the inspiring women who are integral to The REP, two of our 2018 Furnace artists, Rachael Mainwaring and Manjeet Mann share what it means to be a...
