TBILISI INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF THEATRE

For the eighteenth year running, the International Program of the Tbilisi International Festival of Theatre presents some of the finest productions in contemporary theatre—featuring theatre stars and creators whose vision, artistic depth, and aesthetic sensibility are truly distinctive and exceptional.

This year, the festival will take place in the summer rather than the autumn. Performances will begin on 13 June and continue until 12 July, while the Georgian showcase will remain in September.

Since its founding, the festival has featured two main sections: the International Program and the Georgian Program. This year, the NEW Program has also been revived. The festival consistently showcases both the “stars” of world theatre and exciting new artists and developments. Over the years, its guests have included figures such as Robert Wilson, Eimuntas Nekrošius, Robert Lepage, Daito Manabe, Giorgio Strehler, Akram Khan, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Silviu Purcărete, Jan Fabre, and many others.

17 June — The Seer

Director: Milo Rau

Schaubühne, Germany

In a monologue based on the stories and personal experiences of war photographers, Swiss director Milo Rau explores the fragility of our beliefs. Why is violence so compelling? What remains when war and terror destroy the world as we know it?

The performance stars Ursina Lardi as a war photographer who travels through conflict zones in search of images capturing horror, fear, and violence. She appears to stay one step ahead of suffering while remaining untouched by it. Yet she eventually becomes a victim of violence herself. Following this experience, the renowned war photographer transforms into a sceptical Cassandra, striving to confront the blindness of our age.