31st edition of Sibiu Theatre Festival marked by Friendship theme

The Sibiu Theatre Festival (FITS), taking place from June 21 to 30, presents this year’s theme—FRIENDSHIP—highlighting the significance of human relationships that have been the cornerstone of the Festival’s growth over its 31 years of existence. Business Review goes over this edition’s most noteworthy events.

So far, FITS has 830 events included in the program and expects over 5000 artists from 82 countries. This year’s novelties include a structural change for the Market for Performing Arts, an event associated with FITS, which serves as a platform for dialogue between young artists, cultural operators, performance institutions, and cultural networks. This edition will also feature a comprehensive French season, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the French Institute in Romania, as well as an extensive Polish season, offering a preview of the Romania-Poland Cultural Season 2024-2025.

FITS 2024 will bring to Romania numerous world-renowned figures of the performing arts, such as actor John Malkovich, actress Isabelle Adjani, dancer and choreographer Mikhail Baryshnikov, and artist Jan Fabre, as well as Jon Fosse, one of the most acclaimed authors of the moment, awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2023.

Famous American actor John Malkovich will be seen on June 26th, 27th, and 28th on the Fabrica de Cultura stage in a performance titled “In the Solitude of Cotton Fields,” directed by Timofey Kulyabin, a world premiere.

French cinema star Isabelle Adjani will appear in an exceptional role on June 26th in “The Murmuring of the Soul,” which will take place at the State Philharmonic in Sibiu.

Mikhail Baryshnikov and Jan Fabre will have five video performances scheduled every day throughout the festival, in the video installation “Not Once.”

As proof of this friendship with the public, festival president Constantin Chiriac announced that ticket prices would remain unchanged from previous editions, even though all costs have increased significantly, especially in terms of logistics. In addition to the hundreds of free-access events, ticket prices will remain at the 2022 level, ranging between RON 30 and 150.

Don’t miss at Sibiu International Theatre Festival

In the Solitude of Cotton Fields, directed by Timofey Kulyabin, featuring John Malkovich and Ingeborga Dapkūnaitė, on June 26, 27, and 28 at the Fabrica de Cultura.
The Murmuring of the Soul, a performance by French cinema star Isabelle Adjani in an exceptional role at the State Philharmonic on June 26.
ANGELA (a time loop), a bold performance by one of the most acclaimed personalities in German theatre, Susanne Kennedy, at Fabrica de Cultura on June 28 and 29.
Not Once, a video installation created by two giants of the art world: Mikhail Baryshnikov and Jan Fabre. Five video performances scheduled daily throughout the festival.
Aphrodite and the Liberation of the World (a Greek musical vaudeville), a world premiere performance by The Actor’s Gang, the company led by Tim Robbins. Three performances at the State Philharmonic on June 21 and 22.
Awakening, another world premiere performance in Sibiu, created by Pippo Delbono together with Emilia Romagna Teatro, on June 21 and 22.
Alice, a contemporary dance performance by the B.Dance company from Taipei, on June 24 and 25 at the Ion Besoiu Cultural Centre.
Sol Invictus, a contemporary dance performance by French company Herve Koubi, on June 26 and 27 at the Ion Besoiu Cultural Centre.
African-style Circus, by the Cirque Kalabanté company, a Canada-Guinea co-production, on June 28 and 29 at the Ion Besoiu Cultural Centre.
The Carpathians Like Spots on My Skin, a performance by Burgtheater directed by Mira Stadler on a text for which author Thomas Perle received the Retzhof Drama Prize in 2019, on June 27 and 28 at the Gong Theatre.