Troupes of actors from six countries will take part in the third International Theater Festival “Festis” that will take place at a number of theaters in Chisinau during October 4-14. There will be presented almost 30 plays, including ten produced based on plays written by Romanian dramatist Matei Vișniec.

Contacted by IPN, Alexandru Grecu, director of the National Theater Satiricus “Ion Luca Caragiale”, said the participation by Romanian dramaturgs is this year’s novelty. “It is a festival where we lay emphasis on the centenary year, which is a very important year for the Romanian theater,” he stated.

Matei Vișniec writes in Romanian and French. His plays are staged all over the world. There are by two premieres biweekly. “He is a writer that represents us and his plays are most popular for production. I don’t think there is another nation with such a popular dramaturg,” said Alexandru Grecu.

The documentary “Matei’s Paris” will be launched as part of the festival. This is about the great personalities of Romania who work in Paris. Also, Matei Vișniec will give a lecture about the tendencies of the contemporary theater and dramaturgy.

For the first time in Moldova’s history, a troupe from the U.S. will present a play in Chisinau. A company from France will put on a play about dramatist Dumitru Crudu, while a troupe from Ukraine will stage “In containers” based on Constantin Cheianu’s play.

“It is an international festival showing that the dramatists from Bessarabia and those from Romania hold interest for many countries, for the whole Europe. I think this festival shows we have what to show to Europe,” stated Alexandru Grecu.

The official opening of the festival will take place on October 5, starting at 7:30pm.

The program of the festival is available from the website of the Theater Satiricus.