This year, love drew people to Sibiu.

The first three days of FITS XXIV Edition have cut down all attendance records, with more than 70,000 people being present daily in street and indoor performances. Fits brought us 10 days of megaspectacles, unusual theater pieces and fabulousstreet shows. Unfortunately, time passed and we have just a few days left of this amazing festival. A colorful weekend was announced in the heart of Transylvania. So, are you ready?

Let’s see what are some of the most interesting shows FITS is preparing for this closing weekend!

The first day of the weekend starts fresh in the morning, at 8 o’clock on the outside wall of TNRS. This show is called “The horizontal newspaper” Vol. 5. It will be hosted by Dan Perjovschi & CO. Dan Perjovscji is a local artist and he created drawings in museum spaces ( most recently the Museum of Modern Art in N.Y.C. ). Be there and meet this talentated visual artist! 

Starting with 9 am, the Gong Theatre will host a photo exhibition, called “Attitudes”.

At the same time, but in another venue – the “Imparatul Romanilor” Hotel – you’ll be able to admire the Romanian Folk Masks exhibition. And if you want a breath of “fresh” air you can go to a workshop – “Simplicity is very sofisticated”.

In fact, if you are a workshop lover this day is definetly for you! You can go to a workshop at the Students Culture House in the Orange Hall starting with 10 am – ” Acting Outside the Box: The actor as a Co-Creator”.

Later on, starting with 4 pm, at the Gong Theatre you can see “Do you speak emoji?” , a theatre performance by Gigi Caciuleanu. Movie lovers can go to Habitus, to see “The Phantom Father” (2011). And at the same time, at Cavas-ULBS you can enjoy a great theatre piece – “Three Legs”.

At about 6 pm it’s starting to get “crowded”, and you just have to choose your favorite show:

1)Gong Theatre – All over your face – Theatre piece. The ticket price is 30-25 lei.

2) Radu Stanca National Theatre – Brodsky/Bayshnikov scenete. Ticket price is 40 lei.

3)Evangelic Churh to change the vibe and hear some beautiful music – Jangada de Pedra. Price 20 lei.

4) At the Sinagogue- Lux Aeterna – price 20 lei.

5) The National College Octavian Goga – a beautiful theatre production – Macbeth. Price 25-30 lei.

Starting with 9:30 pm it’s time for some theatre! You can enjoy “Metamorphoses”, “Deambuloscopy”, “MEDE/EA” or “About domestic happiness”.

Saturday is even busier! In the morning, it’s time for exhibitions and workshops. But as the day unfolds, theatre and circus take over the programme.

At 4 pm, you’re again invited to Habitus, as you wouldn’t want to miss an outstanding picture – Toni Erdmann (2016) .

By 5 pm, music takes over, and you can choose to enjoy some Fado at the Saint Joan Evangelical Church, or a street show right on Nicolae Balcescu – “Youth, Rhythm and Harmony”.

The evening continues with theatre, circus and dance. And because the closing weekend should really be special, you probably shouldn’t miss another representation of “Faust”, at 10 pm.

The last day might be a bit sad… but it promises to be the best day!

Spectacular circus demonstrations will leave the audience dazzled.

And if you love dancing, Spanish sensations and flamenco, don’t miss the show 8 pm show – Andalusian Flamenco Ballet. This is going to be just warm-up, as at 10:15 pm it’s time for the highlight of the entire day. Be ready to dance and feel the rhythm with Kadebostany!

Kadebostany is a band from Geneva. It was founded in 2008 in what they call the “European republic of Kadebostan”. The band has a very unique visual stylistic identity and its powerful live performances and music videos (by SuperMafia) reflect that. It’s a unique opportunity to have fun dancing to their music and to listen to exceptional songs.

Of course a special fireworks show will close the day and the festival. At 11:45 pm be prepared to see Sibiu shining bright like a diamond!

We’re sure you loved Sibiu and FITS, so start getting ready for #fits2018 ! And when you come back to Sibiu, don’t forget to use Travelscounter to see the best restaurants and locations in the city! See you next time!

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Although it no longer needs any presentation, Sibiu International Theatre Festival is the most important theatre and performing arts festival in Romania and sustains a creative dialogue at a European and international level. The 24th edition of the Sibiu International Theatre Festival is starting in just a few hours, and it will take over the entire city between 9-18 June 2017.

“Love” is the main theme of this year’s edition, according to festival’s director, Mr. Constantin Chiriac, who declared : “This universal force is love. Love is light, love is gravity, because it makes people feel attracted to each other. Love is power and gives humanity the chance not to perish in its own blind selfishness. For love we live and die. Love is God and God is love. This force explains everything and gives meaning to life. Love is the most powerful force that exists. It is imperative to feed on this form of energy that is love, to save the world and find the meaning of life. We are still not ready to create a bomb of love, to remove hatred and selfishness that devastates the planet. The theme of love is the theme that governs this edition of the festival. And in this spirit, at every meeting I will recite a poem about love.”

Theatre, dance, contemporary circus, music, film projections, exhibitions, book launches, special conferences, play reading performances, workshops and student performances from all over the world will be presented in both performance halls, classic and unconventional, as well as on the main streets and squares of Sibiu. This year, FITS will showcase one of it’s most complex programme yet, including about 500 carefully selected events, in 67 venues, during 10 days, for 650.000 people who get to experience the creative side of life. The programme of FITS events is extended in 2017 to include the places of worship in Sibiu, Mărginimea Sibiului and the Transylvanian fortified churches route – The Evangelical Church in Cisnădie (Heltau), The Evangelical Church in Cisnădioara (Michelsberg), The Evangelical Church in Guşteriţa (Hammersdorf) , The Evangelical Church in Roşia (Rothberg) – thus adding a new dimension of the festival headlined by organ concerts performed by Romanian and international artists.

Of course, we’ve studied the programme quite carefully, and we find it hard to pick just some shows out of the many promising events. But still, there are some highlights we will be more than looking forward to!

“BRODSKY/BARYSHNIKOV” is one of the first shows that caught our eye. Presented by the New Riga Theatre – Latvian state theatre, “BRODSKY/BARYSHNIKOV” is a one-man show directed by Alvis Hermanis. It is based on the poems of Nobel laureate, Joseph Brodsky, interpreted by renowned dancer, choreographer and American actor, Mikhail Baryshnikov. “BRODSKY/BARYSHNIKOV” was nominated for “Performance of the Year” at the Latvian Theatre Awards and the actor was nominated for “Actor of the Year” at the same awards ceremony. Alvin Hermanis has also received many awards, such as Europe Prize New Theatre Realities, Stanislavski Award, two Golden Mask awards (Moscow), Max Reinhardt Pen (Salzburg Festspiele), Nestroy Preis (Austria) and Wolf Konrad Award (Germany). He returns at FITS for the second year, after having received a star on the Sibiu Walk of Fame.

The two heritage-performances “Faust” and “Metamorphoses” directed by Silviu Purcarete, are also on our must-see list for this year. As this years marks 10th anniversary of Sibiu European Capital of Culture, it is not by chance that the Radu Stanca National Theatre is coming back with “Metamorphoses”, a performance that celebrated the events of 2007. And “Faust” has received such high praises over the years, that we could not even imagine FITS without it!

Another much awaited performance, the project “..Aquel Silverio” – “…That Silverio”, focuses on the current state of flamenco, and the main pillars of this art, such as Silverio Franconetti. It’s a production based on research, on the recovery, analysis, study and reconstruction of dance forms, singing, music and the way in which they were made.

Returning to Sibiu, Brenda Angiel Aerial Dance Company brings us two representations of “Air Condition”. They are planning to stage a performance that will impress the audience with suspended dancers, combining energy with flight over the stage and the artistry of modern dance. We’ll all get to see tango mixed with hip-hop and ballet, and live music, composed especially for this performance.

But of course, besides the indoor theatre, dance, circus and music performances at FITS, you can also take part in the outdoor street performances, play readings, special conferences, book launches, workshops, film screenings, the drama and art management universities convention or the Sibiu Performing Arts Market. As we do each year, we are all looking forward to the spectacular opening events, that will take place in the old town. Entrance is free for outdoor events, as well as for special events – special conferences, play readings and part of the film screenings. 

FITS will keep you fully entertained these next 10 days! Access www.sibfest.ro to see the full programme, and to make sure you don’t miss out on anything!

And because at some point you will get hungry, access Travelscounter to get 10,15 or even 20% discount in all the best restaurants, coffee shops, pubs and clubs in Sibiu.

Enjoy Sibiu, and LOVE FITS!

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