FESTIVAL IBEROAMERICANO DE TEATRO DE BOGOTÁ - REACHING FURTHER.

Uppsala City Theatre is visiting the Festival Iberoamericano de Teatro de Bogotá with five performances of ”Fanny & Alexander.” The festival engages the city of Bogotá for 17 days - and reaches internationals as well as locals from many areas.

About 3 380 persons will have seen "Fanny & Alexander" when the five performances have all been presented at the historical Teatro Colón in Bogota. The golden and several stories high theatre building offers a spectacular environment and the audiences have received the drama with amazement, laughter, tears and standing ovations - "among the best we have ever seen!"

Linus Tunström, CEO/Artistic director and the director of "Fanny & Alexander", says: "This is a wonderful experience on many levels. A local Swedish tale (Fanny & Alexander) is reaching Colombian audiences and is filling the theatre with so many emotions, at the same time as Swedish culture is in the media for one of the largest theatre festivals in the world.  

When the festival started in 1988, in the midst of domestic conflicts, the sitaution was different. Now, visiting guests are not wanting to leave, says a guest at the Swedish Embassy reception last week. 

The festival contributes to making the city safer for many persons who live, work and travel in the area. And it is an ongoing working process to share the festival and to reach as many as possible. Moreover, many programs are offered for free. 

The Ambassdor of the Swedish Embassy in Bogotá, Colombia, Marie Andersson de Frutos, affirms:

"The festival came from nowhere and nowadays attracts about 1 000 participants from many different countries. This means a lot, and it places Colombia on the map. A city like Bogotá, previously associated with violence is now standing up to creativity." She continues: "It is wonderful that one of the best theatres in Sweden is visiting to share their performance."

El Tiempo, the largest newspaper in Bogotá, wrote in advance of the visit that Uppsala City Theatre and Ingmar Bergman's "Fanny & Alexander", is one of the highlights of the festival." A full press conference before the premiere hosted media from both local TV-stations, newspapers and magazines. This weekend an interview by Yhonatan Loaiza Grisales, culture and entertainment, El Tiempo; was published with Linus Tunström: "Magia contra fascismo, un clásico de Bergman en el Iberoamericano" (El Tiempo March 12, 2016).

Communications officer Anna-Karin Blomster (from Uppsala City Theatre) is on location in Bogotá, and shares about meeting with locals in the streets of Bogotá - meetings that present the importance of making the festival as inclusive as possible. 

An audience member who just saw the dance performance ”Arrabal”, an Argentinian-American collaboration, says: "Those of us who live in Bogotá look forward to the festival months in advance. The festival is bringing everyone together; you meet persons from other countries and there is so much to see... so much that there is something for everyone, even when you like very different things."

Two participants from the colombian performance "The Royal Academy of Good Manners", Catalina Del Castillo and Paula Malik, is lifting the unique scope of the festival and the chance to experience performing arts from other cultures. 

A general observation, and a process that is ongoing - is the importance in promoting the local performing arts, and developing even more collaborations with international participants in the future. 

Uppsala City Theatre director of planning, Carl Wallin, concludes:

"It is amazing to be a part of an event that manifests itself in the city thru the performing arts while at the same time it offers a platform for artists meeting from all over the world. To be a Swedish theatre and to present a drama by a Swede, while an international team is behind the theatre production itself, is especially fitting in the context of this festival."

Visitors to "Fanny & Alexander" in Bogotá:

• Premiere, Friday March 11 - about 600 persons
• Two performances, Saturday, March 12 - about 1 230 persons.
• Sunday, March 13 – about 750 persons.
• Monday, March 14 - about 750 persons.
• Also, "Fanny & Alexander" has attracted many young visitors, ages 15-20.

Comments or interviews, please contact:

Anna-Karin Blomster, communications officer, Uppsala City Theatre, +46 (0)76-218 57 71, anna-karin.blomster@uppsalastadsteater.se

Carl Wallin, director of planning, Uppsala City Theatre, +46 (0)70-471 07 85, carl.wallin@uppsalastadsteater.se

Linus Tunström, CEO/Artistic director and the director of "Fanny & Alexander" Uppsala City Theatre, +46 (0)70 456 65 70, linus.tunstrom@uppsalastadsteater.se