&Fest – Focus Gent 5 – 28 March 2024

A sporting event, a rock concert, or a dance marathon? Come and decide for yourself. In director Miet Warlop’s ONE SONG, one song is replayed over and over, yet nothing remains the same. The combination of intensive music and movement expands into a collective experience that leaves no one cold. The New York Times selected the performance as one of the best of 2022 – and not for nothing!

A documentary about modern colonialism set in the Amazon, portraying a community’s fight against capitalism. Swiss theatre director Milo Rau’s work depicts ordinary people’s struggle for their land, and against environmental destruction. Documentation filmed in Brazil and an international cast create an allegorical play that reports a real-life story about political protest and collective heroism.

Don’t let the numbers faze you – these coordinates transport you to a visually impressive and amusing location that welcomes all comers. Co-produced by &, this compelling physical theatre production is by Peeping Tom, one the world’s most widely acclaimed dance theatre companies. It's an apocalyptic metaphor for survival, the work examines actors’ personal survival, amidst the crises of our day.

Two decades ago, South Korea endured an economic crash, causing mass unemployment, rising inequality, suicides, and loneliness. Cuckoo weaves the theme into a dialogue between the director Jaha Koo and programmed smart rice cookers. Jaha and rice cookers Hana, Duri, and Seri unpack South Korea's past, blending bittersweet recollections with and thoughts on happiness, economic crises and death.

Ontroerend Goed is remembered by our audiences for their pandemic era production TM – performed, and experienced, one-on-one. Now they bring us Funeral, an Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2023 winning work reimagining funerals and other traditional ceremonies. Funeral is a dramatic, gently interactive ritual created collaboratively with a small group of audience members.

A massive audience favourite, Circus Ronaldo arrives to Espoo for the sixth time. And now, a new generation emerges front and centre, with Nanosh Ronaldo leading the way. Acrobats, trapeze and fire artists swing along with musicians and jugglers creating a 1940’s cabaret, awash with plush red velvet and arrogant jazz. A guaranteed hit with the whole family!

5.3.2024 14.00-17.00
Kupla (Kauppamiehentie 7)

The seminar's structure commits to local participation and inclusive ways of engaging citizens of different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. This also aligns with the spirit of the priorities picked by the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU for spring 2024: culture and participation.

9.3.2024 16.45-17.30
Ahjo, Espoo Cultural Hall

The relationship between art and activism becomes closer and more heightened in a world living with an ecological crisis. Art can both question and reimagine the world we live in. What can activists achieve by making art? Join the conversation after the performance of Antigone in the Amazon at the Espoo Cultural Centre at 4.45pm (approx. starting ti

15.3.2024 15.00-18.00
&Revontuli (Revontulentie 8)

In the last five years, we have seen right-wing populist parties and coalitions getting more visibility and power, which has led to a shift in the whole political field. At the same time, also in Western societies we see an increased tendency among politicians and officials to intervene with the content of art. The times cries for theatre makers