Maribor, 7. May (STA) – The five-day international festival of independent theatre Prestopi/Crossing, whose aim is the crossing of the borders of theatre art, cities and countries, will bring 19 performances and three workshops to Maribor, the European Capital of Culture, between 11 and 20 May.

According to the festival’s head Zoran Petrovič, the programme will feature shows that include puppets, dance, music, performance and theatre. “We do not want to pigeonhole but connect different forms of art,” he told a press conference in Maribor on Monday.

The festival, which is three times bigger this year because of Maribor’s stint as the capital of culture, will focus on “young artists, who are co-creating the art of the European theatre but have at same time only begun establishing themselves in it”.

Therefore, Prestopi/Crossing will feature Swedish dance duo Mob, consisting of Emma-Cecilia Ajanki and Julia Giertz, French performer Barbara Melois and Czech group Fekete Seretlek, which includes Slovenian Matija Solce.

The Slovenia-produced interactive show “Diagnoza” (Diagnosis) by Zvezdana Novaković will join theatre with music, while the show “Dvojnik” (Double) by Snježana Premuš is marked by movement, sounds and visual effects.

“Večna medikacija” (Endless Medication) by Flemish performance artist Marijs Boulogne will present fairground theatre.

The Slovenian-Czech cooperation will be presented as part of a performance by six-member vocal and instrumental group Jelenove masti (Jeleni loje) and theatre play Vrnitev v Bullerbyn (Return to Bullerbyn), a co-production of the Maribor Puppet Theatre and group ALS Športniki.

The festival will also bring theatre performances to a Maribor high school, Druga gimnazija, and a 2,400-kilometre running race in the city centre. “After all, sports and culture are now joined in one ministry,” Petrovič said about the race.