Short Theatre 2016: Interview with Director Fabrizio Arcuri

The 2016 edition of Short Theatre, running from September 7 to 18 in Rome, features 49 companies and 150 artists, including both regulars and newcomers. The festival expands beyond theater to include dance, music, and multidisciplinary experiments. Artistic director Fabrizio Arcuri discusses the festival's evolution, emphasizing increased international collaboration through European networks and partnerships with cultural institutes. He criticizes the Italian political situation for neglecting culture over the past decade, but notes that Short Theatre has grown in quality and quantity by leveraging EU funding and international connections. New international acts include Swiss director Milo Rau, Belgian group TG STAN (making their Italian debut), and Argentine artist Fernando Rubio, who presents a continuous performance for seven spectators at a time. Returning artists include Moroccan choreographer Radouan Mriziga and Croatian choreographer Ivana Müller. The festival also launches the EU-sponsored project Source, in partnership with the Avignon Festival, Trafo Budapest, and Theatre National de Bruxelles, featuring multidisciplinary works by MP5, Teho Teardo, Daniele Spanò, Luca Brinchi, Mickaël Phelippeau, and Erwan Keravec. Music programming is highlighted by Roman bands Mokadelic and La Batteria, as well as a collaboration between Teho Teardo and MP5. The festival's theme, "Keep the village alive," serves as a call to maintain community spirit.