About the Festival

  • Organised since 2005
  • The biggest and the most representative festival of theatres which perform in Slovakia
  • It presents especially current productions by professional theatres in Slovakia
  • It takes place in the Slovak Chamber Theater and in the streets of Martin

▄ The theatre festival Touches & Connections, which took the place for the first time in June 2005, is a presentational non-competitive festival presenting current production of the professional theatres in Slovakia. The ambition of the festival is to seek and present the most interesting and the most inspiring theatrical productions and thus to create a space for identifying the local tendencies in the Slovak theatrical art.

▄ The festival is characterized by intercultural dimension (theatres of the national minorities in Slovakia are presented); genre variety (apart from drama performances it offers puppet shows, mime, dance theatre, opera, ballet and other alternative forms); it is aimed at all ages and uses a variety of spaces (Rock scene - a proscenium space, studio space, street theatre, outdoors - open air production on a large stage, theatre in the festival tent). In addition to the main programme, (presentation of the most inspiring productions of the current season), the festival also offers an accompanying work programme. The two programmes together form a compact whole.

▄ The dramaturgy has no predetermined theme. The festival is a platform for presenting quality theatre, especially drama and its diverse forms, genres and approaches → revealing dramaturgy; interesting topics, issues, innovative directorial approaches, actor portrayals, means of expression, copyright, original theatre, unique production, etc.

▄ The festival is a platform for reflection and a renewal of dialogue between the theatre-makers, critics and theatre-goers → for a high-quality feedback because theatrical art is not complete only when there is a high quality theatrical production but also a critical reflection → it has the ambition to resonate in Slovakia´s theatres as an important basis for comparison

▄The festival is a non-competitive showing → it does not award a numerical order but it provides verbal feedback in a dialogue with theatre-makers

▄ The festival is a work platform → it expands a knowledge in the field of theatrology and theatre management, exchange of information and experience

▄ The festival brings the world of theatre closer to people

▄ The festival raises the interest of the general public and the media, it enriches the intellectual and cultural life in Martin and its region