Kremnické Gagy 2008 - The Central European Festival of Humour and Satire

It was launched in 1981 by a group of enthusiastic theatrical artists and ranks among the oldest festivals in Central Europe. The Festival is designed to be a national competition for the most recent works of art and last season’s comic and satirical shows, and serves as an international display of comic productions.

The Festival plays a significant social role in the life of Slovakia and its international importance has been increasing. It has been discovered not only by national dramaturges and directors but has also provoked the curiosity of international spectators, producers and guests alike. The Festival is very popular. Thanks to its special atmosphere, Kremnica with its six thousand inhabitants, is visited by 10 to 12 thousand visitors from the entire Central European region during the last weekend in August. Top artistic groups and soloists perform or exhibit at 13 interior or exterior stages and platforms in a radius of 1.5 kilometres around the town centre (in squares, courtyards and cultural venues). The event culminates in the presentation of the prestigious Zlatý Gunár Award (The Golden Gander Award) in 15 categories. The Slovak Academy of Humour also grants the Stano Radič Award for the find of the year and the Trafená Hus (The Shot Goose) antiaward for things that dumfound even comedians.

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The Festival has a clear long-term vision – THE EUROPEAN GAGS. This has become the conceptual climax of the efforts by two generations of organisers and the new management, which revived the Festival in 2004. Two years ago, artists from the Vyšehrad Group of Four countries entered and have continued to perform at the competition and last year the Festival welcomed performers from France, Germany and Switzerland. This year more than 300 artists from ten European Countries including Slovakia will perform their 88 productions – many of them first nights in a Central European context – at the 28th year of the Festival (August 29–31, 2008). The organisers do not categorise the artists into amateurs and professionals whose invitation is based on the originality and quality of their performances. The combination of the amateur alongside the professional inspires all the participants, brings out new qualities and develops interpersonal and international cooperation but most importantly, it is a source of relaxation and a happy mood.

More info: www.gagy.eu

By Ján Fakľa
Photo: Čillík, Lašút, Mišiak, Uhliarik

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