14-16 of April
The 2025 Artistic Directors’ Address:
Theatre is poetry that steps out of the book and walks the streets”
– Federico Garcia Lorca
The tradition of open-air street theatre began to gain momentum mainly after World War II, when European countries worked to establish street theatre festivals, in order to prevent alienation and isolation by means of an unmediated artistic encounter that connects and brings hearts closer together…
The Lamp Lighter
Country | Catalonia
Like in a silent movie full of atmosphere, Texma Muñoz from Barcelona, waits at the station for the train to arrive. A light bulb, a jacket and a backpack take him away, to a place full of poetry, beauty, humor and fantasy. With pantomime, clowning, magic and visual images, Texma Muñoz takes us to the next station, where his longing for companionship meets the imagination, creating a world in which everything is possible.
Ages: +6
Duration: 30 minutes
Original idea: Txema Muñoz
Interpretation: Txema Muñoz
External vision: Carles Sans TRICICLE
Original soundtrack: Tomás Peire
Set design: Sergi Torrelles
Costume design: Piti Demore
Production: Judith Dress Art
Lighting design: Mario Andrés Gomez
Sound design: Ruben Ruiz
Thanks to: Peter Shub, JAM, Carlo Mo, Lluís Petra, Montmeló City Council, José Luis Salmerón
Picture Credit: Montse Giralt
Website: www.txemamunoz.com
14-16/04 |13:50,17:00| stage 11
Pandora
Country | Portugal
She and he live together in love, alongside the Monster of Routine… When they decide to break the mold, nothing will stop them! Through breathtaking acrobatics, magic tricks and hilarious adventures, Brenna and Oren from Portugal discover their ways of being superheroes, and reinvent the rules for a winning couple!
Ages: for all the family
Duration: 30 minutes
Participants: Oren Schreiber Berna Huidobro
Art Director: Yvgeny Mayorga
Costumes: Margozata Trazewic Wocitsc
Picture Credit: Ben Wagner
Website: www.duo-niu.com
14-16/04 |11:20, 16:30| Stage 7
The Ski Brothers
Country | Czech Republic
Out of season and in the wrong place, two skiers are preparing for a race. They are wearing their skis, their mustaches are combed and their cup of tea is ready! Their “schuss” is about to begin – but who knows how it will end… Equipped with tons of humor, acrobatics, juggling, an explosion of energy and heaps of charm, they turn the failed race into an adventure, and like true champions they prove that the greatest prize is the experience!
Duration: 25 minutes
Ages: from 5
Cross-country skiers: Adam Jarchovský, Václav Jelínek
Supervision: Tomsa Legierski
Costumes: Jarmila Enochová
Producer: Michaela Holbíková, ART Prometheus
Picture Credit: František Ortmann
Website: www.bratrivtricku.cz
14-16/04 |14:20,16:00| stage 5
Happy Hoop
Country | Italia
Sometimes a hoop is just a hoop and sometimes it’s an overwhelming invitation to a new relationship! Silvia Martini, from Italy, amazes us as she juggles the hula hoop with amazing dexterity, enchanting the audience and making everyone who comes on stage with her dizzy and twirling with love.
Ages: 0-100
Duration: 20 minutes
Creator and performer: Silvia Martini
Picture Credit: Andrea Macchia
Website: www.silviamartini.com
14-16/04 |14:25,16:05| stage 13
The Postman
Country | Catalonia
They say he is the only postman to have delivered letters all over the world! He has delivered packages to the Queen of England, the Pope and even to Lionel Messi! But now he has a package without an address… Who is it for? What should he do? Texma Muñoz from Barcelona, explodes with energy, conquering the audience with magic and humorous interactions! He is a dedicated postman who is looking for an address, but maybe along the way he will find a friend and he may even find love…?
Ages: +6
Duration: 30 minutes
Original Idea: Txema
Direction: Txema Muñoz
Co-Direction: Mario Andres Gómez, Jaume Jové (JAM) and Mai Rojas
Original Soundtrack: Tomás Peire i Lucas Peire
Scenography: Placton escena, StageLab
Costume desing: Paulette
Dressmaking: Dress-Art
Lights design: Mario Andrés Gómez
Stage Manager: Núria Campos and Roger Arjona Golden Gaobi Award, Shenzhen. CHINA
Picture Credit: Marc Roura
Website: www.txemamunoz.com
14-16/04 |11:55| stage 8
Wishes
Country | Israel
In search of an appropriate birthday wish, a woman embarks on a fantastic and magical journey in her living room.
With mesmerizing acrobatics and objects that come to life, with wild humor and poignant moments Inal Guri creates a fantastic and electrifying world full of surprises, proving once again that sometimes we know what we are looking for, but never know what we’ll find.
Ages: all the family
Duration: 30 minutes
creator: Enel gury
Picture Credit: Enel gury
Website: www.facebook.com/circusmaayanzvi
14-16/04 |11:10,15:30| stage 16
Chihuahua Around the World
Country | Israel
From famous book by Jules Verne, Phileas Fogg and his servant Passepartout land in Haifa in a spectacular hot air balloon! A group photo reveals to them that their dog, Chihuahua, has disappeared! The search that begins here travels to distant lands, among colorful characters, absurd situations, slapstick humor, pantomime and a relationship that becomes complicated.
A multidimensional, intergalactic and hilarious show.
Ages: for all the family
Duration: 30 minutes
Actors: Daniel Zafrani ,Jerome Arous
Costume Designer: Rut Tovi
Ball Illustrator and Set Designer: Dana Shitrit
Ball Construction: Chen Erez
Website: jeronimo.bewebs.co
14-16/04 |12:20,13:45,16:25|stage 9
White Sail
Country | Israel
Rotem and Aya are the dedicated crew of a boat that is about to set sail and take you, the audience, on an unforgettable voyage. A multitude of mishaps, storms and misunderstandings almost gets them lost, but with the virtuosity of champions, Rotem and Aya are not about to give up. With lots of laughter, humanity and compassion, the two women will not let any disruption take the wind out of their sails! A breathtaking and beautiful performance of aerial acrobatics.
Ages: 3-99
Duration: 30 minutes
Creating artists: Ayah Dayan and Rotem Sapir.
The performance show was created with the support of Mifal HaPais for new productions in dance and performance in 2024.
Picture Credit: Igal Gofman
Website: www.instagram.com/ayah.straps
14-16/04 |12:45,14:55| stage 12
Toys
Country | Germany
Three lively and colorful Lego characters step out of their box into the real world, full of life and curiosity! Mischievously they celebrate their freedom with tricks and acrobatics, sweeping the entire audience into a once-in-a-lifetime toy experience
Ages: for all the family
Duration: 30 minutes
Director: Rolf Kassalicky Actors: Jasmin Falk, Judith Gorgass, Egmont Körner
Picture Credit: PIC BY zebra-stelzen
Website: www.zebra stelzen.de
14-16/04 |11:10,13:55,16:45| stage 5
Hair-raising Experience
Country | Israel
Unexpected Hair Storms! Three heads get entangled, tied together and go wild with their hair. What’s going on in their heads? The hair becomes a living arena, a hiding place and a playground, where funny, dramatic and surprising relationships develop between the heads and a cat, a bird’s nest and a little mouse, the neighbors who live in their hair!
Ages: for all the family
Duration: 25 minutes
Art director: Sharon Alpert
Dramaturgy: Yael Erlich Morag. Design: Sharon Alpert, Yael Erlich Morag, Adi Kahana.
Picture Credit: PIC BY zebra-stelzen
Website: www.bait-9.com
14-16/04 |11:40,13:20, 14:30,16:25| stage 14
Grasshopper Way
Country | Germany
They are the most bouncy, topsy-turvy and disheveled creatures in town! Full of groove and full of fun, they hit the beat, and stoke the vibes for one and all! The colorful grasshoppers will get you jumping with joy. They’ll surprise you with their boldness and fill the days of spring with pure fun.
Ages: for all the family
Duration: 30 minutes
Director: Rolf Kassalicky
Designer: Machado Costumes
Actors: Volha Karankevich-Koch, Quirin Schüssler
Picture Credit: Photo Credit Katharina Fuchs
Website: www.zebra-stelzen.de
14-16/04 |11:45,13:10,15:55| stage 5
On the Wave
Country | Israel
Two surfers lost the sea, but they found the waves! In their colourful surf gear and with plenty of groove, they ride giant transparent waves, manoeuvring with grace, moving in rhythm, they spread wide smiles of sunshine! They’re on the lookout for sharks, they avoid the rocks and immerse the audience into to an energetic beach experience, without you having to swallow water and without getting any sand in your underwear!
Ages: for all the family
Duration: 35 minutes
Orto-da theter group production
Creators: Rudnev alona, Avi Gibson barel
Performers: Nehora joseph, Shay Galor
Website: www.orto-da.com
14-16/04 |12:00, 13:35, 16:25| STAGE 5
In the Land of the Gnomes
Country | Germany
The two garden gnomes are tired of looking at the plants and smiling at the birds. Together with their flowerbed, they go out to meet people! Full of innocence, curiosity, pranks and enthusiasm they discover the surprising world of human beings and manage to surprise the audience as well!
A colourful, cheerful and beautiful show about a magical world, just waiting to be discovered.
Ages: for all the family
Duration: 30 minutes
Picture Credit: PIC BY zebra-stelzen
Website: www.zebra-stelzen.de
14-16/04 |12.00, 13.15,15.25, 16:35| STAGE 14
Silent Gifts
Country | Israel
Produced by the Boker Theater Group with Ofira Laniado Boker and Gadi Levy.
The groom has smashed the ceremonial glass, the dancers have left the floor and the newlyweds, still in their wedding finery, are walking with a cart full of promising gifts! One by one they open them and discover joyful, strange and also upsetting surprises… With humour, spontaneous interaction with the audience and with cooperation, the new couple tries to overcome the challenges, disagreements and absurd situations that confront them, in order to discover the most important gift of all – the gift of love.
Ages: for all the family
Duration: 15 minutes
14-16/04 |11:45, 12:25, 14:35, 16:40| STAGE 14
The 2024 Artistic Directors’ Address:
Theatre is poetry that steps out of the book and walks the streets”
– Federico Garcia Lorca
The tradition of open-air street theatre began to gain momentum mainly after World War II, when European countries worked to establish street theatre festivals, in order to prevent alienation and isolation by means of an unmediated artistic encounter that connects and brings hearts closer together.
In these days of chaotic world order and war, when depression is the prevailing mood, it is our duty to ask: “What is the role of open air street theatre?”
We see our mission as the creation of a quiet artistic space, full of humor, beauty and joy. A space that rebels against the prevailing chaos. A space that inspires the courage and the uncompromising aspiration to create an alternative, bold reality, full of imagination and love, in order to preserve sanity, to inspire and to enrich the future of the most important people in the world: our children.
The open-air street theatre complex of the Haifa International Festival for Children’s Theatre has become a household name in the international community of street theatre and circus artists, due to the careful selection of artists who attend and perform at the festival, and the assembly of unique artistic programs which are precisely selected to suite and to be adapted to the Benjamin Garden and the Haifa Theatre Square.
Despite the current situation in Israel, unique international groups, will come to perform, each in its own field, and we are expecting an exciting and inspiring festival.
Haifa is a multicultural city and therefore the International Street-Theatre Festival will be rich in plays without words intended for every audience of every age, with free admission.
We are keeping our fingers crossed and hoping for comfortable weather, a calm Middle East without war, and a lively festival, with its own European flavor.
It is a great privilege to establish and to promote the art of street theatre in Israel, and the ORTO-Da theatre group, whose roots are deeply rooted in this tradition, is proud to present to you an exciting artistic program, for the eleventh consecutive year.
Many people have had the privilege of participating in this project, and we thank them:
A special thank you to Nita Ben Zvi, the Festival Director, who enthusiastically shares our vision of transforming the Haifa Festival into an international event.
A big thank you to Roy Segev, the Artistic Director of the Festival, for his cooperation and full trust, and to Moshe Naor, the Artistic Director of the Haifa Theatre, for a wonderful partnership.
A huge thank you to the wonderful team of the ORTO-Da Theatre Group, to Natalie Tischler – artistic Producter Yifat Zandani-Tzafrir and to Helena Pasternak for their committed work full of soul and spirit.
A thank you to the Haifa Theatre team, to the Haifa Municipality, to the cultural attachés of Italy and the Czech Republic for their support of the festival, and a huge thank you to the wonderful artists and the dedicated audience who together celebrate faith in creativity as well as hope and humanity.
Best regards,
Yinon Tzafrir, Avi Gibson Bar-El
ORTO-Da Theater Group – Artistic Management of the Open Air, Street Theater Festival.
