Tbilisi’s Youth Theatre set for Asia TYA Festival in Tokyo

Tbilisi’s Nodar Dumbadze Professional State Youth Theatre will bring a Georgian fairytale classic to one of Asia’s high-profile festivals for young audience next week.

The troupe will present A Flea and an Ant, a contemporary staging on a popular children’s story, at the Asia Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) Festival launching in Tokyo on February 19.

It will involve folk music, song and dance from Georgia to convey the classic story of friendship and dedication.

The show involves actors as well as puppet scenes in its script. Photo: Nodar Dumbadze Professional State Youth Theatre.

This tale tells us a story of a flea, which almost sacrifices himself to save a friend. The true friendship is a precious gift which is given only those who have kind heart and pure spirit”, said the festival’s preview for the production.

Directed by Dimitri Khvtisiashvili, with choreography from Gia Margania and music by Zurab Gagloshvili, the 42-minute show will involve puppets brought to life by a cast of Georgian actors.

They will stage the show on three dates at the Nagoya Artpia Hall and the National Olympics Memorial Youth Centre.

A scene from the Youth Theatre show 'A Flea and an Ant'. Photo: Nodar Dumbadze Professional State Youth Theatre.

Along with their appearance on stage, the troupe will also participate in a TYA conference during the festival, bringing together professionals of stage art for young viewers.

Founded in 1928, the theatre company has produced and performed works based on plays by Georgian and foreign playwrights including William Shakespeare, Friedrich Schiller and Oscar Wilde.

The theatre also became the first act from Georgia to perform at the International Festival of Theatre 'Butrinti 2000' in the UNESCO World Heritage Site city of Butrint in Albania last year.

The Asia TYA Festival will run between February 19-25.