Georgian theatre show cancelled in Brussels amid security concerns

Tbilisi’s Royal District Theatre has returned home earlier than expected from an overseas tour after part of their performances were postponed in Belgium due to ongoing security threats.

The theatre troupe were scheduled to perform at the BOZAR Centre for Fine Arts in Brussels however returned to Tbilisi after part of their act was cancelled.

The troupe was scheduled to perform the play Pain is Youth by director Data Tavadze on November 20 and 21 but a security alert in Brussels following the terror attacks in Paris on November 14 meant only the first day’s show went ahead and the subsequent shows were postponed indefinitely.

Other international performances at the BOZAR Centre for Fine Arts that coincided with the lockdown were also cancelled. This included concerts by Palestinian singer Mohammed Assaf and French pianist Julien Brocal.

The Royal District Theatre travelled to Brussels with their production Pain is Youth by director Data Tavadze. Photo/ www.bozar.be.

It was very important to stand beside our European friends during this difficult period,” the Royal District Theatre company told its social media followers upon their return to Georgia.

The performance of Pain is Youth was scheduled in the framework of the BOZAR International Selection, which offered Georgia’s Royal District Theatre a chance for wider international recognition following its impressive display in Poland with its 2013 play Women of Troy in October.

The BOZAR Centre for Fine Arts increased its security measures on November 18 after the Paris terror attacks. At the time it announced its access control procedures would be "applied more stringently”. The city-wide lockdown followed on November 21.

The venue planned to reopen today for exhibition visitors and for concert shows starting November 27.

While the Georgian theatre group was disappointed to leave Brussels it embarked on another international tour soon after its return to Tbilisi. Later today the Royal District Theatre was scheduled to present a performance of Women of Troy in Belarus within the 2015 Youth Theatre Forum in capital Minsk.