FEATS Newsletter December 1999

A FEATS Steering Committee Meeting was held in Luxembourg on 9th October to select the 12 groups to take part in FEATS 2000. The selection of the groups was a bit difficult as not all had replied to the invitation and it has taken the Organising Committee some time to contact all the groups in order to finalise the selection.

The current Selection Process for FEATS was introduced in 1993 and was used for the first time to select the groups to take part in FEATS’94, the last time that the festival was held in Luxembourg.

One of the main objectives of setting up the Selection Tables was to eliminate the unfairness that was inherent when drawing names out of a hat. The "luck of the draw" meant that some teams appeared frequently at FEATS whereas others might not be selected for 2 or 3 years in a row. The greater predictability would also enable teams to plan their season more effectively. Looking back over the past 6 years, this objective seems to have been achieved. During that time, 18 of the 25 teams have performed 3 or 4 times, 5 have performed twice and 2 only once (due, I think it is fair to say, to their own choice rather than to the mechanics of the selection process).

Another objective of having three lists was to try to ensure that each year there would be a broad and representative cross section of groups taking part in FEATS. This is still working very well - this year there are three groups from The Netherlands, three from Belgium, three from Germany and one each from Denmark, Luxembourg and Switzerland.

Details of the Selection Process were published in a recent Newsletter, but if anyone would like more information about the procedure, please contact me or one of the members of the Steering Committee.

FEATS is running a string of firsts these years. In 1998 it was the first time in the newly renovated Arenberg theatre, in 1999 it was the first time in Geneva, and in 2000 it will be the first time in Esch-sur-Alzette. (And it will also be a last as it will be the final festival of the millennium – on the basis of what our theoretical accounting system has rather arbitrarily thrown up.)

It would be nice to say that it’s a double first for Luxembourg as it will be the first time in a new theatre as well as a new city, but the one is really necessitated by the other. And besides, the AATG got there first in 1995 by staging FEATS for the first time in Zoetermeer as well as (necessarily) a new theatre. And of course Geneva was also a double first, for that matter. And so is every time really. So maybe we should just say that FEATS 2000 will be a novel experience.

By the way, who was the first to pick up from the above that there is more than one city in Luxembourg? It’s true, so don’t be astonished for there are no fewer than 8 cities in the country. And no funny comments about "is there place for any country between all these cities?" please – as opposed to Texas, everything is smaller in Luxembourg. Well, a lot of things, but not FEATS 2000.

Esch might be a mini city in European terms, but the Municipal Theatre is a full-size, fully equipped, professionally-run venue which can be ’visited’ on the City of Esch website at http://www.esch.lu/. The auditorium and public areas were entirely renovated two years ago but behind the proscenium is like a favourite pair of slippers: a bit worn, yet comfortable and entirely serviceable. The back-stage space is not massive (read adequate) but the great advantage is a full height fly tower and a cyclorama that’s situated well to the back. The sight lines in the auditorium are good and so are the acoustics.

Esch-sur-Alzette is Luxembourg’s second city and is the centre of the now modernised steel industry. It’s generally just referred to as Esch, but as there’s another Esch in the north of the country (as well as an Eschdorf, an Eschette and two Eschweilers), Esch-sur-Alzette is the official name. And the Alzette is the name of the only major river in Luxembourg (OK, major in Luxembourg) that flows from south to north. It is also the name of the Luxembourg national anthem, although known in this case by its Luxembourgish name of ’Uelzecht’, pronounced Oohelt-sisht. But if you’re now expecting a riverside promenade through the city like London or Paris, dream on. Even by local terms the Alzette is not a major river as it flows though Esch. In fact most of it is through concrete pipes buried underneath the main pedestrian street, called, appropriately, rue de l’Azette. So next year, as you’re strolling down between the boutiques and the pastry shops, imagine that still minor river gurgling beneath your feet and babbling out the beat of a major tune.

Esch is also no stranger to English-language theatre, having seen a number of productions by Luxembourg’s English language amateur musical theatre group, the Pirates Productions. There also used to be a week-long festival of British theatre and music in Esch, cleverly called "BritEsch". (Read it fast and aloud to get the pun.) We thought of using the same idea for FEATS, but weren’t sure that "FeatEsch" would have the same resonance. We’re still working on it.

Luxembourg dished up a perfect autumn day for the visit of the Steering Committee to the Municipal Theatre in Esch-sur- Alzette. For the first time in its hosting history the New World Theatre Club of Luxembourg will move FEATS from the Municipal Theatre in Luxembourg to the city of Esch, a city situated, near the French border, in the vast southern plains of this gigantic country.

Esch is well known for its Italian restaurants and has 2 restaurants listed in the Gault & Millau guide [not difficult to see where writer’s interests lie].

The Municipal Theatre, with 2 spacious bar areas and a pleasant lobby, has recently undergone renovation. The newly refurbished auditorium has a very intimate atmosphere making it hard to believe that it seats 600. The theatre is often used for opera and musicals and has an incredibly deep stage, and is renowned for great acoustics.

As a tourist to the stage area, I can only report that the "techies" present examined the light and sound equipment and in the light of that examination pronounced them to be sound! Enthusiastic sounds were being uttered from all areas and we even heard the immortal words "this is a ‘flying paradise’". The on-stage activities concluded when a note-taking Ms.Dodds of Antwerp caused much intrigue by repositioning the proscenium arch ....

Unloading and set storage space do not seem to be a problem and there are plenty of dressing rooms - for those of us used to getting ready in artificially lit subterranean boxes, the large windows in the green room were really impressive.

Once again FEATS has found itself a great setting and those lucky enough to have been selected for FEATS 2000 can look forward to great facilities in a new and exciting setting.

The Municipal Theatre in Esch does have a second performing space, but it’s more suited to cabaret or jazz, so a different venue has been chosen for The Fringe, one which will allow us more flexibility. It’s the newly renovated Kulturfabrik, a cultural centre created out of the basically late 19^th century municipal abattoirs.

The first buildings were erected in 1885/86, and as a result of the growth of Esch as a steel town, more were added between 1912 and 1939. The site remained operational until 1979. In 1980 it was the venue for a local student production and in 1982 was squatted by a group of young actors, later joined by a group of artists. They turned the main building into rehearsal, performance, workshop and gallery spaces, drawing stimulation from the highly original surroundings and turning their backs on the traditional cultural institutions.

In 1983 the Kulturfabrik a.s.b.l., a non profit-making organisation, was created. Their slogan was "Freedom of action = Freedom of creation". Over the next couple of years, the members set about giving the largely derelict collection of 10 buildings a new look, and even adding a non-commercial cinema, the Kinosch. An active, vibrant alternative cultural scene was established which flourished with varying degrees of success until commercial interests seriously threatened the project. An unprecedented series of public actions finally forced the authorities to acknowledge the importance of the cultural centre and to recognise the Kulturfabrik a.s.b.l. It took another 3 years of negotiations before renovation could start, financed in part by the European Union. The Kulturfabrik is a member of a number of European cultural networks, one of the most important being the Trans Europe Halles, a grouping of largely self-funding cultural institutions in similar former industrial sites.

Two areas have been reserved for the FEATS Fringe: the 100-seater Kinosch and the second performance room, a flexible space fully equipped for theatre lighting and sound. If there’s enough interest, we’d like to use this space for theatre-in-the-round (or at least on three sides). Details of the spaces will be given in the technical data pack which will be sent out in mid-January. Both are exciting spaces with lots of scope for inventive theatre.

The Kulturfabrik will also be the venue for the FEATS Party on Saturday night. It will be in the café, a large open space which was only finished this summer but has already established itself as a good place to go to. And with more and more theatrical productions taking advantage of the flexible performance spaces, more and more people are finding out that the Kulturfabrik is literally ’just down the road’.

Following the experiment in Geneva, when plays up to 55 minutes were permitted, the FEATS 2000 organising committee in Luxembourg has decided to limit the maximum running time at FEATS 2000 to 50 minutes. The 55 minute trial in Geneva was generally felt to have been successful, but this was due to a large extent on the excellent logistics of the theatre and hotel arrangements in Geneva.

The compromise solution of 50 minutes for FEATS 2000 has been set because of the layout of the theatre in Esch. The bar areas are up flights of stairs, so extra time will be needed to move people in the intervals. The participating groups have already been informed.

Position	Name	Address	Tel. (+352-)	Fax (+352-)	E-mail
Chairman	Clíodhna Dempsey	12 rue Michel Rodange L-7248 Bereldange	4300-23772 (w) 33 92 44 (h)	4300-27740	cdempsey@europarl.eu.int
Secretary	Pamela Carlisle	62 rue Principale L-5367 Schuttrange	35 87 78 (w) 35 63 39 (h)	35 87 78	pamela.carlisle@pt.lu
Treasurer	Pauline Lloyd	78 rue Dange St Romain L-8261 Mamer	33 55 89 (w) 31 15 70 (h)	31 37 55	rflloyd@compuserve.com
Stage Manager	John Brigg	1 rue Th. Eberhard L-1451 Luxembourg	26 488 320 (w) 44 66 80 (h)	26 488 610	JBrigg@luxconsult.lu
Hospitality	Ann Overstall	23 rue Kennedy L-7371 Helmdange	33 96 71 (h)	33 19 34
Publicity	Jane Philpott	2 rue Principale L-5465 Waldbredimus	66 10 85 (h)	66 10 85	jane.philpott@zdnet.mail
	Christine Mitchell	18 rue de Moutfort L-5355 Oetrange	4301-32468 (w) 35 83 64 (h)		chris@pmsports.lu

One of the perennial problems for the FEATS Organising Committee is maintaining contact with all the various groups that make up the FEATS community.

If your contact address has changed, please make sure that you keep the Organising Committee informed. Please send any changes of address, telephone/fax numbers and e-mail addresses to Pamela Carlisle (see previous page).

Did you know that what is generally held to be the oldest English-language amateur theatre group outside the UK is a regular participant at FEATS ? The English Comedy Club of Brussels was established in 1909, though there are indications that there were people dressing up and prancing around on stage well before then, even going as far back as the Battle of Waterloo.

The fact that the ECC has made it to this ripe old age is particularly noteworthy when you consider what a transient place Brussels has become. ECC members naturally are very proud of its achievement in providing theatre to English-language audiences for such a long time and have put together a season jam-packed with events and shows.

The ECC will be producing five plays over the next year. The plays showcase recent authors (Ben Elton’s Silly Cow), mainstays of British theatre (Alan Ayckbourn’s Season Greetings) and undiscovered gems (Sam Dowling’s Riverman) There will be a musical to appeal to the young at heart (The Dracula Spectacula!) and a chance for new directors to cut their teeth (An Evening of One Act Plays).

Any matters that you would like to address to the Steering Committee should be sent to:

Jan Moorkensstraat 9, (******** NOTE NEW ADDRESS *********)
B-2600 Berchem, Belgium
Tel (h): +32 3 230 39 36 Tel (w): +32 2 533 59 69
E-mail: Secretary@feats.org

A FEATS Steering Committee Meeting was held in Luxembourg on 9th October. Its main purpose was to supervise the selection of the 12 groups, to receive Geneva’s report on last year’s festival and to visit the theatre in Esch. The selection of the groups was a bit difficult as not all had replied but we were able, amongst other things, to talk about the running of the website, which has been set up so efficiently by David Jayne. The visit to the theatre was a great success. Everyone loved the beautifully renovated, traditional Municipal Theatre and thought it would be fine for the event. We also gave them a quick glance at the Kulturfabrik down the road which is the name for the cultural centre developed from an old abattoir, full of interesting spaces, and where we intend the fringe and the party to take place.

Meanwhile those of us in Luxembourg are busy with preparations. A launch party, sponsored by the Caisse d’Epargne, and attended by the British Ambassador, was held in September in an art gallery which lies under the street next to the bank’s vaults! Unfortunately, our patron, Jacques Santer, did not make it as he was busy electioneering. People volunteered their help then and there and the jobs are gradually being filled, hotels booked, restaurants tried out......

If you use one of the well-known search engines to find the FEATS site, you may well still be confronted with entries such as "FEATS during WorldWar II" or even worse "FEATS of Lesbian Avengers discussed Wednesday...".

Apart from this slight failure, the FEATS website seems to be doing its job in distributing core and fleeting information to the FEATS community and other interested parties. There was of course a rush of interest as soon as the URL was made public (http://www.feats.org for those of you who have not yet visited us). Once the site had been scoured by the curious, the number of visits (hits) dropped off dramatically and now maintains a regular trickle of interest - unfortunately we cannot find out from whom.

Please be aware that this is YOUR site. It lives, or dies, according to the amount of up-to-date information which it provides. That is, YOUR information which could conceivably be of interest to others in the theatrical world, wherever they are in the world.

So please, the next time you are publishing something or you find something of interest, please just forward it on to us - we’ll decide where it should appear on the site and make the corresponding entry. The link to the Webmaster appears at the bottom of every page,
( ) and your Newsletter Editor Tony Broscomb also has a very simple e-mail address
( ) so make a couple of entries in your electronic directory NOW and then we’re just a couple of clicks away! We’d be happy to hear from you with your views on how the Newsletter and Website can both serve you in the future.

We have noticed that some groups have updated the links to FEATS from their web pages, other NOT. Please check if yours is correct; it must NOT go to any ’community.ch’ site anymore, but www.feats.org Thanks !

The FEATS Newsletter is currently sent to about 180 people. About half of the circulation is sent by post and the other half is sent by e-mail.

A copy of the newsletter is also placed on the FEATS website, which provides a lot of other up to date information about FEATS as well as links with other theatre groups; so some of you may now be happy to read the latest news on the website.

After more than three years as editor of the newsletter, I will be passing the pen to someone else next year and I would like to be able to hand over an up-to-date and accurate mailing list.

Before you delete this copy, please will you send me a reply to confirm that you still wish to receive the Newsletter by e-mail and, if so, that your e-mail address is correct. If you would prefer to receive a copy by post, please let me know.

Please let me know if you change your address - and please continue to send me newsletters and other information about theatrical activities in your area and any other comments or ideas about FEATS for inclusion in this Newsletter.