VIII INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF THEATRICAL SCHOOLS OF THE BRICS COUNTRIES
19.09.25 - 28.09.25

THE MOTTO OF
THE FESTIVAL :

BRIGHT
REAL
INTELLIGENT
CREATIVE
STUDENTS

About festival

The international festival of theatre schools of the BRICS countries is a major celebration for creative youth who have linked their lives and careers to the theatrical arts. The festival offers a unique opportunity for students from different countries to exchange theatrical traditions and experiences with each other on a single stage, showcase their art to a broad public, and find new friends.
The festival participants include students aged 17 to 22, as well as masters from renowned theatre schools. It has been held in Moscow since 2017 and serves as an important strategic resource for public diplomacy. The annual events of the BRICS Youth Theatre Forum are attended by approximately 10 million spectators.

During the 9 days of the Festival, the audience will be able to see performances, master classes, and concert programs specially prepared by the Festival participants. There will also be themed tours of the capital's theaters and museums, joint conferences, and events dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory. The Festival will traditionally conclude with a joint performance featuring students from all the participating countries. This year, as part of the Year of Russian-Chinese Friendship, the play "The Orphan Zhao" by a 13th-century Chinese author will be performed. The play will be a good reason for a deep study of the millennia-old culture of China. The performance, which will feature all the languages of the participating countries, should be understandable to all viewers. After all, the language of art does not require translation. And the Festival's motto stands for the abbreviation BRICS.: "Big ones. Different. Art Brings Continents Closer Together."

From September 20 to 28, 2025, on one of Moscow's open-air stages, the 8th International Festival of BRICS Theatre Schools will take place. The organizer and creator of the festival is the Iosif Kobzon Institute of Theatrical Art (named after the People's Artist of the USSR Iosif Kobzon). The forum is held with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia and the Moscow Department of Culture.
The International Festival of BRICS Theatre Schools is a great celebration of young talent dedicated to the theatrical arts. The festival offers students from different countries a unique opportunity to exchange theatrical traditions and experiences with each other on a single stage, showcase their art to a wide audience, and find new friends.
Participants include students aged 17 to 22, as well as masters from renowned theatre schools. Held in Moscow since 2017, the festival serves as an important strategic platform for public diplomacy. The events of the BRICS Youth Theatre Forum attract an audience of approximately 10 million viewers annually.

VIII BRICS 2025 RELEASE

The I.D. Kobzon Institute of Theatrical Art

The I.D. Kobzon Institute of Theatrical Art (named after the People's Artist of the USSR) is a socially oriented non-profit organization, holding the requisite licenses and state accreditation.
The Institute's faculty comprises distinguished figures of Russian culture: People's Artists of the Russian Federation, Honored Artists of the Russian Federation, Honored Cultural Workers, laureates of State Prizes, as well as associate professors and full professors.
In 2022, the Institute celebrated its 10th anniversary. Today, it proudly possesses its own history, traditions, a distinctive artistic identity, and a unique creative atmosphere. This has been made possible by the exceptional professionalism of the Institute's masters and teachers, who passionately impart invaluable knowledge and essential theatrical skills to every student. Our graduates perform in leading theaters across Moscow, Russia, and neighboring countries, and work in film and television.
The Institute remains committed to Russian traditions and high spiritual-moral values, nurturing and developing these within the younger generation through culture and creative expression.
The Institute's unified Faculty of Stage Arts encompasses seven departments:

1. Dramatic Art (Acting and Directing)
2. Physical Art (Stage Movement and Dance)
3. Vocal Art (Solo and Ensemble Singing)
4. Stage Speech (Oratory and Artistic Word)
5. Choreographic Art
6. Humanities
7. Arts Management

Over 500 students study within 21 creative workshops, absorbing knowledge and experience from their outstanding teachers with great dedication.
Since 2017, the Institute has been the organizer of the «International Festival of Theatre Schools of the BRICS Countries».

RUSSIA

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Roopak Nrityalaya Dance school

Founded in 1975 in Pune by Mrs. Manjiri Karulkar (senior disciple of Guru Pandita Maneesh Sathe), Roopak Nrityalaya is a Kathak school training students globally for over 50 years. It admits all ages and levels, focusing on holistic development as dancers and performers. Students prepare for exams by Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal and Bharati Vidyapeeth, and pursue Bachelor's/Master's degrees (Pune/Bharati Vidyapeeth Universities) under Karulkar's guidance. The comprehensive syllabus covers Taal, Abhinaya, and technical aspects, equipping students with performance, choreography, music, and teaching skills. Its dedicated troupe performed at Delhi's 2022 Republic Day Azadi ka Amritmahotsav, reflecting the school's growth and impact.

INDIA

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Shanghai Theatre Academy

The Shanghai Theatre Academy (STA) is a prestigious Chinese university training professionals in the performing arts. Founded in 1945 as the Shanghai Municipal Experimental Theatre School, it adopted its current name in 1956. Since 2002, STA has been a comprehensive arts university encompassing theatre, Chinese opera, dance, film, and television. Its educational spectrum ranges from vocational secondary programs to doctoral degrees.
STA employs over 500 staff, including more than 300 faculty members. It has an enrollment of over 2,200 undergraduate students and more than 1,000 graduate students.
The Academy operates four specialized campuses (Huashan – theatre, Lianhua – Chinese opera, Hongqiao – dance, Changlin – film/TV/media) and comprises 10 departments/institutes (Acting, Directing, Playwriting, Stage Design, Chinese Opera, Dance, Film, Stagecraft & Arts Management, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Continuing Education), along with two affiliated secondary schools (Chinese Opera School and Dance School).
STA has trained thousands of outstanding artists and cultural managers for the nation. Its graduates, recipients of numerous major awards, are leading professionals enjoying high repute and significant influence both in China and internationally.

CHINA

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Waterfront Theatre School

Founded in the early 1990s by Keith Galloway and Delia Sainsbury, the Waterfront Theatre School (WTS) pioneered "triple threat" training (singing, dancing, acting). Its 4-year non-formal programme aligns with global standards and offers international accreditation via Trinity College London and ISTD (OFQUAL-registered, NQF levels 4-6, though not SAQA-recognized). As the performing arts evolve, WTS adapts its approach, equipping students with diverse skills for sustainable careers as performers, teachers, and creators. Its vocational focus cultivates industry pioneers who redefine the "triple threat" concept for tomorrow's creative landscape.

SOUTH AFRICA

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Indonesia Institute of the Arts Yogyakarta

As Indonesia’s leading higher education institution in the arts, ISI Yogyakarta embraces a creative concept that blends local cultural heritage with contemporary artistic exploration. Our academic approach encourages students and faculty to engage with traditional Indonesian performance arts—such as wayang, gamelan, and classical dance—while also innovating through modern theatre, interdisciplinary performance, and multimedia expression.
This fusion of heritage and innovation forms the core of our educational vision, enabling artists to respond critically and creatively to global cultural dialogues while maintaining strong local roots. ISI Yogyakarta nurtures artists who not only perform but also question, interpret, and reimagine their cultural landscape on the global stage.

INDONESIA

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The Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts

The Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts (BSUCA), founded in 1975 as the Minsk Institute of Culture, is the leading higher education institution in the field of national culture. It was transformed into a university in 1993 and received its current name in 2004. It comprises 4 faculties (Cultural Studies and Socio-Cultural Activities; Musical and Choreographic Art; Artistic Culture; Information and Documentary Communications) and an Institute for Advanced Training and Retraining. The teaching staff numbers over 350, with 50% holding academic degrees. BSUCA boasts a modern material and technical base (choreographic studios, workshops for traditional crafts, etc.) and was the first in its field to receive an STB ISO 9001 compliance certificate (2011). Over the years, it has trained more than 40,000 specialists.

BELARUS

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The Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Cinematography

The Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Cinematography (YSITC), founded in 1944, is a state-accredited higher education institution in Armenia under the Ministry of Education. It operates regional branches in Vanadzor and Gyumri. The institute comprises three faculties:

• Theatre (acting, directing, choreography);
• Film, TV, and Animation (film directing, cinematography, scenography, TV production design);
• Art History, Theory, and Management (art history, theatre studies, film studies, screenwriting).

YSITC offers Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral programs aligned with the Bologna Process. It received institutional accreditation for four years in 2023. An active international partner, it joined the UNESCO Performing Arts Network (2014), collaborates with 35+ organizations, and hosts conferences and festivals. Publishes the peer-reviewed journal Handes.

ARMENIA

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PAST FESTIVALS:

The First BRICS Festival

Venue: VDNKh
Play: Romeo and Juliet by W. Shakespeare
Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet demonstrates that love, though beautiful, can be destroyed by hatred and prejudice. Despite Romeo and Juliet’s genuine love, their family feud leads to their demise. The play raises questions about the power of love, the consequences of hatred, and the importance of overcoming prejudice.

1.

2017

The Second BRICS Festival

Venue: Open-air stage at Zaryadye Park
Play: The Servant of Two Masters by C. Goldoni
The main takeaway from Carlo Goldoni’s comedy The Servant of Two Masters is that love and honesty triumph over deceit and cunning. Despite numerous comedic situations arising from Truffaldino’s double life, all couples find happiness in the end, deception is revealed, and reconciliation follows. Truffaldino, through his wit and cunning, also gains an advantage, and even Smeraldina, the maid with a similar character, finds happiness.

2018

The Third BRICS Festival

Venue: Open-air stage at Zaryadye Park
Play: Oedipus Rex by Sophocles
Sophocles’ tragedy Oedipus Rex shows that a person must take responsibility for their actions, even if committed unknowingly or under the influence of fate. Oedipus, trying to avoid the destiny foretold by prophecy, unintentionally kills his father and enters into an incestuous marriage with his mother. However, upon realizing his fate and accepting guilt, he does not shift blame onto the gods or destiny but punishes himself by blinding himself and exiling himself from the city.

The Fourth BRICS Festival

Venue: Moscow Art Comedy Theatre (MKhTK)
Play: Mother Courage and Her Children by B. Brecht
Bertolt Brecht’s play Mother Courage and Her Children is an anti-war drama that condemns the capitalist system and its impact on human relationships, especially during wartime. Brecht shows that war is a continuation of politics by other means and that human virtues, such as courage and love, can lead to destruction in wartime conditions.

2020

The Fifth BRICS Festival

Venue: Moscow Art Comedy Theatre (MKhTK)
Excerpts from works by F.M. Dostoevsky
F.M. Dostoevsky’s works explore profound philosophical and moral questions related to human nature, suffering, faith, free will, and responsibility. His novels often delve into the inner worlds of characters, their struggles with temptation, and the consequences of their actions.

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2021

The Sixth BRICS Festival

Venue: Moscow Art Comedy Theatre (MKhTK)
Series of scientific-practical conferences on the works of F.M. Dostoevsky
Dostoevsky emphasizes the absolute value of every human life, regardless of social status or moral qualities. The writer shows how people can experience moral downfall, commit crimes, but also be reborn through suffering and repentance. Dostoevsky explores the theme of free choice and how individuals bear responsibility for their decisions and consequences.

2023

The Seventh BRICS Festival

Venue: Open-air stage at VDNKh
Play: The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish by A.S. Pushkin
The main lesson from A.S. Pushkin’s The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish is that greed and insatiable desires do not lead to happiness; instead, they can deprive one of even what they already possess. The tale teaches us to value what we have and not to strive for excessive wealth or power, as this can lead to ruin.

2024

Festival venue: Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy (VDNKh)

Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy (VDNKh) is the world's largest exposition, museum, and recreational complex. Since its opening on August 1, 1939, it has undergone several name changes — VSKhV, VDNKh SSSR, VVC. Today, VDNKh is a unique space for museum and exhibition projects, international trade shows and congresses, festivals, and celebrations.
It is at VDNKh where you can see outstanding architectural masterpieces that collectively serve as a monument to the Soviet era and exemplify the dominant architectural styles of different periods. Among them are the Worker and Kolkhoz Woman monument, the Friendship of Nations and Stone Flower fountains, and pavilions such as Agriculture, Soviet Culture, Space, among others.