INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S THEATRE FESTIVAL OPENS IN ZAGREB

( Editorial: --> 9587 ) ZAGREB, June 8 (Hina) - A performance of "The Lady In the Dresser" in Zagreb's Komedija Theatre Sunday evening opened the first international festival of professional theatres for children and youth, called "Orbit - Milk Tooth". "The Lady In the Dresser" was performed in Croatian by the Belgian theatre company Blauw Vier. The festival was organised by the Mala Scena Theatre from Zagreb and the ASSITEJ Croatian Centre. Closing June 14, it will feature theatre companies from Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Austria and Croatia. The festival will also feature conferences on the German, Dutch and Flemish theatre for children and youth, a seminar on drama writing and directing, and workshops for education counsellors. According to festival manager Ivica Simic, only the best European theatre companies have been chosen. They will present their latest productions and performances which have marked the last decade of work for children. The roots of the festival date back to 1994, when a group of artists from five European countries performed in refugee camps in Dalmatia, southern Croatia, Simic said. The festival, whose patron is the Zagreb City Authorities, was opened by Jagoda Martincevic on behalf of the Croatian Ministry of Culture. (hina) ha jn 081200 MET jun 98