June 21–22, 2025
The Rector of the University, Professor Giorgi Shalutashvili and Associate Professor of the Faculty of Arts, Media and Management, Marina (Maka) Vasadze, were invited to the annual conference of the International Platform for Doctoral Research in the Fields of Performing Arts and Cultural Management, organized by the Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu on June 21-22, 2025.
The main objective for the International Platform of Doctoral Research in the Fields of Performing Arts and Cultural Management is to promote inter-institutional collaboration and theatre research in the context of the Sibiu International Theatre Festival. For this purpose, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu has established partnerships with other important universities: Sorbonne Nouvelle University, Paris 3 (France); Leeds Beckett University (UK); York St. John University (UK); Folkwang Universität der Künste (Germany); Brown University (USA); Suffolk Community College (USA); Pace University (USA); The Central Academy of Drama (China); Japan Women’s University (Japan); Nagoya City University (Japan); Nihon University (Japan); Beijing Dance Academy (China); Shanghai Theatre Academy (China); Moscow State University of Culture and Arts (Russia); Waseda University (Japan); Université de Moncton (Canada); Academy of Music, Theatre and Fine Arts (Moldova), École Nationale de Théâtre du Canada (Canada).
The International Platform is an excellent opportunity for dialogue and academic interaction between young and established researchers each year, within the unique framework of the Sibiu International Theatre Festival.
The main theme of this year's conference was - The Art of Gratitude - Theater and Cultural Diplomacy.
Giorgi Shalutashvili presented at the plenary session:
Kote Marjanishvili and Cultural Diplomacy in the 1920s.
Giorgi Shalutashvili spoke about the birth of the director’s theatre in Georgia and Kote Marjanishvili as the founder of modern Georgian theatre. He discussed Marjanishvili’s directing style and drew parallels between the theatrical explorations in Georgia and Europe during that period, highlighting both commonalities and differences.
Marine (Maka) Vasadze presented at the plenary session:
Robert Sturua – The Ambassador of Georgian Theatre on the Global Stage
In her presentation, Marine (Maka) Vasadze briefly introduced the leading figures of Georgian theatre and explained why, despite its artistic achievements, Georgian theatre remained unknown to the rest of the world until Robert Sturua’s productions. She outlined the historical and political reasons behind this and provided an in-depth analysis of the phenomenon of Robert Sturua’s directorial language. She explored the results of the synthesis between Brecht’s epic theatre theory, the alienation effect, and the Georgian national theatre tradition. In conclusion, she explained why Robert Sturua rightfully holds the title of ambassador of Georgian theatre on the world stage.
ფესტივალის ფარგლებში ორგანიზებულ კონფერენციაზე ჩვენი უნივერსიტეტის წარმომადგენლების მონაწილეობა პროდუქტიული იყო საერთაშორისო ურთიერთობებისა და მომავალი ერთობლივი პროექტების განხორციელების თვალსაზრისით. დაიგეგმა თბილისში უნივერსიტეტის ბაზაზე რობერტ სტურუას „კავკასიური ცარცის წრის“ დადგმიდან 50 წლის აღსანიშნაად კონფერენციის გამართვა უნივერსიტეტის ბაზაზე, ასევე, უცხოელი სპეციალისტების მოწვევა მასტერკლასების და ვორქშოფების ჩასატარებლად.