The International Theatre Festival which this year changed its name to "Without borders" was put on for the 15th time in Cieszyn and Český Těšín. It was held under the patronage of the Czech, Polish and Slovakian Ministers of Culture Pavel Dostal, Waldemar Dąbrowski and Rudolf Chmel respectively. The main organiser of the festival from the very beginning has been the Cieszyn branch of Polish - Czech - Slovak Solidarity, Kulturní a společenské středisko Střelnice (Střelnice Centre of Culture and Social Life) in Český Těšín and Cieszyński Ośrodek Kultury Dom Narodowy (Dom Narodowy Cieszyn Cultural Centre). Many years of co-operation with the Adam Mickiewicz Theatre in Cieszyn, the Polish Institute in Prague and the Cieszyn Affiliate of the University of Silesia and more recently with Akademia Techniczno-Humanistyczna (Academy of Science and Humanities) in Bielsko-Biała ensure the festival is well organised.

Plays by 12 theatre companies from Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary competed with each other in the festival contest. Karel Kral was theatrical adviser in the Czech Republic. Jacek Sieradzki performed that role in Poland. The international jury consisting of Silvia Huszár - Divadelní ústav, Budapest, Zuzana Uličanska - Divadelní ústav, Bratislava, Blanka Křivánková - Svet a divadlo, Prague, Vladimír Mikulka - Divadelní noviny, Prague, Krzysztof Mieszkowski - Notatnik Teatralny, Wrocław, Grzegorz Niziołek - Didaskalia, Kraków and Martin Porubjak, Bratislava (theatre director), awarded the prizes of Złamany szlaban (the Broken Barrier) to the Wałbrzych Drama Theatre for REWIZOR and the Prague Divadlo na zábradli for PUSH-UP 1-3.

Apart from the productions in the competition about 20 other productions were staged within the festival Hyde Park and judged by the festival audience from both sides of the river Olza. Two theatre performances were awarded in this category; the Katowice Cogitatur Theatre for the open-air production GOTHAM PROJEKT and the Studna Group from Hosin KOZLĺ MUŽ.

A significant addition to the festival was a two-day seminar on the problem of the multicultural character of border regions and also the 4th General Meeting of the Association of Polish-Czech-Slovak Solidarity.

During the festival three exhibitions were staged; the paintings of Mariola and Grzegorz Ptak, an exhibition presenting the festival's 15-year history and a video installation of Adam Molenda i Jarosław Skutnik.

Another highpoint of the festival was Jan Różewicz in conversation with the festival audience after the staging of DO PIACHU by Lublin Provisorium Theatre. Another important event was the large scale open-air performance PRZENIKANIE prepared and presented by Polish and Czech students.

The festival could not exist at all without financial support which the Polish side received from the European Union, the Vyšehrad Fund, Cieszyn Town Council, the Polish Ministry of Culture, the Silesian Marshal Office, Cieszyn District Council, Bracki Castle Brewery, Śnieżka Paints and Varnishes, Żywiec Group S.A., Kraft Foods Poland and Żywiec Meat Products. At press conferences which took place in Prague and Katowice, and also during interviews in the print media and on TV, the significant role of the sponsors was emphasized many times.

Marian Dembiniok
Chairman of the Cieszyn branch
Polish - Czech - Slovak Solidarity