The seventh Curitiba Theatre Festival begins today at The Opera de Arame Theatre in the Brazilian city of Curitiba, capital of Parana state. Curitiba is located in the south of Brazil and is famous for its cultural and social structures. Theatre and cinema premieres are often organized and performed there before they are seen in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

Several theatres of the city are going to be part of the most important event of the Brazilian theatre, that runs March 19- 29. This year, in addition to the the usual presentation of official plays, Curitiba Theatre Festival offers a parallel program including debates about present drama writing, exhibitions, book readings, and free performances and concerts on the streets of Curitiba.

Among 59 plays to be performed during the Festival, are the following: Needles and Opium written and directed by Robert Lapage; Divine Words by Ramon del Valle Inclan directed by Nehle Franke; Ivanov by Anton Chekhov directed by Eduardo Tolentino; Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov, directed by Renato Borghi; The Tempest by William Shakespeare directed by Marcos Azevedo and Eduardo Bonito; Oscar Wilde written and directed by Gilberto Gawronski and Diary of a Madman by Nikolai Gogol, directed by Marcus Alvisi.

The best theatres of Curitiba will present the plays at diverse times to cater to different audiences. The complete program of the Festival is available at The Opera de Arame Theatre in Curitiba. For more information call 041 223 8919.

--By Nertutila Achao

Brazil Correspondent