High Fest to be opened by Iranians, organizers recall shoe thrown at George Bush

PanARMENIAN.Net - President of High Fest international performing arts festival Arthur Ghukasyan said that some changes have been made in the festival program.

Specifically, the festival will be opened with Annat drama of Ghesseh Theater (Iran) instead of Avazhik performance of Emrooz Theater (Iran), Ghukasyan told a press conference in Yerevan.

He added that Emrooz theatrical company has not arrived in Armenia due to some problems with tickets. Besides, an African theatrical company has failed to arrive.

Speaking about novelties of the festival, Ghukasyan said that this year Yerevan will host an annual conference of the world theatrical network, which will bring together representatives of 15 countries.

33 theatrical companies from 22 countries, including the U.S., Great Britain, Russia and Iran will participate in the festival.

As the festival will be opened with an Iranian program, Arthur Ghukasyan recalled the incident with U.S. President George Bush, when an Iraqi journalist threw his shoe at the President during a press conference in Baghdad. “We do not want High Fest to gain a political meaning; we want it to remain a theatrical festival,” said Arthur Ghukasyan, taking out a leather shoe and throwing it away.