Latest news with #culturalexchanges
News24
27-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
James Ngcobo pioneers a Brics cultural exchange in Moscow
Supplied The esteemed director says language barriers were not an issue. He becomes the first African director in a Brics initiative to give cultural exchanges theatrical form. Egypt, China, Argentina and other countries are on board as more ventures are in the pipeline. Early this month, veteran actor and Joburg Theatre's artistic director, James Ngcobo, directed Russian actors at the Theatre of Nations in Moscow, in an initiative by the Brics nations to elevate artistic bilaterals to creative platforms other than traditional dialogue. Ngcobo's co-director was Chinese, when the latter directed Russian actors in the Swedish classic, Miss Julie, making this a rich, multicultural affair. When nations of the world convene, it is commonly done in conferences or symposiums. Ngcobo says there's a need for the Brics block of nations to shape new cultural exchanges. Written in the 1880s, playwright August Strindberg's timeless masterpiece has been performed in theatres across the world. Ngcobo found himself on the Russian theatre's radar, bringing in the SA director to bring these cultural exchanges to life. "You know the way that I am. I'm always placing a veil over people, idealizing them. So I never see who they really are. I did that with her - Miss Julie - and was bound to be disappointed." --John Liv Ullmann's MISS JULIE (by August Strindberg) 2014 — Dominique Revue (@DominiqueRevue) November 19, 2019 When given the artistic freedom to choose his play, the director said he felt that this classic love story with its political elements had a distinct universality. This ensured that he and his cast aligned much quicker. Argentina, Egypt and China are among the countries seemingly in agreement with the sentiment that while trade discussions are critical, there is still room to incorporate other aspects. Asked to dissect the value of taking these exchanges out of conference rooms and give them an artistic form, Ngcobo said: 'Maybe they [the Russians] also thought that we talk too much and they were not interested in talking. They were interested in moving the concept forward and you do this by finding someone from a different country.' Supplied Ngcobo and his Chinese counterpart were the first directors to propel this initiative forward and the former is the first African director to take on this challenge. Taking this as an opportunity to remind the global market that African directors are global citizens, Ngcobo said he was intentional about not selecting a piece from SA. It's important for people to understand that we're not just African directors, we are directors in a universal space. You've seen my trajectory as a director. I've been very conscious about directing works from all over the world. I choose plays in such a way that I don't present as one-dimensional. James Ngcobo This cannot be disputed, as Ngcobo has staged multiple internationally acclaimed plays, showcasing his uncanny ability to make them relatable to his local audience while retaining their original essence. Among these is American poet and playwright Ntozake Shange's (whose given name is Paulette Williams) For Colored Girls, and Oleanna by internationally celebrated author and Tony award-nominated playwright, David Mamet. If you had to choose a cast member from For Colored Girls based on your favourite colour, which colour would you pick?🙈😍 #ForColoredGirlsSA #ForColorFavourite — Joburg Theatre (@joburgtheatre) January 13, 2024 While Miss Julie was only staged this month, the casting was done last year. Ngcobo said working with a translator in a different country was a new experience for him. However, the language and cultural barriers were not an issue because there are South African languages that he doesn't speak and would therefore also require a translator if he were to stage work in those languages. 'I looked at Russian as a mere language because I know the play very well and by the third week, I was not even looking at the English script,' he recalled. My set designer couldn't speak a word of English, but we worked like a dream. You then realise that we always create hurdles for ourselves that are based on language. Language can't be a hurdle. For me, this experience proved that theatre is not about a language. It's a human condition, it's about emotions and, this is what I was directing. James Ngcobo More exchanges are in the pipeline as the Brics nations are determined to explore and develop this initiative. Ngcobo said he felt honoured to create this bridge. Playwright Palesa Mazamisa, who is also cementing herself as a global director, steered the ship in this year's production of Patrice Lumumba's life story in the play Katanga at the Market Theatre. Mazamisa will be jetting off to Saint Petersburg in Russia soon. Her award-winning play, Shoes and Coups, has been translated into Russian and Mazamisa will be directing a reading of it.
NHK
30-06-2025
- Politics
- NHK
North Korea to boost cooperation with Russia in arts and culture
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reportedly met with Russia's culture minister and expressed the importance of cultural exchanges between the two countries to deepen mutual understanding and ties. Monday's edition of the ruling Workers' Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun reported that Kim held talks with Russian Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova in Pyongyang on Sunday. Kim reportedly said exchanges in the field of culture and art play a great role in fostering mutual understanding and ties of friendship between the peoples of the two countries. Lyubimova also met on Sunday with North Korean Culture Minister Sung Jong Gyu, and reportedly approved a plan to promote cultural exchanges between the two governments. The paper said the Russian minister's visit coincides with the first anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty concluded by Pyongyang and Moscow. The pact calls for mutual military support. Observers say Kim's meeting with the Russian culture minister apparently indicates that the two countries hope to advance their ties in non-military fields.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Xinhua Silk Road: China Weihai, S. Korea Incheon building up momentum to bolster local cooperation
BEIJING, June 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As east China's Shandong Weihai and Incheon of South Korea embrace the 10th anniversary of building the local economic cooperation demonstration zone under the framework of China-South Korea Free Trade Agreement, the two sides have set new model for local cooperation between the two countries. Over the past decade, Weihai has forged new pathways for cooperation in areas such as mechanism building, trade, cultural exchanges and investment, with both sides engaging in comprehensive cooperation and achieving mutual benefits. For mechanism building, Weihai has established the China-South Korea Free Trade Area local economic cooperation coordination office and promotion center and issued documents to guide and promote the construction of the demonstration zone. Weihai and Incheon jointly set up the local economic cooperation joint committee, which has facilitated over a hundred of cooperation consensuses. For cultural exchanges, the two cities have established representative offices and promotion halls to boost understanding and interactions. The China Office of the Incheon Tourism Organization was established last October, creating a more efficient platform for Weihai and South Korea in tourism cooperation, products promotion, and resource sharing. In terms of economic and trade cooperation, Weihai has advanced innovative measures such as the Weihai-Incheon four ports logistics integration and the multimodal transport which have established a "golden channel" that spurred vigorous trade development. Trade between Weihai and South Korea increased 67.8 percent from 32.09 billion yuan in 2014 to 53.86 billion yuan in 2024, accounting for 26.4 percent of the city's total imports and exports. In 2024, the Weihai port's imports and exports with South Korea reached 154.07 billion yuan, ranking third in the country. Cross-border e-commerce has become a new driving force for Weihai's foreign trade development thanks to its unique geographical location and logistics advantages. The city's cross-border e-commerce retail exports to South Korea have ranked first in Shandong Province for seven consecutive years and ranked first in the country in 2024. In terms of investment, the number of South Korean-funded enterprises in Weihai increased by nearly 200 from 2014 to 2024, while the number of enterprises (or institutions) invested and established by Weihai in South Korea increased from 15 in 2014 to 62 in 2024 with contracted investment amount from the Chinese side doubling to reach 140 million U.S. dollars. Original link: View original content: SOURCE Xinhua Silk Road Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
