Dear Michael,

The 6th International Theatre Festival is over and it is time for reflection. Approximately 100 participants from nine countries came as guests to the sixth International Theatre Festival Donzdorf, which was very rich in its content.

Here is a summary by Hans Steinherr (A freelance theatre writer with the NWZ - North Wurttemburg Zeitung = newspaper):

„The theatre festival in Donzdorf has drawn to a close after five days and nine very different performances. It was a great success. Spectators and audiences alike agreed that the festival had a unique worth, especially in proving the antithesis to the globalization taking place in commercial theatre.

More co-operation between amateur theatres and state run theatre is something that is very necessary these days. Every three years, this message comes from the International Theatre Festival in Donzdorf. Once again, in 2007, an outstandingly successful feast of theatre has been enjoyed by theatre lovers in this little town in the foothills of the Schwabian Alps. As Rolf Wenhardt, president of the regional organization for amateur theatre in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg said, this festival has a very special place in the landscape of amateur theatre in the region. For the sixth time, the vision of Gerhart Kraner looked far beyond his own horizons in organizing a meeting of cultures from all over the world in this very special village of theatre. Nine theatre groups from nine different countries proved with their very different plays and the variety of their cultures, their awareness of the difference between international theatrical co-operation and globalization, as they emphasized the importance of the coming together of their own identities in the enormous range of their different cultural backgrounds. A series of lectures and workshops made an excellent complement to the stage performances. This was in every way a project, which can only be evaluated as “very successful”, both from the point of view of the many visitors and that of the performers. This is perhaps why Gerhart Kraner is already planning something new for the year 2010 - it is almost inevitable that he can and must!”

How proud and happy we can be with these words!

In the name of the town of Donzdorf, in the name of the Aktionstheater and the Regional Amateur Theatre Organization of Baden-Wurttemberg I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your wonderful performance of “The Laboratory”, for your remarkable, creative and communicative commitment to the Festival and for the five street theatre performances. The personal, human warmth of all of you also contributed to the fact that we could experience a such a creative time in these unique days of theatre. You have, dear Michael, with your ensemble, contributed so richly to the warm and friendly evenings in the theatre cafe and your street theatre performances encouraged more spectators than we could have hoped to come to our festival.

You can say that Donzdorf has again left a creative, deep and heartfelt impression on the festival guests. Donzdorf has set a standard in these days of performances. We have all, together, proved that our different countries still have their own cultures and globalization cannot destroy these rich cultures.

The guests and the spectators who accepted the cultural invitation have all indicated their gratitude for what we have accomplished together in this unique and unusual event here in Donzdorf. One can say the triennial tradition of the International Theatre Festival has won a lasting place in the theatre world. Therefore everyone who helped to organize and finance the Festival are of the opinion that the seventh International Festival in Donzdorf must take place in 2010.

Dear Michael, I hope that all your company members got back home safely and have now recovered from the strain of the enormous amount you did for the festival.

Once again, many good wishes and very many thanks for your tremendous commitment to our work.

Gerhart Kraner

Director of the International Theatre Festival

Artistic Director of the Regional Amateur Theatre Organization of Baden-Wuerttemberg

Principal Chairman and Artistic Director of the Aktionstheater, Donzdorf e.V.