FEATS 2021 was planned to take place in Brussels, hosted by ECC. Of course, due to the Covid-19 restrictions across Europe, ECC, after conferring with the FEATS Steering Committee, decided it would be best to cancel the normal in person FEATS event.
Instead of completely shutting down however, ECC come up with a weekend program filled with pre-recorded performances of various types, and two live Improv performances from groups all over Europe. In total, there were 24 performances over 3 evenings, submitted by groups from Portugal, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany.
There were, on average, more than 150 people viewing the event each evening via Zoom. ECC hosted each evening live, with a Master of Ceremonies who introduced each piece and held a short Q&A with select members of the production teams after each piece. Another highlight was the virtual “break-out rooms” during the intermissions, so that people across the FEATS community could see and catch up with each other.
Since the event was so well run, and feedback from all over was extremely positive, there are discussions beginning about how to incorporate some virtual performances in upcoming FEATS, or perhaps having a virtual FEATS during each year before or after the in-person festival.
For more details on the festival and the participating groups see the FEATS 2021 Newsletter.