NEATA, which is an abbreviation for the North European Amateur Theatre Alliance, is the northern European branch of the International Amateur Theatre Association.  The NEATA Festival is held every other year in alternating host countries  – this year for the seventh time in Denmark. The festival opens in Sønderborg on Tuesday, 31 July and continues until Saturday, 4 August.  More than 200 amateur actors from Scandinavia, the Baltic countries and the rest of Europe have been chosen to participate in the festival, where they perform in their own shows and take part in workshops.

The festival’s theme in Sønderborg is “Culture Across Borders – Theatre Crossing Borders”.  DATS – the national association for amateur dramatic theatre groups – and the Sønderborg Municipality have arranged the festival.

In addition to being at the official opening at 19.00 at Sønderborg Castle, Princess Marie will attend the opening performance, “Prodigal”, at 20.30 in Sønderborg Theatre.