July 18 – 20, 2002
One of the secrets of the Pflasterspektakel’s success is undoubtedly the fact that while on the one hand the traditional items that have proved so popular over the past 16 years are retained, the festival is constantly on the lookout for exciting new attractions. In this year, for instance, the inner courtyards of Linz were opened up for the first time for top-class, professional street theater performances from around the globe. Against the romantic backdrops provided by the courtyards of the tax office, the Landhaus arcade, the Ursulinenhof and the Alter Markt street theater companies from France, Belgium, Poland and Italy presented their shows free of charge every day at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. And to enable the audiences to follow the performances in comfort and with the necessary concentration, a hitherto sacred rule of street entertainment was broken and seating was set up. Together with the newly expanded Children’s Spectacle, these theater performances proved to be a real crowd puller. The skill and joie de vivre exhibited by these artistes are a source of fascination year after year for ever more spectators of every age group. This year’s festival, taking place as it did in glorious weather, attracted more than 200,000 people into Linz city center where they marveled at and enthusiastically applauded over 550 performers from 35 countries.
And not only that:
A huge haystack in the “make-believe area” in Landhauspark proved a smash hit with the kids.
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