The international festival "Slavic Theatrical meetings" this year is dedicated to the theme "Theater gives happiness!" They will be presented to the Gomel audience by 10 teams from Belarusian and Russian regions. The guest of honor is actress Maria Poroshina, whose grandfather, Honored Artist of Belarus Petr Filippov, worked on the Gomel stage. The festival will last until 24 May, and the programme includes 10 performances. The history of the Slavic Theatrical Meetings festival began in 1989. The idea is based on its unique historical mission: its role in preserving a single cultural space and enriching the theatrical cultures of Slavic peoples.