The theatre lessons – life lessons 2010 – IInd edition 01/05/2010 – 31/12/2010

The second edition of this year’s cycle of workshops called „The theatre lessons – life lessons – 2010” is drawing to an end. We worked from 01 May 2010 through 31 December 2010. The activity consisted in the continuation of the cycle of workshops of therapy by choreography, music and psychodrama started back in January. Simultaneously, there were preparations for the premiere of our new performance based on the work of Martin McDonagh – an Irish playwright and film director – “The Cripple of Inishmaan”. We discussed the lot of the main protagonist – Bill for hours on end; the actors shared their feelings evoked by the story of a crippled boy ostracised by the local community. This topic is particularly difficult for our actors, who experienced many of Bill’s tough incidents in their real lives.

When the analytical part of the work was done, we started stage rehearsals. First etudes came into being, as well as the scenes to be later a part of the performance. They were presented in an unofficial performance organised for the people who support us, friends, and work partners.

In June we took part in the International Biennale IX Theatre Meetings in Łódź on the stage of the Teatr Nowy with our performance of “The Trial 3”. The festival was incredibly interesting and had a varied programme. We watched many spectacles, ranging from serious and very difficult for interpretation (“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by the Aka Theatre, “Phantom” by the Officium Theatre), through light and amusing (“Peter Pan” by the PWSTFiTV students, “Chocolate Pie” by the Mezzanin Theatre from Austria, and others by children theatres). What is more, there was also a street theatre performance (the “Continuo” Theatre from Czech Republic), a dance once (the “Z6” Theatre from Belgium), an amazing theatre show with live music played by the Remont Pomp band (the “Razem” Theatre). According to the tradition of the previous editions, there were workshops for therapists held, as well as a conference organised by the Institute of Theory of Literature, Theatre and Audiovisual Arts of the University of Łódź.

Next, in November we had an opportunity to watch a few really interesting and inspiring performances within the Materia Prima Festival, presented by groups from France and Belgium. Participation in the events of this sort is always of great therapeutical and educational significance. A few of our therapists and volunteers took part in the V Normal Festival in Prague where they watched a number of films produced by disabled film makers. Also, they engaged in meetings and discussions, took part in fascinating and stimulating workshops run by a Dutch director – Koert Dekker, who has been running an excellent Theater Maatwerk for over 20 years now. The Theater’s actors are people with intellectual disability.

The same way as in the previous editions, a part of exercises and rehearsals was video recorded, and the whole material will be made into a DVD. A reliable and professional group of therapists and technical workers, as well as rented light-sound equipment provided us with comfortable working conditions and reaching the goals we had set.

 

The project was realised with the subsidy from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage

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