What a fantastic experience I've just had in Srebrenica - two and a half weeks spent with creative and motivated young people who talk and listen to each other well and are generally willing to try new ideas and come up with their own creative suggestions. My approach is very much about the young people taking ownership of the project and their company and understanding why and how we should develop the various sections of Beast and Beauties. I believe together we achieved this. We had good discussions, some grumpy moments and much laughter too; it was great also to spend time with them over lunches and wonderful that they so generously took me to the river Drina with them. We discussed theatre as a gift to others, remembering what the intention of the piece is – both artistically and socially . They learnt about storyboarding and played with this to decide where and why the sequence of scenes happened, what additional material was required. We explored image theatre, Laban efforts and characterisation using physicality, gesture and sound, experimented working with masks as well as making masks and props and appreciating the various aspects of stagecraft and production. We went up into the woods to create a 3 minute film for projection - wonderful to work in the landscape and use this to add meaning to the piece. We spent time discussing marketing and promotion, creating a plan for this with allocated responsibilities as well as writing a lighting plan and other production responsibilities that were allocated to each member of the company. By the end of last week they had a good understanding of the process of creating a piece using the themes and concepts of the story from impro / workshop through devising / developing / rehearsing / performance and consideration of all that could be included in this. The young musicians are a delight - very talented and helped to integrate music into the piece to give added value, interest and meaning. The rap is fantastic and it was wonderful as these guys, with help and guidance from Marijke, really became integrated with the others, so everyone was valued and respected by each other. This is a total theatre piece and aspects of this felt very new to the young people and at times challenging but with perseverence produced great results.
Highlights of my time spent includes - creating the film in the woods, swimming and diving in the Drina, (including the journey in the crazy overfilled Combi), the laughing and crying game, teaching zip, zap, boing to an adult group including 6 hefty young German visitors, drinking and socialising with such wonderful people in the Rock Cafe, sharing time and an apartment with the completely glorious and inspirational Tanja.
I hope and believe the performance on 13th September will be a great success and that more young people are inspired to join the group, that this develops into a complete theatre company incorporating theatre, music and film in future productions, that the company continues to have the courage to take risks, try new approaches, reflect and explore issues important to them and the community of Srebenica. It's not always an easy journey but hard work and dedication results in a really creative quality outcome.
I look forward very much to returning sometime in the near future and working together again. Thank you for being such wonderful people and for the generous and warm hospitality received from everyone.
Rosie
