Mashi at Assitej in Berlin.
After a slightly delayed start to
arriving in Berlin, I was happy to arrive at THEATER AN DER PARKAUE and meet the TYA UK comrades that would
become my friends during the week and beyond.
I got to know the
city through seeing a number of shows in a number of venues but highlights I
would like to talk about are:
Raw: Raw was one of
the most outstanding and daring pieces of theatre for young audiences that I
have seen (and I have seen a lot of theatre!). The Belgium company, Kabinet K.
The performers spanned three generations featuring seven children and two
adults. A dance piece with limited language was indeed Raw, the costumes were
basic and the set was minimal, a representation of what will be left for the
next generation, a world of chaos and survival. The space was filled with a
live music from an electric guitar and the energies of the performers moving on
stage pulled the audience through an array of emotions. We felt their fear,
their community, their gentleness, their warmth and their vulnerability. We
were left feeling raw.
The piece fitted well in an international festival setting as the story transcends language. I was particularly inspired by the boldness of the company to place young people on stage and give them total unapologetic freedom to express themselves.
Spotted: Tours
around different areas in Berlin led by local arts enthusiasts. We
gained a real insight into how life was for West Germans visiting East Germany.
As they couldn't take any local currency back with them they struggled to spend
their money, which usually resulted in a lot of beer drinking before returning
to West Germany!
