Why do we need heroes?
Positive,
active heroes are important role models for every community. The characters in
a play always make value-based decisions and take responsibility for their
actions thus initiating changes – just as active citizens do.
Roma dramas – though they are hardly known – have more than 100-year-long tradition and represent important values: they may serve as examples both for Roma and non-Roma communities. In the frame of Independent Theater’s next love project, the first international educational material on Roma drama will be developed, presenting the story of four real life heroes, based on the plays of contemporary Roma playwrights.
From autumn 2017 on, Hungarian youth – among them several Roma youngsters – will participate in workshops based on the educational material.
Roma dramas – though they are hardly known – have more than 100-year-long tradition and represent important values: they may serve as examples both for Roma and non-Roma communities. In the frame of Independent Theater’s next love project, the first international educational material on Roma drama will be developed, presenting the story of four real life heroes, based on the plays of contemporary Roma playwrights.
From autumn 2017 on, Hungarian youth – among them several Roma youngsters – will participate in workshops based on the educational material.
 |
| Soulce: https://www.castingcallpro.com |
Authors who have given voice to Roma heroes
Alina
Serban (right), in her play I declare at
my own risk tells about her own life and about her journey from the Roma
settlement in Bucharest to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.
 |
| Soulce: Dijana Pavlovic |
From the
performance of Dijana Pavlovic (left), Speak,
my life we get to know the details of the recent genocide in the
Switzerland and the life of Mariella Mehr, who even after having obtained
honorary degree hadn’t forgotten about the persecution
of Jenish people.
 |
| Soulce: Mihaela Dragan |
Mihaela
Dragan (right) also comes from Romania. In her play Del Duma, we gain insight into the life of Roma women, among others
we learn about a 15-year-old girl who converts to Protestantism to avoid
marrying against her will.
 |
| Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Guardian |
The play of Richard O’Neill (left) tells the story of Jess Smith, who chose a creative form of civil disobedience to make the first minister apologise for the centuries-long persecution of travellers.
Different
backgrounds, different values, different problems – however, what is common in
the four plays is that the heroines take responsibility and initiate changes in
their local community, in the wider society and in their own life too.
The
educational methodology will be developed with the active participation of the artists,
relying on the previous experience of Independent Theater’s team, who worked
together on the educational project Feather Picking.
During the
workshops, the youngsters will get to know the plays and the heroes; what’s
more, they are going to present their own heroes.
We firmly
believe that by making visible the life story and activity of the heroes who
live or lived amongst us, we can motivate and strengthen the Roma communities
and make the social majority more open for Roma drama and for Gypsy communities
at the same time.
The project is supported by Badur Foundation, London.