First Roma drama collection in the world got published

Independent Theater Hungary presented the first Roma drama collection in the world called "Roma heroes – Five European Monodramas" at a symposium on 27th March, World Theatre Day, in cooperation with Goethe Institute and Delegation of Flanders in Hungary.

Five monodramas are included in the book, each telling the story of a real-life Roma hero. The plays not only present the life of Roma people and communities but also help to find your own heroes. Development of drama literature has always been closely connected to the rise of the middle class and democracy, from antique Greece through Shakespeare's England till Hungary during the Reform Era. Dramas and exemplary heroes, the protagonists can play a crucial role in the rise of a Roma middle class, too. Protagonists of the plays face difficulties and they make decisions. After the decision is made, the protagonists become active and initiate change in each and every case.

The drama collection was presented by Rodrigó Balogh, artistic director of Independent Theatre. A scene from every play was read out by performing artists and Roma intellectuals. The aim of the book is to disseminate these stories, showing the values of Roma theatre to as many people as possible. Rodrigó Balogh thanked the contributors, supporters and co-workers as the collection could not have been realized without their work and support. He closed the presentation by saying: "The question is not where we are now, but how far we can go".

The plays included in the book:

·                The Hardest Word by Richard O’Neill presents the campaign of Jess Smith, the Scottish Traveller writer who demanded the first minister to apologize for the injustice and persecution of the Traveller community.

·                It’s a Cultural Thing. Or Is It? by Michael Collins also shows the past of Traveller people, this time in Ireland.

·                Tell Them About Me by Michaela Dragan deals with the topic of early marriages through personal stories of various Roma women in Romania.

·                Speak, My Life by Dijana Pavlovic tells about the long years of Yenish genocide in Switzerland that ended in the '70ies through the eyes and based on the novel of the Yenish writer, Mariella Mehr.

·                Letter to Brad Pitt by Franciska Farkas is a painstakingly honest confession about the actress' own life, with a touch of dark humor.

The drama collection is available in English and in Hungarian languages. You may order the book from the theatre by writing an e-mail to fuggetlenszinhaz@gmail.com.

Related to the drama collection, an exhibition was opened in the Market Hall at Rákóczi tér, presenting 11 European Roma theatre artists. The exhibition closes on 7th April.

Further information:

fuggetlenszinhaz@gmail.com

„Roma Heroes Symposium” on the international theatre day

The special cultural event is organized by Independent Theatre Hungary, Goethe Institute Budapest and the Hungarian Delegation of the Government of Flanders at multiple locations in Budapest. Several exciting projects are going to be launched, like for instance the first Roma drama book in the world, an exhibition on Roma theatre, intriguing presentations as well as education methods and their results.

Program

10:00 Goethe Institute (Ráday str. 58.)

Opening speeches followed by reports of university instructors about what methods and results brought the Roma theatre closer to the students.

-        Gábor Bernáth: Community stories and scant infrastructures

-        Guy Tilkin, Flanders Storytelling Centre Alden Biesen & Federation of European Storytelling: The importance and potential of storytelling

-        Jessica Glause, theatre director

11:45-13:00 Roma dramas and interdisciplinarity

Reports of university instructors about how education brought Roma theatre and the challenges of Roma communities closer to the students in different academic fields, what methods they used and what were the result.

-        András Müllner (Media and Communication, ELTE, docent) – “Communication case studies”

-        Boglárka Bakó (Cultural anthropology, ELTE, assistant lecturer) – “The ethical questions of cultural anthropology research”

-        Veronika Darida (Aesthetics Department, ELTE, docent) – “Theater and society - Roma Heroes”

Andrea Pócsik (Media Studies, Pázmány Péter University, assistant lecturer) – “Roma representation in film and theatre in cultural studies approach"

-        Anett Szilvás (Eszterházy Károly College, graphic designer students) – “Roma Heroes in art education from students perspectives”.

14:00 Goethe Institution / Delegation of the Government of Flanders

The premiere of the first Roma drama book in the world by artists and public figures.

15:00-16.00 Roma drama in non-formal education and social media

Tamás Szegedi, trainer and education leader of the Independent Theater facilitates an interactive exercise and presents the main methods and results of the workshops. The Roma heroes blog is presented by Vivien Balogh, editor of the blog.

17:30 Market Hall at Rákóczi Square

European Roma theatre artists and the dramatic characters portrayed by them are going to be displayed on large posters in the market.

19:00 RS9 Theatre – Vallai room (Rumbach Sebestyén str. 10)

The message of the international theatre day by Igor Krikunov, director of Romance Theatre in Kiev, is read by János Balog. Richard O’Neill’s drama called The Hardest Word is performed by Edina Dömök.

The symposium is free to attend but you are kindly asked to let us know if you wish to come. Please register by sending an e-mail to szinhaz@fuggetlenszinhaz.hu by 19th March 2019.

Further information:

Márton Illés

illes.marton80@gmail.com

+36203907099

szinhaz@fuggetlenszinhaz.hu

The one and only international Roma theatre festival in Budapest has closed

Press release

Between 24-27 May 2018, Independent Theatre Hungary organized the second “Roma Heroes” international storytelling festival in Stúdió K Theatre. The special cultural event drew attention to the values of Roma drama and storytelling as well as the situation of Roma communities by presenting eight contemporary European plays, putting example-setting lives and extraordinary challenges into the spotlight. 

The international Roma theatre gathering in Budapest focused on personal storytelling. The program of the four-day-long festival concentrated on Roma heroes who are able to initiate changes in their own lives and in their communities. The protagonists’ active behaviour stays with us after the show and makes us think about the story.

The performances of the Spanish, Italian, Bulgarian, Romanian, British, Irish and Hungarian artists were diverse, not only geographically speaking, but also in style and topic. Black irony, childlike purity, manifesto-rigour or surreal images – all were present. There were plays which not only urged the spectators to think and feel with the character but also to move their bodies. Sonia Carmona presented female heroes opposing the communist and the Franco-regime in the 20th century, Richard O’Neill told about a teacher threatened by his boss, Michael Collins shared the challenges of Irish travellers through his own experiences, Alex Fifea unveiled the story of a man killed by the police, Natalia Tsekova staged a woman first trying to get rid of and later becoming proud of her own identity. Franciska Farkas, also starring in several films, made a harshly honest confession about her own life, just as Sebastian Spinella, who ended up at storytelling coming from the world of circus and music. The festival organizer Independent Theater presented a show about a supergirl, starring Emília Lovas and directed by Tamás Szegedi, written from the stories of the Roma youngsters who participated at the workshops based on the plays of the last year festival.

“This event provided an opportunity for the Gypsy communities, theatre professionals, the academic and civil sector and the general public to meet. After each show, a conversation was organized which gave place to meaningful discussions”- said Rodrigó Balogh, artistic director of the festival - “It is vital that the plays showed the world we live in from different perspectives: Gypsy artists are just as diverse as the members of any other social group. The performances were also recorded on video which will help numerous youngsters to learn about the values of Roma drama and share their own hero-stories in the frame of workshops and university courses.”

Photos of the event: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1yDYJo5HH5tBqSkZ9fRNmO0HQ5SDlVdjd

Christopher Machin, American Cultural Attaché, who opened the festival, and Pat Kelly, Irish Ambassador, who closed the event, agreed with the performers that storytelling has an immense power which can bring the different social groups closer to each other.

***

Further information

Sponsors of the event:

Independent Theater Hungary

Rodrigó Balogh, artistic director

+3620-390-5403, balogh.rodrigo@gmail.com

Márton Illés, programme manager

+3620-390-7099, illes.marton80@gmail.com

http://independenttheater.blogspot.com/

It’s a cultural thing. Or is it?

Hungarian premiere at

Roma Heroes – 2^nd International Roma Storytelling Festival

 Sunday, 27^th May 2018. 8:30 p.m.

“We were living in the woody crossroads, we had an old wagon and tent and we had an old mare too. I remember me and Johnny me mommy put two dresses on us and tied us to the wattles of the tent cause she was afraid that we would get hurt or knocked down by a car. So she tied us to the wattles and this guard came on one day on his big black bike and said good evening to ya missus Collins. She explained to the guard that she had to get sticks and water and there was no one on the road to mind us cause we were all young and me daddy was gone hunting through the field. The guard took off his hat scratched his head and said untie the children Mrs Collins and went off on his big black bike. He came back with a big bundle of sticks and went off again and came back with a big churn can of water. I remember saying to me mommy one day I said I could understand you trying us to the wattles but what was the idea of putting to girls dresses on two boys?”

The Irish Traveller artist talks with his own daughter who wants to leave school. To convince her, he recalls childhood memories and through these sometimes funny, sometimes hard stories shows her daughter the importance of education.

written by Michael Collins

starring Michael Collins and Catharine Collins

In English language with Hungarian subtitles.

After the performance, the artists will be in conversation.