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There was a certain
degree of luck of finding myself in the Zuidplein Theatre Auditorium ready in
time to start a workshop with Peter Schumann of Bread and Puppet Theatre. The
session started at 5. The plane landed in Amsterdam at 3, the train to
Rotterdam left at 4, the underground ran on time, and I arrived with 5 minutes
to spare. If any of those elements had slipped then I would have been a
no-show. The Bread and Puppet Theater is
a politically radical puppet theater, active since the 1960s, and was opening
the ICAF conference with two pieces of work. The first was a piece premiered 50
years ago, and the second was developed in the last year. Their style is about
sophisticated storytelling with simple puppets. Their puppets are rough and
ready, but somehow develop a soul in their animation. The first piece was based on a traditional
Japanese story, about a body in a river. Taller than life puppets moved
gracefully across the stage, gently telling a timeless story. The second, The
Legend of the True Cross, was about the last twig that came out of paradise
that grew over ages to become the wood of the cross. The final moments of this second piece had a
space in it at the end, left deliberately in order to find a local group of
participants to fill it.
This was what my smooth running travel schedule had
allowed me to be part of. A group of
about 30 ICAF delegates made up the willing participants, and in the next
couple of hours we built something to go in the space. Led by Peter Schumann
with his supporting cast of puppeteers, our group became a single entity, and
was 'operated'. It was an interesting process, very physical, with a sudden
breaking down of personal barriers...30 new friends whose names I didn't know,
but who were standing very close! The
overall performance was about an hour, and our group were part of the final
moments. Elements started to unfold, from a cast of 30 hidden in plain site in
the auditorium, we moved on stage for a stylised battle scene. No sides, no
goodies or baddies, but everyone dies in the end. What was a mystery to us was the
story that took us there.
To that end, we were back to being audience again,
all be it audience in a black suit and tie. A small clue was given by one of
the performers when he told the audience that the second piece was an hour
long. That was all we knew. Our cue was
the small tap of a hammer on a nail, as the True Cross was used for the first
time. We all stood up, one on the end of every row of seats, looming suddenly
over the audience. Simple physical gestures were communicated up and down the
line as we moved together. Gradually, we made our way onto the stage. Again,
simple clear cues, the crash of a symbol, the line of a song, meant our single
unit of 30 moved together, slowly, with clear and deliberate movements. This
time, there was a sense of understanding, not just because we were performing
in front of a live audience, but because we too had been told the story, and
now knew how we were part of it. This
was a simple shared moment with the rest of the 30.
What did it do for me as a
participant? It opened up another company's process for a moment that gave me
an insight into the 50 years of artistry that Bread and Puppet Theater have
developed. It took me out of my comfort zone, and demanded a leap of faith in
the process, because there was a moment in there that meant, without context,
we were just puppets.
Alison, City Arts
Joost Heijuthuijsen from Incubate hosted us on the first part of our visit to Tilburg. Based in an elegant and stylish building that they managed to get for a knock-down price, Joost gave us a presentation about the Incubate Festival.
This is an annual week-long event featuring 'cutting edge' art work, that, in the 9 years since it began, has developed into what has been described as "one of the most interesting festivals in Europe".
What makes this festival interesting and distinctive is its combination of cutting edge work and community involvement.
These are some of the words and phrases that Joost used to describe the values and flavour of Incubate:
"do it yourself - use what you have around you to get things done"
"Don't fear mistakes, learn from them"
"It's better being different than being average"
"Be innovators not imitators"
"Content is king"
"Value your values"
From a small start with hardly any funding, the festival has grown into a full-time operation with a turnover in the region of €900k and income from local and national funds, sponsors and ticket sales. The event now attracts visitors - and artists - from around the world while still retaining the involvement and spirit of Tilburg's local communities.
We were struck by how the festival organiser's radical approach and commitment to leftish ideals were being embraced by authorities who could see the tourist and economic benefits of 'doing something different'.
We were also impressed by some of the different ways that local communities were engaged, starting with internationally renowned artists being hosted by local people not hotels.
Although the festival has grown significantly, this open and welcoming practice continues.
Using familiar music, such as folk, audiences who wouldn't normally be interested in other art forms and especially cutting edge work, are drawn in to new experiences and social spheres.
Community forums have been created to involve local people in curating aspects of the festival and, despite some fears that this might 'dumb down' the content, this more open approach has helped keep a bold, exploratory edge to the programme.
Madeline, City Arts
