……………..……………..…
Lijnbaan
– Rotterdam 15h00 – 16h00
Team: Nina,
Kirsten and Tina.
The decision was to head
over to the Stadhuisplein, with the puppet theatre structure and a bunch of
chairs. So I planned in advance, got some friends to help, and hoped to see
what would happen if we put an audience “auditorium” in front of
the structure. To confront the idea of a city hall square and a puppet theatre
depicting the “key figures” of the war affair.
But it was
too windy today to go to a big open space (if we can even call that to the
modest city hall square, that! It’s not even next to the city hall but
its separated by a 4 lane road and a terrace where you can drink coffee.) So I
went once more to meet my favorite crowd so to say, the shoppers. On a Saturday
the Lijnban is one of the most crowded places in the city. Everyone is busy
shopping or just browsing. We park the theatre, and the bicycles that helped
carry the chairs, and set up the space in the middle of the shopping street.
The box stood between clothing shops and 2 large benches stood the Theatre and
then in from of it the 6 chairs.
As always a
small crowd gathered to see what’s about to happen. As soon as they
discover that they are supposed to be the actors, the crowd disappears!
Because of
the wind Nina and I stood holding the structure for a while, and since we had
to do so, I thought I might as well start inviting people, verbally, to play
– Wilt u spellen? – Nee hoor! (Do you want to play? No! )- not
really, but the curious stopped and asked what was it all about. Others thought
they had to pay and when they understood that it was for free they were even
more puzzled wondering what I was doing there then.
I asked my
crew to leave the audience, so I could see if that would change things: if
people would feel more comfortable to interact, for a potential rather than an
actual audience. It did. A few kids sat down waiting. I told them that they
should be the players. One took the lead, and the 3 others kept seated,
thrilled. The boy chose for Bin Laden, and threatened to blow up a lot of
things, I half understood. The friends shouted – louder! And the louder
he spoke then of course that attracted a small crowd.
The
presence of the seating changed the whole perception of the setting a little
bit. It seemed to appear to people more as a ‘real’ puppet theatre,
and that something might happen! But who’s playing? They, the readers
that said out loud - Kies een pop en spell – (Pick a puppet and play) the
words painted in both sides of the structure, and by doing so were invited by
me directly to play. The invitation was stressed, understood, but for most of
the passers-by it was too large a jump to be taken.
I kept
inviting passers-by, but not really happy with the role. I was once more expecting
to leave the whole platform alone, and see what people would made of it- if
they would sit, or play, or stop. Because I had to hold it, things got quite
different, if even by inviting the people who take a second look to play, I
engaged in some talks, and actually interested a few persons walking by in
playing. A lot of people were interested, so I wonder if my presence
isn’t really discouraging the interaction. They
certainly get the idea of the potential but it’s harder to cross the
border to actually participate. And even those who did, for example one girl,
told me that in the end that she found it difficult to say something, to have
an argument between the characters (just then my team was seated in the
audience, so I quite admire her courage, alone playing alone to strangers).
The “teatre” was attracting a lot of people, nevertheless I quickly
decided to stop because it was not what I projected for today. This decision
made me feel good, to understand that I am not there to render a service or trying
to reach as much people as I can, but to reach them in the best way I think
possible.
I might mention further
that the structure has been drawing aggression again, lately. Like one walking guy
who passed quite close to the set, and manage to spit on Bush. Or others that
punched one character while praising another.
Without doubt a big green
puppet theatre like structure does draws a lot of attention! Just on our way
back to base, a police woman, asked me if I was going to play in the streets?
Fearfully (questioning myself if she was going to ask me for a license to do
so) I reply ‘no I am finished for today’. ‘Well nice, good
day’ she answered back.