OPEN 2015 – International Community Theatre Festival
16-21 November 2015  

The aim and main role of theatre is to constantly reflect on the ever-changing social dynamics. In recent years we’ve seen more and more Hungarian and foreign examples for participatory and community theatre performances. In said productions the active performers – passive spectator relationship is altered so that performer and spectator would create the performance jointly.

Participatory theatre activates its audience, encouraging action from people without bringing them into uncomfortable, awkward situations. It provokes your thoughts and gives you an opportunity to make your opionion heard. In the situations offered by these performances we can experience our own decision-making skill and our ability to act.

OPEN Festival is a joint initiative of SÍN Culture Centre and MU Theatre, aiming to present audiences with a wide cross-section of this colourful genre, through five Hungarian and international productions, each of them serving as proof to the many ways artists can reach out to the audience.

In David Weber-Krebs Belgian production the director only provides us with the theatrical situation, the framework, the show is created by the audience. Swiss director Martin Schick invites us to an authentic auction through is project CMMN SNS PRJT, while the Lifeboat Unit‘s production, titled Szociopoly, lets us take part in an interactive participatory theatre game, transporting us to various life situations of people living in deep poverty. In the production of Portuguese artist Lander Patrick we can slip into the role of the creator through a preliminary workshop. The participatory theatre production of Káva Drama/Theatre in Education Association and MU Theatre, titled 3050 gramm, is looking for an answer to the question of how a little package that weighs only 3 kilogramms can change our lives for ever? The festival will also present a film documenting the social theatre program of Káva’s New Spectator project, which was the first Hungarian experiment to implement the various theatre techniques for creating an open space to collectively define and discuss local sociological questions, such as ethnic tensions in the country.

Those who are interested can take part in workshops, meet-and-greets and presentations, aside from the theatre productions.

www.openfesztival.blogspot.com

Place: MU Színház, 1117 Budapest, Kőrösy József utca 17.
Tickets: szinhaz@mu.hu

Program:
16 November, Monday 19:00 : 3050 gr (Káva Drama/Theatre–MU)
17 November, Tuesday 17:00 : Presentation (MU, Káva, KOMA, Lifeboat Unit, Jurányi, SÍN Culture Centre – public press event)
17 November, Tuesday 19:00 : Káva: New Spectator (documentary film)
18 November, Wednesday 19:00 : Szociopoly (Lifeboat Unit / Location: Káva hall)
19 November, Thursday 19:00 : Tonight, lights out! (David Weber-Krebs B – in English)
Audience talk after the show!
20 November, Friday 19:00 : CMMN SNS PRJCT (Martin Schick/Laura Kalauz CH/DK – in English)
21 November, Saturday 19:00 : Eggshells (Lander Patrick P – over 16 years of age)