8 June 2013 – Ensemble Free Theater Norway´s Artistic Director Brendan McCall announces the launch of Belarusian Dream Theater – an international theater action supporting freedom of expression in Belarus.
History:
In 2011, the Solidarity with Belarus Information Office held their first international journalism competition, Belarus In Focus. Awarded as one of the winners in the competition for his essay “When Theatre is ´Thoughtcrime´,” about the work of Belarus Free Theatre, McCall was inspired by SBIO´s international competition for journalists. Why not do something similarly through theater & dramatic literature?
Theater artists have organized similar international projects in recent years, using creativity and drama to capture a global audience´s attention towards a specific issue, cause, or subject. McCall is indebted to two in particular: Theatre Communications Group´s Shinsai: Theaters for Japan and Gun Control Theatre Action, organized by NoPassport Theatre Alliance & The Vicious Circle.
Belarusian Dream Theater aims to increase awareness about contemporary Belarus through culture, storytelling, and theater. Playwrights of all nationalities are invited to give voice to those subjects current undiscovered in our news media on Belarus, so that local and foreign audiences may more deeply engage with the country and its people.
Call for Submissions:
Ensemble Free Theater Norway is now accepting submissions of plays for inclusion in Belarusian Dream Theater. The deadline for entry is 1 October 2013.
-Each play must be no longer than 10 pages in length, or approximately 10 minutes in length. -Plays may be written in any genre, style, or aesthetic.
-Plays must relate to Belarus in some way (ie the country´s politics, people, language, history, art, economy, etc), and may be inspired by anything from a news article to an interview, or a play based on personal experience to theater based on imagination and research.
-Entries by dramatists of every nationality are welcome to apply, including students.
-Plays by Belarusian writers are particularly welcome.
For submission details, please contact us here.
Performances:
The Belarusian Dream Theater plays will be presented by a team of international partner-theaters from around the world on 25 March 2014 – Belarusian Freedom Day. Each group may stage as many of these plays as they wish, either as readings and/or performances; and are responsible for their own casting, rehearsal, and other production-related responsibilities. We ask that all performances be free and open to the public.
The following groups are confirmed as partner-theaters in Belarusian Dream Theater:
Bennington College – Bennington, VT, USA
Cummins Theatre – Merredin, WA, Australia
Florence International Theatre Company – Florence, Italy
Global Theatre Project – Los Angeles, CA, USA
Korniag Theatre – Minsk, Belarus
Maladype Theater – Budapest, Hungary
Memento Teaterkompani – Oslo, Norway
Out Of Balanz – Copenhagen, Denmark
Square Theatre Company – Athens, Greece
Strefna WolnaSlowa – Warsaw, Poland
TLS Frankfurt – Frankfurt, Germany
TRESS Teaterkompani – Oslo, Norway
Maybe you would like to submit an entry? What to become a partner-theatre? Please email us for details.
Press:
Please feel free to forward this to anyone that you wish. The more people we can get involved as playwrights and/or partner-theatres, the better.
Email brendan.mccall.norway@gmail.com if you have any questions!
Brendan McCall
