Mnouchkine and World Theatre Day
Richard II (1981) Le Theatre du Soleil
I didn't know there was such a thing as World Theatre Day.
As I was looking around the web just now, I came across some sites related to Le Theatre du Soleil. This is the company that created the production of Richard II I saw in 1984 that literally changed the course of my life. How it did so is a long, long story, and I won't relate it here, except to say that what I saw that night was a glimpse of what it was that made me love the idea of theatre.
Anyway, surfing the web just now, I found this message delivered by Ariane Mnouchkine on World Theatre Day of 2005, which, I found out, is March 27th each year. (Mark your calendars!) Here's what she said, and I offer it without comment, but simply as food for thought. And the question is: can the theatre really do all these things? Should it? Should our work do this?
Help !
Theatre, come to my rescue !
I am asleep. Wake me
I am lost in the dark, guide me, at least towards a candle
I am lazy, shame me
I am tired, raise me up
I am indifferent, strike me
I remain indifferent, beat me up
I am afraid, encourage me
I am ignorant, teach me
I am monstrous, make me human
I am pretentious, make me die of laughter
I am cynical, take me down a peg
I am foolish, transform me
I am wicked, punish me.
I am dominating and cruel, fight against me
I am pedantic, make fun of me
I am vulgar, elevate me
I am mute, untie my tongue
I no longer dream, call me a coward or a fool
I have forgotten, throw Memory in my face
I feel old and stale, make the Child in me leap up
I am heavy, give me Music
I am sad, bring me Joy
I am deaf, make Pain shriek like a storm
I am agitated, let Wisdom rise within me
I am weak, kindle Friendship
I am blind, summon all the Lights
I am dominated by Ugliness, bring in conquering Beauty
I have been recruited by Hatred, unleash all the forces of Love.
Here's the reference I'm supposed to include:
« WORLD THEATRE DAY was created in 1961 by the International Theatre Institute (ITI). World Theatre Day is celebrated annually on the 27th March by ITI Centres and the international theatre community, various national and international theatre events being organized to mark this occasion. One of the most important of these is the circulation of the International Message traditionally written by a theatre personality of world stature at the invitation of the International Theatre Institute. »
...amazing still...
8:28:26 PM
