Crossroads
The Maladype Theatre launched its “Crossroads” project in 2011. The program’s main goal is to present artistic directions, theatres and workshops that represent new trends in cultural life, enhance new artistic initiatives, help in establishing new ways of contacts with the audience and foster ties among different countries. That way the European independent theatres are given the possibility to cooperate and establish a network that helps them in creating new meeting points for dialogue and interaction.
The Maladype Theatre has benefited a lot from its international ties: by establishing them it has the possibility to get acquainted with various theatrical troupes, traditions and institutions. We consider our important task also to present new trends, and young talents to our spectators. We invite theatres and performances that can adapt easily themselves to our location and technical conditions.
Unknown Friend’s Circle or Picnic on a Japanese Rug
On April 22nd the Osono Theatre from Saint George will present the perfomance Unknown Friend’s Circle or Picnic on a Japanese Rug at 4 pm and 7 pm at the Maladype Base. After the performance - as the followers of the Crossroads programme have been accustomed - we will hold a public meeting with the creators.
Unknwn friends’ circle or Picnic on a Japanese rug is a play which denies to be definable. It’s not a documentary play, although the base of the performance is the personal experience of youngsters. It’s not a forum theater, although the confessions of Romanian and Hungarian youngsters interfere with the viewer and encourages to participate in the game with their own realizations, happenings and astonishments. If someone enters the theatre space it'ill rip out every sheet of textbook containing clichés and prejudices of Hungarian - Romanian relations. Therefore this performance will underline the idea that problems aroused by different ethnicities living together should not be bypassed but documented and debated through the playful spirit of theater arts and theatre culture.
Perfomed by Oszkár Mucha, Ágota Elek, Macovei Briana, Gáspár Pászka, C. Daniel Valentin, Anna Babos, Constantin David Iancu
Cast:
Written by the Osonó Theatre
Directed by Misi Fazekas
Projekt Advisor: Nina Țînțar
Opening Night: June 5th, 2015 at Tamási Áron Theatre, Sfântu Gheorghe, Romania
Lenght: 1h 30 min
About theatre:
The Osonó Theatre is a theatrical initiative that would like to provide adequate circumstances for contemporary theatrical experiments. Beyond creating performances, we tend to educate and launch dialogue with our audience, with the purpose to inspire them for searching their place in the society, as creative and responsible humans. The Osonó Theatre creates theatrical shows, organizes workshops and trainings for youngsters and adults. Through educational and social projects we deliver an intense experience of self-discovery and facilitate connection with others.
They presented their performances in the big cities of the world, from Bangkok to Hamburg, but also in numerous villages of Transylvanian (part of Romania, where lives a large Hungarian minority), especially in diasporas. Osonó received more than 30 national and international prizes. In 2016 we were selected as the National winner of the European Charlemagne Youth Prize for our 2015th projects, which promoted mutual understanding amongst European youngsters. In 2012 the Hungarian National Ministry of Resources awarded the theater with the Csokonai Vitéz Mihály Community Prize, which is the highest acknowledgement in the category of independent theatre amongst Hungarian speaking territories. The award was handed to Osonó Theatre for its outstanding cultural and educational activity.
On international tours the setting is carried by the troupe in their minivan and built at the hosting place of the partners, by the actors and technicians. The audience is invited by the hosting partner, assuring that all segment of the local population is present. No entrance fee is asked, only donations are accepted, which provides the team the minimal substantial transportation and food costs till the next destinations. The Osonó Theatre’s artistic staff consists of young volunteers; young adult actors, high school students, international volunteers. They are driven by a common goal: to map the recent social cases at issue and try to come up with alternative solutions, which are built into theatrical performances.
Founder and leader from 1993 to 1998: András Salamon
Leader from 1998: Misi Fazakas