While refugees keep paving their way from Turkey to Greece while heading to the wealthy North, artists in three major stops along the way agreed to attempt an innovative theatre project that will touch upon the most prominent debate in Europe: migration. Germany, Greece and the United Kingdom will collaborate in the theatre project “PHONE HOME” that will be simultaneously launched and performed in London, Athens and Munich in October 2016.
What is PHONE HOME?
In online time the three venues will be linked by video-conference and audiences will be able to participate both live and online. “PHONE HOME” attempts to bring in the model for a new form of creative collaboration and cultural exchange by connecting community-based theatre work, new forms of international interaction, and innovative audience participation.
Based on a process of community-oriented artistic research, three stages in three different European countries will host a performance that will be watched at the same time on their respective stages, while being interlinked via video-conferencing. “The innovative use of Internet communication in the theatre corresponds with the topic of the project: Miscommunication on all levels with regard to refugees and migration”.
ONLINE THEATRE
“PHONE HOME” is a project, supported and co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union. The three production companies, the Greek Highway Productions, the German Pathos Munich, and the London-based Upstart Theatre will jointly develop and cooperate during the whole development of the project, from introduction to performance and rehearsal.
Engaging theatre
Selected actors, writers, and directors will work together via videoconferences. By recreating specific communication situations, inspired by real-life stories, the project aims to mold a subject of controversial international agenda into a thrilling theatre experience: How (not) to deal with the increasing amount of international migration.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that more than 650,000 people have arrived so far this year in Europe by sea. The ongoing refugee crisis in the old continent triggers an endless debate when EU appears feeble encountered with unexpected humanitarian crisis and xenophobic feelings rise in some of the member states.
These consequences stretch for an urgent need for reformation on policies regarding immigration in Europe. On October 25 the EU and Balkan state leaders took a first major step when agreed upon a 17-point plan in Brussels. Among the measures 100,000 new places are going to be created in reception centers along the route from Greece towards Germany, with some 50,000 in Greece and another 50,000 on the route through Balkans countries such as Macedonia and Serbia.
More about theatre on Youth Time Magazine you can read it here.
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