There are no ratings here, no best and worst, right and wrong, right and wrong; there is only the joy of meeting, togetherness and creative growth. This characterizes the diaspora amateur theater festival “Laipa”, which just after a two-year forced break could once again take place in person – for the seventh time. After three full days in the German city of Münster, the participants again went to their home countries – Belgium, Germany, England, Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden.
“Oh, now I found out you have legs too! – it could be called the motive of the negotiations of this festival. Because for a year and a half we had only met in a virtual mode, where only the upper part of the body can be seen, ”laughs the curator and one of the organizers of this year’s festival, as well as Laura Ritenberga-Kindere, director of the German Latvian amateur theater studio“ Hedgehogs ”(children).
Last year, the festival did not take place due to circumstances known to everyone, and therefore the joy of reunion was even greater and more special.
“We were so close that it wouldn’t be after this long break! When most theaters had such a limited opportunity to try, meet in person. There was a feeling – if not this year, then hardly at all. It was important to make a note that we are, that we are working, that we will be and that we have something to say. The whole diaspora amateur theater environment was very, very much looking forward to this event, and the event was valuable, cordial and fulfilling. ”
Photo: from the archive of the festival “Laipa” –– Photo: from the archive of the festival “Laipa” –– Photo: from the archive of the festival “Laipa” –—
In her special address to the festival participants, the Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia to Germany Inga Skujiņa also emphasized this: “I am pleased that everything is happening, that a step has been taken, and today the theater is open! You have come from different countries, and this is a clear proof of how important theater is to Latvians. I admire the creativity in each of you! ” The origins of the festival can be traced back to seven years ago, when in 2014 four amateur theaters came together, one of them from Latvia, from Birzgale. Then a small, cozy non-competitive festival was formed completely organically with the aim to meet, exchange experiences, play theater, have a good time together and gain momentum and motivation to continue. Gradually, the festival began to grow and develop – later, six theaters took part in the festival, then eight, then more and more… Laura Ritenberg-Kindere says – this year is the first festival when I had to “set the ceiling”: “Every year someone comes, but physically in two incomplete days it is possible to put as many performances as possible. Eleven is an absolute ceiling, so we have eleven seats. Nine are for European diaspora theaters, but there are two exceptions – one amateur theater from Latvia may participate, Birzgale folk house “Laipa”, which also “gave” its name to the festival, ideally suitable also in a symbolic sense; and one venue is for an amateur theater from other continents, currently represented by the San Francisco New Theater with director Maris Lewis (Lewis). From now on, the core team will have the opportunity to apply or refuse to participate, in the second version the vacancies will be drawn fairly among other applications. “ On the left, the aunt of the festival hands over the cup to the director of the Oslo Theater. On the right – the experts. Photo: from the archive of the festival “Laipa” – As already mentioned, the festival has no marks and ratings, but has its own traveling cup, which at the end of the event is handed over to the next troupe, which organizes the festival in its home country. “The festival has its aunt, Gad Robalde, director of the Bradford Theater Troupe. He watches the activities of all the troupes throughout the year, talks to everyone, but the future winners of the cup are not known until the end of the festival. Last year the event took place in Iceland, then we, the Hedgehogs, got the cup and were very moved, ”says the curator of this year’s event. This year, two theaters, from Latvia and the USA, could not be represented in person due to external circumstances – the USA and Latvia. But the other nine went to Münster, more or less: Bradford Theater Troupe “Sunflower” from England (director Gita Robalde), “Latibergen” from Norway (director Liāra Ozola), Reykjavik Latvian Theater from Iceland (director Ingrīda Induse), Oslo Latvian Theater “O’LatTe” from Norway (director Ieva Melbārde), “Sincere Brussels Latvian Theater” from Belgium (director Andra Baltmane), Birmingham Small Theater and its London branch (director Ingmārs Čaklais), “Pūpols” from Denmark (administrator Aija Pedersena) , Stockholm Amateur Theater “Sala” (director Agnese Jēgere), German Latvian Amateur Theater-Studio “Ezīši”. “Laipai” has its own bylaws, but each troupe that hosts others in its own country has quite a lot of freedom in organizational terms. As the Latvian Center in Münster has enough space to accommodate guests, the event lasted until late at night – already on Friday, October 7, when everyone had arrived, the festival was opened by the hosts of this year’s festival “Ezīši” with Aiva Birbele’s play “Love Me” ”. Then the guests went for a night walk around Münster under the guidance of a knowledgeable guide, “Hedgehogs” actor Arnis Drilles – he has lived in Münster for many years, is active in Latvian associations and has a great knowledge of the city’s history and almost every corner. “There were a couple of wonderful moments, for example, the band went to church, where a special night concert took place in a dark, unusually lit church. The marathon of the performances started on the second morning, which took place on “two fronts” – we did not know until the last moment whether the festival could take place in person. Therefore, in time, theater troupes were asked to record and prepare performances in video format. Therefore, we watched part on the screen, part on the stage. It must be said that the time of isolation has also given something good – a large number of different courses were offered, readings and even performances took place in a virtual format, and it was very possible to feel that people really used the opportunities offered. Acting skills have grown incomparably, while a surprisingly high level has been reached in the art of filming, editing and applying effects, ”admits the director. Speaking about the course of the festival, she adds that it was important to note the contribution of Imants Kalniņš to the genre of theater music, because this year is marked by him. Therefore, accompanied by live music from two Austras children, a heartfelt singing took place: “However,” Laipa “is not just a nice crowd, we still go to exchange experiences and gain momentum and motivation to continue, because the status of amateur theaters has always been so – simple. In the diaspora, where everything on their own shoulders, in particular. Therefore, for each festival we invite experts, professionals related to the theater industry, who watch all the performances with us, during the day anyone can talk individually or in groups, to receive recommendations. This year, the role of experts was actor, animator, film director and pedagogue Dzintars Krūmiņš, actress and Lelde Vikmane, head of the European Latvian Culture Association, and singer, songwriter and cultural worker Arnis Miltiņš, who unfortunately could not be present, but role in stage performances and also led a master class. ” Singing Photo: archive of the festival “Laipa” – One of the biggest challenges for amateur theaters has always been the repertoire – there are few plays designed for about an hour long with a small number of actors, most of whom are also female. In addition, the setting of amateur theaters in the diaspora has always been to play plays by Latvian authors as much as possible, in order to enable Latvian authors to appear on the stage outside Latvia as well. This year, we, the Hedgehogs, had a wonderful opportunity to personally contact the author of our play, Aiva Birbel, who was very accommodating, both materially and open-minded, allowing us to adapt the play to our capabilities. It must be said that due to repertoire problems, diaspora theaters play a lot of classics, because it can be varied and adapted. Of course, we follow what is happening nowadays in the field of Latvian drama; There are theaters that look for collaboration with authors and order plays written especially for themselves, and then there are a couple of directors of kamikazes, such as me, who write themselves when there are no other options. Because we play life on stage, and then there is nothing left but to look around and write down what is happening, ”laughs the director. Participants and experts of the festival “Laipa”. Photo: from the archive of the festival “Laipa” – At this year’s festival, the vast majority were plays by contemporary authors, which look at the realities of life with a smile, while giving an impetus to think about why it is the way it is and why we are the way we are. At the end of the festival, the hosts of next year were announced, and this time the traveling cup went to the Oslo amateur theater troupe “O’LatTe”. Videos of the performances of the European Amateur Theater Festival can be watched from the section “Pearl on the Footbridge” here. The festival could not take place without the selfless support of the diaspora and Latvian organizations. This time invaluable support is provided by the Latvian Center in Münster, the Latvian Community in Germany, the European Latvian Association, the World Association of Free Latvians and the Latvian National Cultural Center. –“Eleven Club” and traveling cup
–Learns from each other and from masters
–Playwrights, respond!
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