April 5, 2003
Lijban – Rotterdam 15.00 – 16.00
Team: Nina, Kirsten and Tina.

The decision was to go to the Stadhuisplein, with the puppet theatre structure and a bunch of chairs. So I planned in advance, got some friends to help, and hope to see what happens when we put an audience “auditorium” in front of the structure. To confront the idea of a city hall square and a puppet theatre depicting the “key figures” of the war affair.
But it was to windy today to go to a big open space (if we can call that to the modest city hall square, that it’s not even next to the city hall, because its separated by a 4 lane road and a coffee place terrace), so I went once more to meet my favorite crowd, so to say, the shoppers. On a Saturday the Lijnban is one of the most crowded places in the city, when everyone is busy shopping or just browsing. We park the theatre, and the bicycles that helped carry the chairs, and set up the space in the middle of the shopping street. Between clothing shops and 2 large benches stood the Theatre and in from of it 6 chairs.

As always a small crowd gathered to see what’s about to happen, as soon as they discover that they are supposed to be the actors, the crowd disappears.

Because of the wind Nina and me stood holding the structure for a while, and since we had to do so, I though I might as well start inviting people, verbally, to play – Wilt u spellen? – Nee or! (Do you want to play? No! )- not really, but the curious stopped and asked what was it about. Others though they had to pay, when they understood that it was for free they were even more puzzled thinking what was I doing there, then.
I asked my crew to leave the audience, so I could see if that would change, and people would feel more comfortable to interact, for a potential, but empty audience. It did. A few kids sat down waiting. I told them that they should be the players, one took the role, and 3 others kept seated, thrilled. The boy chosen for Bin Laden, and threaten to blow a lot of things, I half understood. The friends shouted – louder! And louder he spoke and of course that attracted a small crowd.
The presence of the seating places changed a bit the whole perception of the setting as a real puppet theatre, and that something might happen. But who’s playing? They, the readers that said out loud - Kies een pop en spell – (Pick a puppet and play) the words painted in both sides of the structure, and by doing so were invited by me directly to play. The invitation was stressed, understood, but for most of the passes-by it was a jump to big to be taken.
I kept inviting passers-by, not really happy with the role. I was, once more, expecting to leave the whole platform a bit by itself, and see what people would made out of it, if they would sit, or play, or stop. Because I had to hold it, things got quite different, even that by inviting the ones that take a second look, I engaged in some talks, and actually interested a few persons walking by in playing. A lot of people were interested, so I wonder if my presence isn’t really discouraging the interaction. They certainly get the potentiality but it’s harder to cross the border to actual participate. And even those who did, for example one girl, told me in the end that she felt difficult to say something, to have an argument between the characters (just then my team was seated in the audience, so I quite admire her courage alone playing to strangers). It was attracting a lot of people nevertheless I quickly decided to stop, because it was not what I projected for today. This decision made me fell good, to understand that I am not there to render a service or trying to reach as much people as I can, but to reach them in the best way I thought.


I might mention further that it also draw some aggression, as usual lately, like one guy that keeping on walking, just passed quite close to the set, and manage to spit on Bush. Or others that punched one character and praised another.

Without doubt a big green puppet theatre like structure draws a lot of attention. Just on our way back to base, a police women, asked me if I was going to play in the streets, fearfully (questioning myself if she was going to ask me for a license to do so) I reply no I am finished for today. Well nice, good day she answered back.

carla

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posted by carla at 4:28 PM

31 march 2003
Beursplein – Rotterdam from 15.30 – 17.20
No teammates
New characters: Bin laden (at the request of many participants) and Wouter Bos (leader of one of the left parties in the Nederland’s being quite involved now with the war issue)

Today the decision was the beursplein, between the entrance of the koopgrot (something in between a shopping street and a shopping mall) the Bijnkorf, another big shopping place, and burger king, the best neighbors and nice weather. I was thinking about my decision of staging the theatre today, is it becoming a obligation, almost a responsibility, but no actually since I don’t have television and read little from the newspaper, If it wasn’t for the puppet theatre I would be the first to forget that there’s a war going on, and we are also in it. So I felt like going to take the pulse, of the situation, through the dwellers of Rotterdam, and the passers-by of this specific places, that I like so much for its users, the shoppers, from the beginning, exactly the ones I want to bother.

The mounted police was standing there; wonder for a moment if I would have problems, would I be asked for a permit. Then I realized I left the safety screws at Piet Zwart- Oh Nee!! Go all the way back, even if not so long, I would had to take the box again through our war scenario parking lot, since weeks is being renovated, and its really hard to cross it with the structure. Ok, Let’s have confidence, I though, with the police here and everything. So I just put the box, close to the wall of the Bijnkorf, in between a bicycle and a street musician, and run as fast as I could (I realized not so much) to get them.

I put it up, and went to sit in the sun, the first players were 2 friends, muddle age women, then a group of young boys, group of girls, children, a group of boys again. Every time a little audience gathers. A man, actually, not any man, his one of the funny characters of Rotterdam, punk style, in his fifties, always with a really olds white leader jacket, with metal things stuck to it, who’s name, I discovered today is Jack. I asked me if I was the owner, and why I wasn’t there to answer for it. Didn’t took him to serious first, then he asked me why I wasn’t there inviting people to play, giving them this 5 minutes when they could say whatever they want and record it on tape. At this moment I tough Ok, his asking questions that I asked myself already, and explain that when I stand next to it, the passers-by feel less willing to act, just because the “responsible” is there, so I get nice comments, talks, and smiles, but no real playing. Ok, he agreed with me. And – I continued- they can just say whatever they want anyway. Then Jack went really concerned, I liked is concern and sometimes share it – they can say whatever they want but who’s there to listen and record what they say? - Nobody, I replied. But isn’t it great that they do say something, they play, and mostly the ones that do, do it for friends, and other whomever is passing close enough, so those can listen. Ok its just nor recorded for “eternity”, and so?

The time passes by, the street musician continues with his flute, and I though at one moment, it could actually be a good idea to have some music with the theatre, something related to the events, the puppets, the warfare, some military march. I could maybe ask him to play for the theatre, maybe I could arrange some deal, of course it took me almost one hour to gather the courage to do it, ask him if he speaks English, no, Dutch? A little bit, from both parts, so communication wasn’t really possible, I learned he is from Bulgaria and we wished each other the best of the lucks.

It continued as before, mainly groups of young people were spontaneously playing, most passersby were not heedless, so a lot of turning heads to see it will walking; meet some friends, eat ice cream in between and observed.

Sat close to he structure, saw that it wasn’t so strange to add Bin Laden to the “cast”. I made him because every time the platform was stage someone would ask me where’s he was, I would answer hidden, and ask back for the motives – To have the all collection of terrorist, someone once said. But, after all it was in his name, almost that all this issue started, war to terrorism, the aftermath of the 11 of September.

Balkende was also a quite chosen figure for the day, playing or with bush or with Bin lade. Battles were fought, and silly things were cast upon the puppets, laugh is always the key tone.

Bas came over. He’s a good PR for the structure. Got some girls explaining him why they find it leuk (nice), seriously. Had my first class of skate boarding, no injuries. He leaves I leave, start close the structure and a man comes, sorry that he will miss it, will I do it tomorrow again? Maybe, but certainty I will do it again, somewhere. - Good, so I will see it, he says. - Play! I reply.

Carla.
Check out www.anti-anti.net/act2/
posted by carla at 5:15 PM