SCENEKUNST PÅ ASYLET
I have recently given a workshop in film and theatre with drama instructor Eline Petrine Johansen. We spent 4 days at Tverlandet refugee centre near Bodø Norway with 15 refugees from Syria, Ethiopia, Afghanistan and Iraq. We were warmly welcomed by people who have had traumatic experiences and now live in limbo hoping to somewhere rebuild their lives. We did many physical theatre exercises working as a group. On day 2 we asked people to bring in an object that is of significance for them. In the woods behind the buildings in
September sun everyone had the opportunity to film each other and tell the story of their keepsakes, all objects from their home countries. This was a powerful experience and some told stories of significant events that had never been heard before. On Saturday evening we gave a theatre/film performance in the local hall to the public and an audience of 50. As we set up the evening before participants started to realise they would be performing at a public venue to a sizable audience and a sense of anticipation grew. The performance was moving and very well received and was followed by pudding, cake and Syrian dancing. We will be building on this project and repeating it in 2017 and also touring schools in Bodø with the films.