Marta Mari. Theatre Director. Arts Manager

As artists we rely a lot on our intuition-our gut instinct, yet more and more it is expected of theatre practitioners to make sure that what we’re creating would be desired by audiences, praised by critics, easy to sell to venues etc. The creative process then stretches in time-funders requires work-in progress showings, critical responses by industry professionals, scratch showings etc.

And of course, many people come with many opinions. The artist then is bombarded with all these ideas, good advices on how to make his/her work better. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against scratch nights, I do value feedback but I would appreciate if it was MY choice rather than something I need to do to tick a box on a funding application. Because as much as it can be helpful, it can also undermine the artist’s confidence, introduce self-doubt, and that’s awful!  So, many artists humbly organize such showings, expose their work, often in a very early development, take on number of advice and then began to wonder: whose work is it, anyway?  Do artists of any other art form allow such invasiveness into their creative process? 

On one hand, venues and funders scream loud how they support risk taking and want artists to experiment, cross borders, etc. But the reality is, that they will only fund and book safe projects: tried and tested! There is no room for failure!  And yet, it is failure that develops us more than any success…
 
I first came across 24h plays project years ago in my drama school in America. I loved the rush, the intensity, the madness of it. It’s a great challenge for everyone involved. There is no time for “safety check” as such. The project forces us to trust our instincts-whether we are playwrights, directors, actors or designers.  

I think that in a way, this project is my argument against that invasion into the creative process!  I really want the artists involved in 24h Plays Scotland to say to themselves: I can do that. I can write a 10 min play in several hours, I can create a character based on my intuition, I can memorize those lines, I can manage, I can direct that etc.  I want theatre artists to trust themselves as I have seen a lot of self-doubt out there.
Is there a risk of failure? Absolutely!  But as Beckett said: “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better”. 

But then there is a question: how do I make those intuitive choices of my own in a project that requires a strong collaboration of all involved in order to be successful?
 
TBC 

It saddened me greatly that the gorgeous Cecil the lion was murdered by this greedy and vain dentist. Both my daughters seeing the headlines obviously asked about it and were very upset. The 11 year old immediately replied that the dentist should be shot. My 4 year old was silent only to comment couple of hours later that it is a bad thing to kill animals.

The incident angered international community-rightly so. But what now angers me is people using this vile act to draw attention to other issues: we care about a single lion but not about: black lives, migrants, civil rights etc. What they’re saying is: you people are hypocrites! Caring about a lion rather than other important issues! What the hell do people writing these articles want to achieve? Make people feel regret for expressing their support for the need to protect endangered animals? Because frankly, these headlines will not make people feel/think/take actions for the issues counterpointed to killing the lion!

I don’t mean to sound insensitive or ignorant about other important issues around the world that require immediate actions but please leave the lion out of this!  It is POSSIBLE to care for more than one thing! REALLY!

For me, what these comparisons do really, they’re taking attention away from very important issue-protecting wild animals that are being cruelly slaughtered by rich, vain people who then proudly post disgusting photos of their deeds! Because Cecil the lion wasn’t a single animal that this happened to! Not long ago the world has seen a beautiful giraffe being killed by an American huntress. The Internet is full of examples of such cruelties and disrespect to animals done EVERYDAY!  And expression of public opinion is needed to stop it! To force our governments to take actions against individuals who are involved in these crimes, gangs that finance trade of ivory to Asia and finally other governments and even ONZ to react. Attention on Cecil’s killing is not an attention on a single lion but rather it’s an example that hundred of animals are being killed in a similar way. So, don’t take it away by saying there are more important issues to focus upon. It’s a lousy and shallow journalism as well as an obvious marketing trick. I’d even risk saying that it might be a clever way for a powerful lobby of gun supporters to not bring gun control issues yet again.

If any journalist or blogger want to get public attention on other important issue-do so by all means, roll up your sleeves and do a good job but leave the lion and the issue it represents out of it!

It is mid morning on Saturday when my plane lands in Beirut. I smile to myself. Beirut has always been on my list of places to visit.  I’m excited but at the same time I don’t know what to expect. As I step out of the airport I take a deep breath in. Somehow, unconsciously, I always do it, the moment I arrive to a new place. It’s like feeling the city with the whole body.  I certainly remember those first breaths-humid Chicago for the first time, Bali, Dubai, Christchurch in New Zealand and many more. Now, Beirut…the air is cool, crisp and energizing-not what I expected but I love it. My kind of weather…

My hotel is in Hamra-a busy area of Beirut. From the very beginning, Beirut appears as a city of contrasts. Old, half-demolished and abandoned buildings are reminders of years of abuse this city and its people have been enduring. Right next to those however, rise newly built, powerful skyscrapers. The huge number of cranes creates a feeling of incredible dynamics and intensity. The city is being rebuilt with confidence, with hope that there will be no more bombings, no more war…Rightly so! This city has suffered enough! 

And then around eight or nine the music changes to more urban sounds. So many cars, everyone honking-it’s like it’s a part of a driving ritual. The moment people get into their cars they begin to honk. Normal. Later on the tempo slows down, the music can be heard from the shops and cafes. People are out, walking along main streets, laughing-enjoying their lives. Life isn’t easy for them though. The government is unstable-there has been no president there for a year now, lots of corruption, huge number of Syrian refugees begging in the streets-many of them children that should be in schools…Heartbreaking…As I walk along one of the main streets I see three Muslim girls ages around eight to ten sitting at the pavement and smoking cigarettes. They catch me looking at them and one of them says: money, money!  A bit further down the street a young boy, similar age sits on an empty bucket offering to polish passersby shoes. I think of my kids. The world is so unfair… I stop for a coffee at a local café. People smoke inside. Something I got so unused to but at this point I don’t mind. I order a tiny yet very strong Turkish coffee. I sit there alone. I’m enjoying the fact that I just stare at people. I don’t have phone calls to make, reports to write, kids to care for... I can just be…Well, for an hour or so. I need to get back to the hotel and get ready for the opening night of the Atelier for Young Festival Managers that I came here to be part of. Excited and hungry for more…

I wake up as the plane is landing in Bahrain. My ears are delighted to hear Arabic again. I always liked that language…It’s 3:30 am and immigration officers are slow and sleepy-not many people arrived at this ungodly hour. They ask me how long I intend to stay in Bahrain. Three days I reply. Are you sure? I’m positive-I need to be in Beirut on Saturday. Ok, then-here’s your visa for 4 days-just in case-they say. I find it amusing…

My dear friend Noof meets me at the airport.  She takes me to her her family’s house-huge and beautifully decorated in Arabic style. We chat in the kitchen for the next couple of hours and go to sleep when roosters wake up the rest of the world. I haven’t heard so many roosters for a while now-again, delight to my ears…

Around noon we gather ourselves and set off to see the city. My first impression is, that everything is sooo big-streets, cars, houses…add to that Papa John’s and Dunkin’ Donuts and it strangely resembles…America…

Noof took me for a drink to an Arts Centre called La Fontaine. It is a privately  owned space that hosts exhibitions, intimate music concerts and other cultural events. There is a small café but rather large outdoor space allows for wedding receptions in a very romantic setting. When I saw an open space, I immediately imagined an outdoor theatre production…my mind started playing where I could have my audience…too bad it’s so far away from where I live…What’s really cool about this space is that there is a spa on the roof! Elegantly decorated with gentle lights, it features massage rooms, hair styling chairs and a pool with inviting furniture around.  Experience an arts event, go to the spa, have a light lunch-all in one place-pretty much in the middle of the city!

Our next stop is a modern, huge space of a National Theatre. Located by the sea, again, with a gorgeous outdoor space in front that captures my imagination. As we enter the building, we see an exhibition of contemporary visual arts featuring works of mostly Arab artists. Some works are really captivating…

What strikes me is that we are the only two females there. There are also several other men seeing the exhibition. I want to see a theatre space but the two men that work there say it isn’t allowed…No particular reason-nothing was happening there…Not allowed! We leave somewhat disappointed. 

Equality is a subject that will come back during my whole stay in the Middle East. As I’m listening to Noof and her friend I cannot help but thinking that if only women ruled the country (ok, I’m being irrational here-if more women were in the government) the country would thrive. It seems as though there is no strategic planning within the government to actually use great resources the country has in order for people to access arts, good jobs…There is no support for people with disabilities and their families-not because the country cannot afford it but because there is no one to actually demand it! There is little public awareness about disabilities of all sorts; children with Down syndrome go to school together with children with autism (if at all!) I’ve heard stories of a married couple (both are doctors) who keep their four year old child locked in the top floor of their house… a young woman cannot find a dentist who would treat her mentally disabled brother…The country with money that could afford state of the art facilities for people with disabilities, who could hire the best teachers, therapists and doctors does not do it because…what is needed first is a public awareness campaign, educating the society that equality is not just an empty word.
On our way back home we stop at the gas station. It costs around £6 for a tank full of gas for a medium size car…


The next day another Noof’s friend invites us to her home for lunch. More amazing food! I like how living rooms in Arab houses have several sofas opposite each other…We plan to go shopping to a more traditional (although rather modern souk). Before we leave, the women burn some herbs and use the smoke as a sort of perfume. My hair smell really nice…We arrive at the market. Tiny stores with gold lure people in. I’m not a huge fan of gold but the craftsmanship of the jewellers is impressive! It seems like gold plays an important part in Bahraini customs and culture-there are pieces of jewellery that are used for brides (so heavy and therefore expensive) that are being hired for the occasions…
I buy a traditional dress (I’m wearing it now in Spain-yesterday in Granada, people were looking at me like I was part of the attraction:-)
The evening ends with more karak and talks till very, very late…

I spend the next morning chatting to Noof’s parents while she prepares food for the whole family that will arrive for lunch later. More talks about politics, past and future, arts and education-we agree that it’s the key to a better future-everywhere! Noof’s dad asks me about former Polish president Lecha Walesa. I must say, wherever I go Walesa is known and respected…I’m asked if Walesa stayed true to his initial ideals since 1989 when communism in Poland was broken. I think for a while and arrive at the conclusion that he actually did. He’s changed, the world has changed, Poland has changed and yet he is still faithful to his ideals…That is admirable in today’s world of politics…

I’m enjoying spending the time with Noof’s large family-they are happy, generous and intelligent people-I’ve learned so much from them and have so much admiration for Arab women…

I’m heading towards the airport. I hope to come back here one day-perhaps with a theatre production-insha Allah!  It’s 2 am and I’m saying goodbye to Noof. It’s always great to see an old friend. Neither time nor distance matters in friendship.

Thank you Noof for your hospitality, kindness and humor!

Dubai international airport.  3 am. Half asleep, I’m walking towards the gate to board the plane to Bahrain. Rather surprised that I’m the only person there at the moment, I’m handing my passport and a boarding pass to a man at the gate. He studies my passport for a moment and says: There you go beautiful Ms Marta. Have a good flight.  Say whaaaat?! –I’m thinking. That rather inappropriate and unexpected comment wakes me up. And it’s a good thing as what is about to happen next is a full on entertainment. So, after I pass the gate I’m heading down the stairs to a bus that is to take me to the plane. Another man, gracefully invites me to get on the bus that is already waiting in front of the building.  As I enter the bus, there are already 5 men there. Two Arabs dressed alike in a striped t-shirts sit on the only seat there is. Next to them, sits a man that looks like Jack Bauer with a fancy sun glasses on his head. At the end of the bus stands an Indian man that looks like a student-immersed in a book although it’s rather dark. And then in the middle of the bus stands a white man that looks like he’s on a business trip. I’m finding a place opposite the businessman. And so we wait. Five minutes pass. Nothing happens.  Another five. After that two Arabs move away from Jack Bauer to make a space for me as they must decided it might be a polite thing to do. I choose not take on the offer continuing to stand. Then the door of the building opens and another three men enter the bus. One older Arab that quickly takes the seat made for me by the other two. He’s going to try to figure out his new phone until he actually get on the plane. The next one is a white man that carries a large bag from duty free shop-he’s wearing a winter hat and stands somewhat between the businessman and the student. And then there is another Arab. Tall, confident, dressed in a blue shirt with his sleeves rolled up. And so we wait. 8 men and me. Silence. It’s rather hot. We all are a bit anxious for the bus to finally move. But this situation is starting to entertain me. It’s a theatre in itself. Noone is doing anything specific and yet any smallest, meaningless, it would seem, movement becomes noticed by the rest. And than an Indian family gets on the bus. The woman is holding a roughly one year old daughter, followed by an older daughter of about 5 and her husband that carries their bags. The baby starts to cry. The woman tries to rock her but it doesn’t help. For a longer moment the cry fills the silence. The pace of tiny, meaningless movements of men speeds up. I feel sorry for the kids. It’s 3 am. They should be sound asleep and instead have to wait for the bus to move. It might have helped if the two Arabs in similar t-shirts offered the only seat to that family. They don’t. Maybe it’s my fault-I must have offended them by not accepting the seat earlier. I wouldn’t count on the older Arab with the phone but Jack Bauer?! Surely, Jack would have moved but this one on the bus must be a cheap impersonator then! And then something unexpected happens. The tall and confident Arab sees a man coming from the building (the one who gracefully showed us to the bus). He leaves his bag and ready to fight (his sleeves are already up, mind!) goes towards the airport worker: “What the hell is this?! Why aren’t we moving?”-he screams. “Please get onto the bus”-the worker speaks calmly. “Are you kidding me? We’ve been waiting here for almost 15 minutes now. When are we going to get onto the plane?”-he asks with his voice still raised. “Just now. Go in”-says the worker. So the tall and confident Arab comes back to his bag. I smile to him. After all, I’m enjoying this rather absurd situation (well, apart from the poor baby crying). And then we wait again. After another couple of minutes, and no sing of the bus moving the tall and confident Arab has had enough. He gets off and heads towards the worker that is now hiding behind the glass door of the building. He notices the Arab and bravely moves toward him. “Do you think we are sheeps ?!”- the Arab asks. The worker is speechless. “You keep us in this bus like sheeps! We could have just wait in the air-conditioned building, seating comfortably but no,  noooo! we needed to get on this stupid bus. This is stupid! Stupid!  The worker is still trying to find something to say, I’m having a blast and don’t even try to hide my amusement. The baby stopped crying. The father moved closer to the entrance like a little dog ready to support the tall and confident Arab-warrior! And the rest, including the disappointing impersonator of Jack Bauer, have no reaction at all! And then, the door of the bus closes with the tall and confident Arab outside of the bus. The father protests to the driver who either must have been sleeping through the whole situation or closed the door on purpose. He quickly reopens the door allowing the tall and confident Arab to get on. And then we finally move. I glance at the worker who wipes his forehead as the bus is moving away. It takes about 10 minutes to get to the plane. We get onto the plane in silence. The plane is half full already.

I quickly fall asleep and wake up as we land in Bahrain about an hour later. I’m going to enjoy this journeyJ

Return to the Voice (Poland)
Song of the Goat Theatre Company
Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2014
Summerhall @ St. Gile's Cathedral
Jaw-dropping

The show starts with a short concert of Scottish musicians performing traditional songs in Gaelic. Then a short documentary is shown about the process/research that the creative team of the Song of the Goat Theatre Company undertook. Both of these are a nice introduction to the main part of this production: a concert of traditional Gaelic, folk songs interpreted by the company. And here I want to say that for me this isn’t a theatre production and I’m baffled as to why it is included in a Fringe theatre category rather than the music one… It is a concert. Not just any concert, though. It is an extraordinary one! From the very first sounds that come from twelve performers it is obvious we are in for a musical feast of the highest quality. I was amazed by Grzegorz Bral’s precision and meticulousness that enabled a creation of such an impressive unity of the ensemble. The harmony and vibrancy was glorious. I was delighted by Anna Maria Jopek’s solos. Her voice is angelic and it was breathtaking to listen to it spreading around the old walls of St. Giles Cathedral. Whist listening to these perfectly performed Gaelic songs I couldn’t help but wondering about the identity of Scottish people and how it relates to the upcoming Referendum. I was amazed how accurate the title of this project is: Return to the voice is all about the voice. In the context of this production and also, metaphorically to the decision people living in Scotland will have to make soon. It is about the voice of an individual to be heard among many as well as the voice of a collective-a nation that undoubtedly has its own identity within diversity, its enchanting beauty and power that comes from the roots of its creation.  Respectably, putting aside political debates about economic, historic and social contexts, I allowed myself to just feel and listen to my intuition, which in vast majority of decisions is right…Sometimes we get lost in logical analysis and to find the way back to ourselves all we have to do is take a moment and listen to our inner voice-return to our voice. And this production certainly inspires and enables us to do so…

Last Call
Teatro Labora (Finland)
Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2014
@ C Cubed
Pleasantly surprised

It starts rather silly. Highly stylized solo performance accompanied by banal music and a subject matter is boozing championships. “It’s going to be a tough hour”- I thought to myself after first several minutes of watching the show. Although I wasn’t really engaged in it, I was listening to what was being said with somewhat skeptical attitude. But after a while, among many words and jokes, I heard a sentence I thought had a deeper meaning and then another and slowly I actually became interested in the show. Before the hour was up and the show was almost over, Juhe Hippi had my full and undivided attention. He’s worked so hard to get it, but man, I’m glad he did. Last Call, co-written and co-directed by Juhe Hippi and Mikko Raty is a brilliantly constructed piece of theatre. Hippi’s performance is highly imaginative and full of various forms. Through the eyes of several characters from different countries we take a look at effects of drinking alcohol, its culture (or lack of it), and mindlessness of the habit. What I love about that text is that, although it is about drinking, it doesn’t deal with alcoholism, per se. And that makes all the difference because so many people can relate to this story. Last Call is an important production. It challenges, inspires and forces audience to think. Hipp’s performance is excellent. He flips between various characters, including a Spirit of the Bottle, to finish with a personal message that is just a perfect end of the show. It is another solo piece that is personal and honest and made me feel truly pleasantly surprised.

Broken Dolls
Patere Theatrum (USA)
Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2014
@ C Cubed
Decent but not life changing

I have mixed feelings about the story, created by Matthew Ackland. On one hand, it is an important subject as the problem is much larger and more common than it seems. On the other, similar stories have been heard of, talked about and presented at Fringe before. A young Moldovan woman is being tricked into believing that she’s leaving for a job as a receptionist in a hotel in Budapest. But after being brutally raped and humiliated, she ends up in a Turkish brothel. Sad, tragic story. Again, technically, well written but I got a feeling something was missing. It lacks some sort of message. I mean, who is this play for, really? However, four actors are doing a fabulous job. I was especially impressed with Daniel Deutsch who played the pimp Milos. He was so believable in his role that I was seriously wondering if he was indeed an actor! Really well done! Design elements were rather poor: sloppy set design, too loud sound effects and unimaginative music. It is obvious that the director Peter Kelley focused his efforts on acting. Rightly so, but it’s a shame the design doesn’t support the efforts of a great cast.

Notoriously Yours
Five Point One Theatre Company (Australia)
Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2014
@ C South
Decent but not life-changing

I’ve seen it number of times: a story technically well written, fine acting, precise direction, clear design choices. In one sentence: a decent production. But, so what?! The problem is that the story fails to engage me. I can’t relate to it. I couldn’t care less about the characters. So, really, it’s a waste of my time…What keeps me on edge in theatre is a story. A story with characters full of complexities made of flesh and blood, and ones I have feeling about. Unfortunately, the story written by Van Badham, and the characters in Notoriously Yours are non of that.

A man and a woman meet for sex via online dating site. He happens to be Snowden, and she is a thirty something, nymphomaniac daughter of former Balkan war criminal that found asylum in Australia, where the story takes place. After a night spent together Snowden disappears and she gets a visit from a secret police that blackmail her to travel to Singapore to act as a spy to get insight into another Balkan criminal from her past. Snowden is portrayed as a guy who sleeps with a different woman each night-there’s nothing more to him, really. The woman is rather silly, works in a store, doesn’t seem to bright, and doesn’t have great relationship with her father and yet he is the reason she agrees to cooperate with the police. None of these characters and their choices seem believable to me…I don’t relate to this story. It’s a shame, really, because, as mentioned earlier, all the elements of the production were very good. I would certainly like to see the work of this team on a more engaging and important story. They might then rock!

Huggers-Family Friendly Comedy and Cabaret
by Nik Coppin
Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2014 (Free Festival)
Laughing Horse @ Free Sisters
I don't get it

A nice, eye-catching poster of two bunnies hugging each other. An image with no reference to the show whatsoever. The title-Huggers-Family Friendly Comedy and Cabaret. The only reference to the show is when the presenter Nik Coppin at the beginning of the show asks the audience to hug one another. And that would be it. What this show is, is a sample showcase of three stand-up comedians who have their own individual comedy acts for adults and use this so called “family friendly comedy and cabaret” to promote their adult show to parents that brought their kids believing it’s something for the kids. And of course buy tickets. Or maybe, the comedians wanted to try performing for the kids-in which case, they need to spend considerably more time with kids to see what really appeals to kids without putting nonsense into their heads. Because most of their jokes were balancing on the verge of disrespect for young children’s inability of critical thinking. Most of the jokes were rather about kids, which made some parents giggle but many people seemed disappointed. OK, personally I don’t like stand up comedy. There is maybe a handful of comedians around the world whose jokes are funny to me. I do respect comedians, though. I think they are a really brave lot getting up on the stage wanting to make people laugh. The more I don’t get why three smart and experienced comedians decided to be part of this? For me, the effect was contrary to the goal. Rather than wanting to see their acts I wanted to leave the venue as soon as the house lights wen up.