Marta Mari. Theatre Director. Arts Manager

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The Bridge by Annie George

12/8/2014

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The Bridge by Annie George (Edinburgh)
Just Festival as part of
Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2014
@St. John's Church
Pleasantly surprised

I’ve been wondering lately what makes a good solo piece? It is a very difficult for one performer to keep audience engaged the whole show. Annie George, in a smart direction of Sarah McDonald, gently yet confidently tells the story of her Keralan family keeping the audience attention throughout the show. Annie’s text is a piece of fine, rich and mature writing in which she explores concepts of identity, destiny, courage and family relationships, to name just a few. Annie’s performance is powerful, emotional and moving. Watching The Bridge only reassured me that some of the best solo pieces are the ones written by the performer. They are personal, honest and a real delight to watch. The Bridge is all that.

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/bridge
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Brush Theatre Haddangse (South Korea)

2/8/2014

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BRUSH  by Theatre Haddangse (South Korea)
Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2014
C Venue
Pleasantly surprised

I really like shows from Korea. There is always some sort of delicacy in them. In the show for young audiences Brush, actors’ commitment to the storytelling and their own craft is impressive. Respect for their audience can be almost touched. The show directed by Kil Jun Lee is abundant in highly imaginative concepts of the use of recyclable materials to create a world in which five actors portray multiple characters. They paint the set gracefully for almost every scene. The show is dynamic and the movement choreographed meticulously. A live musician (Sangkon Seo) plays six instruments throughout the show mesmerizing the audience with various sounds and beautiful, originally composed music. My three-year old daughter was intrigued by sounds coming out of golden accordion that sparkled. I was most amazed by three flats with painted tree on them that suddenly became a moving peacock.  The story line was sometimes difficult to follow due to the performance being in Korean. There were some English key words, which helped a bit. Nevertheless, the show can understood and enjoyed as there is a lot of non verbal action. And here is a thing that struck me when I was watching this show: All the magic was created in front of us. There was very little mystery but that’s a good thing in this case as it sends an important message to children: you can create excellent theatre using simple, everyday objects, paint the world of your story, use your old xylophone or drum-it’s only a matter of your imagination. The children leave the theatre empowered, inspired and confident, because they've seen how the show’s done. And to be able to share one’s imagination so generously and openly with the audience is an art in itself.

More info and tickets:

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/brush_
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Edinburgh Festivals 2014

1/8/2014

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I see a lot of theatre in general. Some good, some not so good, often decent but rather safe and boring and every once in a while a brilliant one.  For quite a while now I haven’t seen anything jaw-dropping. Masterpieces, in which every single element of theatrical production is extraordinary, are very rare theses days. At least in Scotland. Of course, I have my theory as to why is that but this is rather larger subject for another post.  So this summer I’m on a quest to find a production that would truly inspire, amaze and or challenge me. Be it a script, acting, staging or whatever.

I usually don’t write about theatre I see but this year I decided to write about my experiences. The shows are chose to see are a mixture of: a) browsing Fringe brochure looking for things that would catch my attention: productions from abroad, solo pieces, and other things hard to explain; b) shows I was invited to; c) free shows; d) productions of local artists I know or whose work I’m curious about.  

In a way I’ll review them. I won’t use a star system, as I’m not a critic. Besides, star system is overrated, abused and can be misleading. Instead, I came up with my own four descriptions: 1) jaw-dropping 2) I don’t get it 3) pleasantly surprised 4) decent but not life changing.

These are personal and do not reflect star system. Something that surprises me might be normal for you. When my jaw drops, you might yawn. What I don’t get, you might delight yourself in.  So do challenge me! Do recommend shows-both jaw-dropping and things you don’t get. What I’m after is: innovation, experimentation, risks taking and genuine fun.

Let the quest begin!

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There are no coincidences

29/8/2012

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I don’t believe in coincidences. Not any more. Things happen for a reason, that I’m sure of. In a very bizarre way the Universe gives us signs, clues for answers to questions that live in us.

When I was about 10 I loved playing a game called Podchody. There were usually 2 groups of kids. The first one would go for a trip (I’m not sure it’s the best word to describe it)  around the neighbourhood, often including the large park. The second one would wait for about 10 minutes and then follow the first group. Now, the first group would decide on the route while on the go and would leave some kind of signs or clues for the second group. It would usually be arrows pointing the right directions- either made of sticks, drawn on the sand with a stick or with a chalk on the sidewalk. Sometimes it would be pieces of paper or ribbon hung on branches in the park. The second group would have to look for clues in order to find the first group. Naturally there was always a leader etc. Fantastic game!

Now, I like to think that life is really like this game. We go through life looking for clues and directions left there for us by Higher Power. We sometimes miss clues so we feel lost. Sometimes, deliberately, we don’t want to see them-maybe because we’re not ready to see them or maybe because we have a specific job to do there…In any case, sooner or later we have to get on track otherwise we’ll miss life by being stuck in one place!

Seeing sings is one thing however. Knowing what they mean is totally different. Acting upon them is yet another one. But that’s the whole fun, isn’t it? It should be. Life should be fun. It should be an adventure! The adventure, in fact!

About a month ago while I was walking in a hurry on Nicolson Street I glanced at one of the charity shops windows and I saw a book titled The Nine Emotional Lives of Cats. Intrigued by the title I bought the book. The book patiently waited by the bed as I was deep in rehearsals and not able to focus on anything else. On the last day of the production I lay down with a glass of wine and started reading the book. What a delight! I couldn’t stop smiling and I’ve only just finished introduction! I must say-that it is one of  the most pleasurable reading experiences ever! It is definitely worth reading if you, like me, are mad about cats-I guarantee you smiling at the very least! If, however, you still believe you’re “not a cat person” but like challenges - this book will challenge your beliefs about cats in a fantastic way!

Excited about the book, the next morning I’m telling my mum about it. As I keep reading it, loving it more and more, I come back to the conversation with my mum in the afternoon. I then mention the author Jeffrey Masson and his comments about New Zealand, (where he lives) how he describes where he lives etc. My mum listens carefully and then says: I think I’ve been to his house! I look at her thinking: has she lost her mind? Or maybe she’s not been listening to me and is talking about something else?! She’s stayed at my sister’s in Auckland but still! What’s his wife’s name? she asks. I don’t know but remember he did talked about her in the intro. My mum says that he must be the same author that my sister is so fond of. Apparently, he wrote a book about New Zealand that my sister loved! I remember her being super excited about it years ago.

I get home and check the book. His wife’s name is Leila-what my mum said it would be. I’ve heard so much about Leila as she is my nephew’s doctor in Auckland! While staying in Auckland, my mum went for a visit with my sis to Leila’s house (as this is where she sees her patients) hence my mum’s visit to the author’s house.

Among thousands of books in the world, there is one that catches my interest. Its author fascinated my sister years ago with a very different book, on a very different subject. My mum connects our fascinations. Clearly there must be something deeper in this story. Some clues to answers to my questions. I’m intrigued to find it! Going back to reading the book now.


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Physical Self

1/2/2012

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Years ago I read somewhere that in order to feel happy we need to live in harmony with our four spheres: physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual. I do believe that.

An actress I worked with years ago once said that successful people are the people that have their shit together. I consider my shit to be my four spheres. They are far from harmony. So I decided to work on them.

It started off after a visit to physiotherapy several days ago where I was sent by my doctor due to severe back pain. The physiotherapist asked me how I usually feel in the morning. Like I’m eighty years old-I replied. I’ve been living with this pain for a long time; I sort of accepted its presence in my life or maybe not, otherwise there would be no point going to physio I reckon. Anyway, after asking me all sorts of questions for 45 minutes she decided that the best way forward is for me to do three very simple exercises every day for the next two weeks. Yeah, right like this is going to help me I told her smiling friendly. I left agreeing only with one thing-I need to exercise to get my muscles stronger. As I never take things lightly, the next day I go for a Swiss ball Pilates. I worry a bit as my form is the worst ever, my back hurts and I hate not being able to do things in a gym. The class is rather easy as I don’t feel tired. Half way through the class I only think how to kill the guy as at 9 am on Saturday Pilates class he plays TECHNO music!!! Talking about appropriateness! (Dexter, where are you?) I’m leaving disappointed with a headache. I’m never coming back to that class cause in any ways it’s rubbish. I’m one of those people that need to be half alive after a workout to consider it worthwhile. I felt nowhere near that even with my weight and non-existent form. The only thing this class made me think about was the fact that somewhere and somehow I lost my competitiveness. I used to be so competitive in sports…I want that back!

 Several years ago, when I thought my form was great I went to this kickboxing fitness class. It was in Poland and the guy was sort of obsessed. At the first lesson I couldn’t keep up with him at all. The second the same. The third the same. The fourth a bit better but still. Mother fucker-I thought! I’m in. It took me about 3 months (2-3 times a week) to be able to do everything he did. I watched people come and go as most of them were not able to keep up. I heard women in a dressing room complaining about the level of the class. Fuck them, I felt great! I then went for a run and stopped after an hour not because I was tired but because I was bored. I want that back!

But it’s so damn difficult. It must be one of the most difficult things to start over the intense workouts after years of doing nothing-well maybe yoga and swimming on occasions… And on top of things I am doing a week long, seven hours a day physical theatre workshop. What am I thinking?!  It all boils down to one thing-motivation. But it’s not that simple. I am still to find my inner motivation. The search is on…


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So how was Bali?

20/11/2011

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So how was Bali? It is a question I’m asked a lot lately. Well, to be honest I don’t know how to answer that shortly. So I’ll try here. In general, it was a good year. Spending eight months in Bali changed our perspectives, allowed us to rest, experience a time of doing nothing (which is something that is hard to imagine nowadays), gave me time to thinkJ. The best thing that I brought from Bali though is my baby. Baby Marysia made in Bali was born healthy in Poland and is a sweet and happy girl. There is never a perfect time to have a baby-there’s work, too small flat, not enough money etc. I didn’t have to worry about any of these in Bali so I guess for me, it was a great time to have a baby…But back to the subject. Here is what I loved about Bali and what I miss terribly:

Living close to nature-almost all the time outdoors...

Yoga with the fabulous Denise Payne at Yoga Barn. http://theyogabarn.com/

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Denise Payne
Delicious fresh mango, papaya, bananas, and snake fruit bought at Ubud market. (those fruit bought in the UK have nothing to do with their Balinese versions-well maybe just a name)

Learning and speaking Bahasa Indonesia…

Dining with Stephanie and Denise at various places in Ubud…

Visiting Mario and Ike at their diving place in Sanur. (now, Mario is one of those rare Polish guys living outside of Poland, that always welcomes and helps fellow nationals. Smart, witty, and optimistic and offers fab diving excursions! http://www.diving-indo.com/
Swimming everyday ( private pools are never overrated!!!)

Teaching drama to kids in an almost outdoor space-feeling light breeze and seeing palms…

Snorkeling at Padangbai Beach

Riding a skuter

Our Balinese cat Cinta aka Maluni (that now lives with our dear friends)

Eating fried eels and raw chocolate (not togetherJ)

Wearing sarong and flip flops

Chris misses weekly Badminton with John

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Chris' favorite vespa:-)
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Legong dancers at Bali Spirit Festival
Seeing Cambodia and Cempaka flowers and beautiful butterflies everywhere

Taking Amelia to Pelangi School that she liked and having coffee there with nice people www.pelangischoolbali.com/

Watching beautiful dance performances and artworks everywhere…

Listening to heavy rain…

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Ogoh-Ogoh
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Balinese girls
And other tiny things that made it worthwhile to drop everything and go there. We all miss those little things, especially people that we’ve met there, whose friendship we value tremendously…We are grateful for the experience and terima kasih to the people that made our stay there unforgettable. I guess there must be some sort of magic within this island that makes people want to comeback. We will. One day..In the meantime I shall write some memories...

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Inspiration

10/8/2011

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Inspiration is a funny thing. It comes and goes as it pleases; appears in the most unexpected times and places; it can vanish in a blink of an eye and  most importantly it can change our lives. Over the years various things inspired me- most often people, their personalities, passions, attitudes, behaviours, personal stories, sometimes looks. Then come places with their beauties, ugliness, histories. Then dreams-those that come in the sleep and those that are created consciously. Then there are books, films, music, artworks…anything and everything can be inspiring. Finding inspiration is falling in love. I don’t  think anyone can resist it. In order for it to happen though, one’s mind needs to stay open, vulnerable, inviting. That requires courage that not everyone has…I do genuinely feel sorry for people that don’t allow themselves to be inspired, to follow that inspiration wherever it might take them…

Sometimes though, we loose our inspiration. It’s painful, disappointing and rather depressing. It’s like suddenly loosing a lover you have great sex with.
What causes that people loose their interests, their passions, their inspirations? Again-anything and everything can destroy the inspiration that is in fact very fragile. Change of perspective, although usually very beneficial for our wellbeing, can sometimes naturally stop our love affair with ideas and dreams. Sad but bearable. The worst inspiration-killers are other people. People in our lives that are always dissatisfied with everything- mostly themselves, people that are scared to take a leap in the dark themselves and out of jealousy  try to scare you off with negativity disguised as rationalism; people that always see the glass half empty. The easiest thing is to stop or limit our contacts with them-that is what I’ve been doing for quite a while now, although it’s not always as easy as it seems, unfortunately. Those people however, make me appreciate more the ones who always support my sometimes crazy ideas. I do have a hall of fame of people who, without knowing it, make me feel good about myself; who simply with their attitudes towards life create this wonderful atmosphere that I love being in; a handful of people around the world that make me laugh out loud every time I talk to them. These people in our lives are priceless.

Sometimes trivial things can unexpectedly kill our  willingness to create, to discover. It happened to me in Bali, quite suddenly. The moment my morning sickness began all my inspiration was gone. Opening MS Word would make me nauseous; thinking about writing, doing theatre or even reading would make me want to puke. The new, growing life inside me wanted full and undivided attention not only from my body but from my mind as well. Tough several months they’ve been…until one day- I woke up and the nausea was gone and all my inspirations were back in place. The child must have decided that it was more fun to focus on stretching, punching and kicking my body rather than having a mum that lacks inspiration… Appreciated...
I love being inspired. I cannot function properly without it. Time in Bali was an important lesson. Thank you to all the people in my life that inspire me and to those that let my inspiration grow and flourish.

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Good Lifestyle. Bad lifestyle.

25/12/2010

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A constant landscape in Bali
I woke up several days ago hoping being in Asia was only a dream and that I would open my eyes and see snow outside the window. Dream on because you’re still in Asia-my sarcastic self said to my naïve self. There came a moment when I though to myself: what a fuck am I doing here? Ok, I live in a beautiful house, swim everyday, don’t have to clean as I have a maid, don’t really have to cook as we eat in restaurants, I take all my laundry to the cleaners, Amelia’s happy, my husband doesn’t complain about getting up to work because he doesn’t work, I got a cat to sooth my heart for missing my cats that are in Scotland, the weather cooled off a bit…

Am I really that ungrateful? What do I want? What’s missing? My husband said that I feel that way because I’m bored. So I decided to open an arts centre here with drama and dance classes….It is exciting, I admit, but somehow doesn’t fill the void. And then it came to me: it’s not boredom that bothers me, it’s a lack of intellectual challenge, lack of being surrounded by creative and therefore inspirational people, lack of the right stimuli…I see fabulous things happening in theatres in Scotland and there is none here…There is not one professional, western actor here in Bali that I know of! I figured long time ago that in order to be happy I need to feel I’m growing, developing, learning…Plus I really value genuine people-with their worries, struggles, joys and hopes.

And here I get an impression that people are everything but genuine. Everyone is always smiling (just like in that TV movie The Prisoner with Sir Ian McKellen), everyone likes to talk about their pembantu (a general house help-they do it all: cleaning, childcare, cooking, shopping, some also massage etc). Many people have businesses here-but again they like to compliment each other on how they treat their WORKING stuff (read: reprimand them). And then there is a talk like…when I was in Thailand I bought this and that, when I was travelling in India the beaches were amazing, and oh, I just went for a colonic, a massage, what spa do you like? They serve this amazing dish in that restaurant etc.

‘I am loving my lifestyle here’- I hear it quite often. What lifestyle? Of doing nothing useful? Of focusing on getting rid of all the hard things in life? And what’s more putting it all on the shoulders of poor Balinese women who before and after their days work at a rich white woman’s house (for roughly $4 a day!) go to their own households and children? Lifestyle of endless spas and moving from one restaurant to another and either engaging in small talks with friends alike or sitting in front of a computer on Facebook? People even speak slowly here- that drives me mad!

Is there any genuine satisfaction of any kind in that lifestyle? Doesn’t that usually come from hard work and conquering obstacles and doing something useful? I believe that life should be hard sometimes so we can appreciate and know what happiness is. It is a banal belief, I know, but isn’t it true? I feel sorry for those women whose children love and cuddle to their nannies more than their mothers. I really do. Raising children is hard. Sometimes we all have enough and need a rest but hey, that’s real life! See The Prisoner and you’ll know what I’m talking about! I AM GENUINELY SICK OF THIS BULLSHIT!

Some time ago I’ve met this 82 years old Japanese professor of cultural anthropology (an extremely rare event) and when I told him life in Bali annoyed me, he smiled and said that it is because there is no change here. There are no seasons here-all the time the same weather, and so people don’t prepare for the change; they don’t know a change. And with that sentence the professor summarised it all for me. That’s why I like people smarter than me: ‘there is no change here’. And I am all about change-for me change is life. I often don’t know what day of the week it is. If I didn’t host a Polish Christmas Eve party I wouldn’t know it was Christmas…Despite all your beauty and good things I don’t love you, Bali. I don’t belong here.

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Balinese Standards

20/12/2010

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Every now and then people ask me how I like Bali. Equally nice and annoying I tend to answer. What’s annoying? – they wonder. Well, Balinese standards- I usually say. At this point to visitors on holidays here or some that freeze in Europe I must appear as this unappreciating spoiled brat. I don’t think I am, and I think it’s all a matter of perspective…Here are two (for now) examples:

1)      Cleanliness.  An American woman rents a nice villa (there usually is a cleaning woman contracted as well); It is a first day of a house cleaning, the American is getting ready to leave the house so that the cleaning woman can work more comfortably. While she awaits her husband she’s observing the following situation: the cleaning woman gets a bucket and some rugs; she then goes to a nearby fish pond and then gets some water to the bucket. She then goes to the living room and is about to dump the water onto the wooden floor but at the last moment is stopped by the horrified American. It takes some explaining how (not) to clean the floor. I have a maid clean my house twice a week. She’s nice and tries and although she’s been doing it for years there is a long way to a spotless house-maybe by the time I leave I see the house really clean…Thank goodness for geckos and other lizards that keep the house bugs free! (that’s a good standard)

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Tuke-rather loud but shy lizard; rarely in the house, though...
2)      Tanpa gula! Means without sugar. Very useful to know especially for those who, like me, don’t like drinks with sugar. Balinese tend to put sugar in EVERYTHING be it a coffee, a fresh juice, an alcoholic drink-anything that’s on the drink menu. Even knowing that every now and then I forget to tell the waiter not to use sugar. I have lately ordered coffee with milk-no sugar. I ordered in Indonesian to be sure the waitress understood. After a while she brings me coffee, I taste it and take a deep breath before I ask why she put sugar in my coffee. She says there is no sugar in the coffee. My husband takes a sip and his face is showing his disgusted reaction to the sweetness of the coffee (and he does use sugar!). Although we are calm, the waitress almost in tears says there is no sugar in my coffee. I don’t want to upset her, but the goddamned coffee is sweet. Make another one and this time I’ll watch you make it, I finally say. I follow her to the kitchen. And this is what I see: she makes a black, regular bitter coffee; then she fills HALF of the cup (literally) with CONDENSED milk and then pours the black coffee over the milk. She then turns to me with a typical Balinese smile and says: see, no sugar… So now when ordering coffee not only I have to say no sugar but also to make sure what kind of milk they’re using. And even then I sometimes get a sweet coffee…

When on holidays these seem funny and unimportant. But when you live here and all you want in the not so good morning is a decent cup of coffee then things like that can really drive anyone mad…
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Jus tanpa gula
P.S About a week ago I gave in and we got a kitten from a local shelter. He is adorable, somewhat Siamese and very cuddly. One time after we fed him, my husband noticed the cat didn’t really wash himself. Our three cats back in Edinburgh could endlessly wash not only themselves but also one another and this one- two licks and done. Why are you surprised?- I asked my husband. Haven’t you gotten used to it yet? Used to what?-he asks disoriented. Well, Balinese standard of cleanliness, of course! We both started laughing…Maybe we should name him Standard...
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One woman's love for a dog...

6/12/2010

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There once was a woman who loved dogs. And she liked Bali. So she decided to move there with her family. But unfortunately, that would mean that she would have to leave her beloved Tanus-a 9 year old boxer behind because it isn’t possible to bring pets to Bali. In fact out of 18 thousands islands of Indonesia only 2 will let a dog in: Java and Sulawesi. The thought of separation from her ‘baby’ was heartbreaking…Nothing is impossible-she thought. And so she found a way…

She flew the dog to Jakarta on Java-a neighbouring island to Bali. Once there, the dog had to be kept in a quarantine facility for a month. At the end of that month the dog became a little sick so the vet decided to keep him there a little longer but: unfortunately (or rather fortunately) his owner told the vet, the dog is to go with a military on a mission…

And so the military picked up the dog and took him on a big, military cargo plane. Tanus spent couple of days with a military flying around Indonesian islands as part of the military exercise.

And then they stopped on Bali where his overjoyed owner were to collect him…When she came to a pick up point the dog was being guarded by the military until the arrival of the woman that would take him. Tanus has finally joined his family on Bali and is living happily following his owner everywhere.

How on Earth did she manage to get military involved in it? -you might ask. Well, there once was a friend who was a dog lover himself so he understood the love…and as it happened, he was in a military in Indonesia…and that’s how the idea emerged…What a friend! What love for a dog! What a story!

 

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