Stories of the Grey Tarmac
Exhibition, Workshop, Performances, Interactions
What have you learnt from the changes in Latvia and globally in the last few years?
The last two years have been a period in which the path of development along which we wish to travel as an independent creative association, working at the crossroads of different arts, has been marked out more accurately. Our main lesson has been - not to be afraid! Thanks to this strategy we have successfully made our cinema debut, developed several theatrical performances for children and youngsters, unusual in Latvia, created multidisciplinary exhibitions and, together with friends from United Intimacy, created the professional, independent Ģertrūdes Street theatre.
How does your project for SURVIVAL KIT 2 relate to the festival theme?
One hundred years ago, E.Birznieks Upītis wrote his most well-known and saddest descriptions of rural life Stories of the grey stones. This year we are inviting everyone to E.Birznieka Upīša Street to listen to, to narrate and to read stories of the grey tarmac – credible and unbelievable, but in each case gripping epistles about urban man, and what it is which helps him live/survive/experience the time al- located to him.
With the permission of the hospitable street inhabitants at various places along the entire length of the street, each evening from 18.00-20.00 it will be possible to wander from story teller to story teller, from story to legend, from anecdotes to contemporary tales, from the complete truth to blatant lies. Anyone whose heart desires it will be able to become a story teller. In the roles of storyteller - the inhabitants of E-Birznieka Upīša Street and their friends (Prof. G.Bībers, the erudite V.Zvaigzne, story expert G.Pakalns and his company of storytellers, writers M.Bērziņš, R.Bargais, and others). In turn, new playwrights, with chalk in their hands, will write and rewrite their impromptu works on the pavements, turning the street’s „back” into its „tongue”. In a time when folk in virtual social networks have learned to abbreviate their thoughts and themselves to a few characters, we invite you to a human get together, without restricting yourself to a designated number of letters. At least two are required for narrating and for listening. But where there are two, a third one also develops. This is also our survival strategy – to create events and adventures, tales and meetings, children and friends, people who are ready to help each other with good words.
Why haven’t you left Latvia?
Why haven’t we left? Because it’s good enough here.
PROGRAMME
1. Street stories.
Ten storytellers along the entire block will narrate what helps them survive. If it’s raining, find them in several venues - cafes, workshops and empty premises. Listen to the tales of the inhabitants of E.Birznieka Upīša Street and their friends – storytellers Guntis Pakalns, Līga Reiter, Inita Šalkovska, writers Māris Bērziņš, Juris Zvirgzdiņš, Rihards Bargais, literary scientist Gunārs Bībers, new playwrights Rasa Bugavičute, Jānis Balodis, Edgars Niklasons, Klāvs Knuts Sukurs, Ludmila Judina, Madara Rampāne, Laura Luņeva, Sandija Kalniņa, Elvijs Čakāns, Arta Vanaga and other storytellers.
2. Sky stories
Special tales for the sky and the city from the little tower on the crossroads of Dzirnavu and E.Birznieka Upīša Street. Tilt your head back and open your ears – man is talking back to the city!
3. Pavement stories
Throughout the week the tongue of new playwrights and writers will be the pavement of E.Birznieka Upīša Street... Come and helps us create new stories every day which will later be swept away by the caretakers’ brooms.
4. Invisible theatre
What’s that? Theatre unseen by anyone. Maybe you’ll feel it next to you. Where Impossible to predict. When? Now and then.
5. Photo exhibition
About the everyday things which surround you. In the former second-hand clothes shop at 18 E.Birznieka Upīša Street. In a house formerly occupied by publisher and friend of E.Birznieka Upītis, A.Jesens. Author – Krista Burāne.
6. Street dance, music and mime
Everything which can be narrated through movement. – E.Birznieka Upīša Street salsa club Viva la salsa and step dancers. On the pavement.