Have you ever been going to the theater, in your home town? Or, in any town? Most theaters are catering for an audience that can afford it, and that doesnot need a stimulation to enjoy art.
But that audience is shrinking in modern society, and directors and actors need a stimulating audience as well, because art is essentially a way of communication.
I remember once a concert, of a famous set of artists, in a low budget setting, but the audience was limited to the same amount of people compared to the artists that performed (2) . We, organizing the event, enjoyed the concert, for sure, but would have enjoyed even more, not only for the small contribution of money, but also because the artists were frustrated. In another environment, they claimed, people would have paid big cash, and would have joined the rows to enter the Concertgebouw, and enjoy the concert. I guess that made some point, but the audience we organized it for, would never have gone that far, because the Concertgebouw wasnot in their tradition, and they might have been blocked by having to pay that amount of money.
So when I found out, we could enter the Stadsschouwburg of Amsterdam for free, and even get a little money paid for it, I was eager to participate.
Even though I was interested in art, stage, and associated things, I never had really felt attracted to enter the Stads-schouwburg, partly for the reasons I mentioned above. I got even more intrigued by hearing the name of Adelheid Roosen. I had never been to one of her plays, but I had once delivered a letter/packet to her, at the artist s entrance I have been going too recently more often. It was quite special as I wanted to know it came to the right person, so I waited till she came down there, and she made quite an impression to me even then, by being such a unpretending person. I know out of experience, the greatest people in art, sport or even politics donot need to pretend they are someone, because they already have a personality, that shows/showed.
I had never imagined I would be on stage like this with her, and other pleasing people, and some very disturbing people too, to be honest.
It isnot just to be on (and behind) stage that I like in this project, but also that we can sleep and be ourselves, when the performance ended, and we sleep, sometimes on stage and have breakfast together.
Human engagement being brought back in public places, I love it!
Please tell me your experience here, in comments, or via using a blog post of your own with this tag deoversteek
