Free as a Bird
On-line interactive performance for youth (12+)
On-line interactive performance
Even in times of forced solitude, we needed to sing, dance, and reflect together on who we are and who we can be.
The interactive online performance "Free as Birds" offered a platform for just such sharing and experiencing in times of social isolation.
Suitable for class collectives in quarantine.
Each participant would receive an email with an introductory text and login details. Thanks to them, they will log in at a specific time, preferably via their computer, or worse, via a tablet/smartphone, to the “set event” in the ZOOM application platform (no need to install anything). The entire performance takes place in the form of a “video conference”. At the beginning, the director will explain the rules to all participants and introduce them to the topic. After a short performance, the dancers will guide the participants into active interaction with expression, face, and movement. The 60-minute program concludes with a joint reflection on the experience.
Inspiration and original form of the preformance
The inspiration for the original physical interactive theatre performance was the 13th-century Persian mystical poem THE CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS. The theme was developed by, for example, Peter Brook and in book form by illustrator Petr Sís. Dramaturg and director Tereza Dobiášová wanted to create a performative form of "pilgrimage to oneself". However, during the preparation of the production, the theme of theatre naturally entered the work.
The performance can thus be understood as opening the doors to the theatre, an opportunity to "experience theatre" even for those who have never been on stage. The original physical theatre performance was produced by Sladovna Písek and in cooperation with the Italian theatre TPO.
Online adaptation
Quarantine inspired Tereza Dobiášová and her collaborators to adapt the project for the online environment. The Czech performance is a free continuation of the Italian online version. It features dancers from Laterna Magika and the Italian TPO theater.
The FREE AS BIRDS program is a completely extraordinary format in terms of audience participation in the Czech environment.
The Czech online version was created as a cooperative project between UUUL z.ú. and National Theatre Prague.
Suitable for school groups (elementary and secondary schools or interest groups of children/youth aged 12+) and students of vocational schools and universities (pedagogical, humanities and artistic fields).
Conception and script: Tereza Dobiášová
Direction: Tereza Dobiášová (UUUL z.ú.) a Davide Venturini (TPO)
Dancers of Laterna magika: Lucie Hrzalová, Anna Homola
Dancer of TPO: Běla Dobiášová
On-line direction: Lenka Hubáčková (ND+)
Music: Billie Eillish / Tata Bojs
Duration: 60 min.
