CONTENTS
The Open Page - OPEN QUOTES
Maggie Gale (Britain) - ABSENCE AND
EVIDENCE
Em Theay (Cambodia) - BEYOND THE KILLING
FIELDS
Estela Leñero Franco (Mexico) - PIONEERING
WOMEN IN MEXICAN THEATRE
Franca Rame interview by
Stefania Taviano (Italy) - I AM READY
Anne Bogart (USA) - RESISTANCE
Béatrice Picon-Vallin (France)
- Janne Risum (Denmark) -
MASHA
Adelina Ong (Singapore) - AGAINST A BRICK
WALL
Lali Armengol Argemí (Venezuela) - A PRESENCE
IN THE STREETS
Nora Amin (Egypt) - THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER
Joanna Sherman - Christina
Gelsone (USA) - OUT OF THE BLUE
Roxana Pineda (Cuba) - THE PATH OF
RESISTANCE
Ulla Ryum (Denmark) - THE DANCE OF THE POLAR
BEARS
Jill Greenhalgh (Britain) - A WORDY WARFARE
Margaret Cameron (Australia) - WHAT GULLIVER
WALKS
Julia Varley (Britain/Denmark) - IRONED
SHEETS
Ana Woolf (Argentina) - LOOKING FOR THE
ANTIDOTE
Geddy Aniksdal (Norway) - MY PRIVILEGE
Dawn Albinger (Australia) - THE HEROIN(E)
Kathrine Winkelhorn (Denmark) - ARTS AND
MONEY
Iami Rebouças Freire (Brazil) - THE WORLD OF
APPEARANCES
Margarita Borja (Spain) - STAGES OF LIFE - LIFE
ON STAGE
Maysa Zaky (Egypt) - DISAPPEARING IN
THEATRE
Beatriz Camargo (Colombia) - BREAKING THE
MIRROR
Pam Woods (Britain) - FALLING AMONG THE
NETTLES
Rebeca Ralli (Peru) - CONSTRUCTIVE
CONSTRICTIONS
Angelika Göken (Germany) - PEOPLE WHO MEET AND
LOVE
The Open Page - OPEN LETTERS
The Open Page - OPEN NEWS
EDITORIAL
Angelika Göken died soon after I made the interview with her for
this issue of The Open Page. The openness and courage of
her words are an example for all of us in our everyday struggles.
But she died - and death is too real and final to deal with. It
transforms struggle into a question of how to
continue living despite a reality which is just too harsh. The
answer I found for myself is in letting Angelika live on through
the interview, allowing her words also to give courage to her
family and theatre group so that they continue the work that she
was not able to finish.
Different is the reality of the macho culture of Venezuela for
Lali Armengol, the cruelty of Pol Pot's government for Em Theay,
the shock of her rape for Franca Rame. Despite many articles
talking of illness, repression, insurmountable obstacles,
unfavourable conditions, insecurities and a feeling of rejection by
history, this issue of The Open Page exudes a general
attitude of determination, optimism, authority, energy and
strength. The authors were encouraged to think of
struggle in a constructive and active way and the
result points towards an understanding of struggle as being at the
very heart of our theatre work as women, be it social, political,
cultural, personal or professional.
Talent is very rarely something we can rely on, and many women
have built their technique and approach autonomously to find,
master, change and renew themselves. Step by step, their paths are
filled with hurdles and emptiness, with insurmountable walls and
vast deserts, with disagreements and solitude, with the desire and
frustration of collective work. The list of professional challenges
that need to be surmounted in order to acquire experience, for
actors and dancers who struggle with their bodies
and voices, for directors who struggle with the ability to
concretise their visions, is completed by many articles referring
to battles with words, meetings and power. As women practitioners
we also struggle to document our work and be more present in
theatre history.
In order to continue, we need to find a new meaning in our
actions, so as not to repeat ourselves or take shortcuts. We need
to make choices which involve challenge and risk, to follow
unexplored directions, and to remain faithful to the original
motivation although confronting all the necessary dimensions that
our theatre activity simultaneously requires.
The eternal struggle is to invent ways of
making theatre that will take a position and leave a trace,
influence our surroundings and give us the strength to face the
future.
Julia Varley
Holstebro, March 2004
no. 9 - April 2004

Editorial Board:
Gilly Adams, Geddy Aniksdal, Maria Ficara, Maggie Gale,
Julia Varley
Production Coordinator:
Rina Skeel
Collaborating Editor:
Jill Greenhalgh
Cover:
Marco Donati
With special thanks to:
Grenland Friteater
Chris Fry
Pippa Hill
Las Palmas University
Carmen Márquez Montes
Rocío Solís
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