TRANSIT
III
Women's International Theatre Festival and Meeting
Theatre - Women - Generations
Odin Teatret, Holstebro, Denmark
18 - 28 January 2001
Master/pupil relationships, independent
auto-didactic realities, the practice of workshops and training,
traditional western schooling, the passing on of a craft through
family connections or apprenticeship, or the absence of references,
are different examples of how theatre knowledge and practice is
transmitted from one generation to the other. Compulsory schooling,
the need to earn a living, the forty-five minute rhythms of
lessons, the demand to produce quick results and to sell, and the
artistic process of live performance being taken over by mass
events and television - all these factors are influencing the way
of teaching and learning for women who work in theatre. The
generation of women who now embody experience and can reflect upon
the early years when they knew clearly what they wanted, but lacked
the tools to achieve their aims, faces a younger generation of
women whose perceptions and expectations are different. Transit III
explored what and how we can learn from each other, and what
experiences can be shared across the generations. During the
festival some of the performances directly addressed the questions
of the learning and teaching process in theatre, while others
presented themes and characters that explore the needs of women of
different ages and from diverse cultural backgrounds. Transit III
involved women practitioners, artists, intellectuals and scholars
from Europe, America, New Zealand and Asia to present performances,
videos, demonstrations and lectures, to give workshops and
participate in discussions. Particular attention was given to young
practitioners and older artists searching for renewal. Transit III
saw the theme of "Generations" as a lifetime of growing.
The programme included vocal and physical training (Entrances),
demonstrations by masters and pupils together (Bridges),
presentations of exercises considered to be essential by
practitioners of different theatrical ages (Corner Stones),
lectures, concerts and performances.
Transit III was dedicated to Melissa of Gotas de Rap
During eleven days 5 workshops, 25 performances and 10 debates
were presented by: ODIN TEATRET, Denmark; THE MAGDALENA PROJECT,
Wales; GILLA CREMER, Germany; DEBORAH HUNT, Puerto Rico/New
Zealand; Birute Marcinkeviciute, Lithuania; VOIX POLYPHONIQUES,
France; GRENLAND FRITEATER, Norway; Birgitte Grimstad, Norway;
MAGDALENA AOTEAROA, New Zealand; MARIA CANEPA, Chile; ALMA THEATRE,
Wales; ANA WOOLF, Argentina; TOPENG SHAKTI, Bali; TEATRO DELLE
RADICI, Switzerland; SAGLIOCCO ENSEMBLE, France/Norway; Marianela
BoAn, Cuba; JO RANDERSON, New Zealand; Verena Tay, Singapore; Gilly
Adams, Wales; Josefina Báez, Dominican Republic/New York; Magdalena
Segunda Generación, Argentina; Marie-Josée Ordener, France; Ya-Ling
Peng, Taiwan; Teatret Om, Denmark; Chiara Zamboni, Italy.
Exhibition The Transit III programme was illustrated by Dorthe
Kærgaard, Denmark, who also exhibited her paintings at Odin Teatret
during the festival.