World Theatre Day Blog

Today I received this email from Susan Weiss, an ex-pat British Colombian who now lives in Mexico. Everyone give Mexico a big welcome to the World Theatre Day Party!

WORLD THEATRE DAY 2010 IN MEXICO – A FIRST EVER STEP!

These words are especially appropriate for Mexico: “But theatre…provides opportunities to educate and inform. All it needs is a space and an audience. Theatre has the ability to make us smile, to make us cry, but should also make us think and reflect”. Dame Judi Dench – excerpt from her World Theatre Day message. (I admit it! I am a huge ‘FAN” of Dame Judi Dench).
On the occasion of World Theatre Day 2010 I am honored and extremely excited to help launch Mexico as a first-time participant in this magnificent “world event”.
Mexico, ah…there are so many Mexico’s. The richness of Mexico and her culture, is her people. Mexican culture is also very complex.
There is a long and bold history of theatre is this country that spans two centuries.  And, in this Bi-Centennial year, Mexico is celebrating its culture and its theatre all over this country in cities, towns, “pueblitos”, “plazas”, churches and “Casas de la Cultura” with great pride, dignity and above all, honor.
Great writers such as Octavio Paz, Carlos Fuentes; directors and innovators such as Luis de Tavira, (who created Casa del Teatro, a training ground for Mexican “creativity” by nurturing young writers, actors, directors, technicians, designers and teachers and inspiring the next generation); these “Mexican giants” all deserve a hearty round of applause.
My first “live theatre” experience in Mexico City was attending the play “Encuentros”, (Encounters), written, directed and acted by Guillermo Iván, Erik Heyser and Ragnar Conde and presented at the Casa Azul in Colonia Condesa. Casa Azul is a theatre centre, made up of many rooms, (it was at one time a Spanish conquest era “dignified Hacienda”). In one of those rooms, (9 feet by 12 feet – at the most), sitting in a circle on plastic chairs, 25 audience members anxiously waited for what was coming next; imagine, sitting in a room with only one door and one light bulb hanging from the high ceiling. BANG! The one door slammed shut.

What came in the next 90 minutes was gripping, gutsy, gritty and at times a ghastly encounter with three characters that had been kidnapped, (not knowing each other). It was raw and powerful emotion – that seared everyone in that 9 by 12 foot room.
And what could possibly be next? At the end of the “encounter”, a video tape rolled, recapping the events of the play and the audience was “compelled” to decide the fate of just one of the “kidnapped”.
My heart almost stopped, and, when the light bulb came on for the “Bows” I thought to myself, quietly, “Art imitating Life” or “Life imitating Art”? After all, this powerful, contemporary, in your face theatre piece, spoke volumes about the everyday life in this city.
From this theatre experience Ragnar, Guillermo, Erik and I have become fast and forever friends. I help them in any way I can to promote their work in theatre; they are visionaries, and they carry the “torch” for theatre in Mexico with immense honor, dignity, pride and humility. They are also “fearless” in their collective quest to inform. I love you guys, “un abrazo muy fuerte!”
In my current adopted home of Querétaro, Mexico I met another young, creative, ambitious and innovative Mexican theatre man: Alonso Barrera. Alonso Barrera is a writer, an actor, a director, a businessman; (he created La Fabrica, a theatre space in Querétaro), to further his passion of and for theatre.
When I first met Alonso he was writing, (with the Grade 11 Drama Club of the John F. Kennedy American School of Querétaro), a theatre piece in English. The acting, design, writing and “entrepreneurship” (securing sponsorship for the production), of these young people was remarkable. What an experience for these adolescent students, their families and the community of Jurica. I too applauded them one and all.
I asked Alonso if he and La Fabrica might participate in World Theatre Day 2010 and in true Mexican fashion, he said YES. (“No”, does not work in the vocabulary here). To this end he has secured the 50th performance of the play “La Estacion” performed by “Barón rampante” on WTD, March 27, 2010 in Querétaro, Mexico.

What is even more outstanding is that there will be no tickets sold; the audience will be asked to make a donation, of whatever they can afford, at the show. This is dedication and shows entrepreneurship on the part of La Fabrica and “Barón rampante”.
It is with great pleasure that I shall show my support by attending, (and taking a group of friends with me), to this historic, first entrance of Mexico onto the world theatre stage in celebration of World Theatre Day, 2010.
To Alonso, “Barón rampante” , La Fabrica, I thank you for your dedication, passion and I honor you for sharing your theatre with us!
Many, many, years ago I was invited to Jordan to “produce an event”, and I share an inside “glance” of one of my conversations: “If you can transport me from my everyday life, for three hours, I shall be eternally grateful to you”….Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan on the occasion of an audience with her planning for AIDA at the football stadium in Amman, Jordan to benefit her causes for women and children in Jordan. (SCW: alas this did not come to pass, the “Intifada” created another kind of theatre). Her Majesty’s words are forever burned onto my soul.
In closing, I say to all people, everywhere, “Run, don’t walk”, beg, borrow, barter, do whatever you need to do; please support theatre in your community, especially on March 27, 2010.
BUT, please do not stop there, continue to put your bottom and your friends’ bottoms in seats in theatres; by doing this you will support art, be informed and most of all “you will be transported, I guarantee!”
Susan C. Weiss
Producer, writer, entrepreneur; (passionate for theatre, wherever I am – right now in Querétaro, Mexico)
PS – and a very important one! A very special thank you to Rebecca Coleman of Vancouver, Canada, (herself), a theatre producer, marketer and publicist extraordinaire for introducing me to WTD; “una abrazo fuerte” Rebecca, from all of us participating in WTD 2010 in Mexico.
I also celebrate WTD 2010 with you in Vancouver, (in spirit), from Mexico. “VIVA EL DIA MUNDIAL DEL TEATRO! VIVA!”

Thanks, Susan. I look forward to your photos and video.

–Rebecca