Monday, May 22, 2006

[upon culture] street theatre

I remember when I was doing my undergrad thesis I was fascinated by my own conceptualization of the carnivalisque life of people in a dense public space… I named my thesis and my project “a celebration of people”… because I felt that there was this hidden festive spirit in that area of Amman… it was in al-Mahta where is Ragadan temporal bus station “is it still there? I dunno!”… I investigate certain events that took place in that space and studied the changes on the nature of these events along time… and I ended up designing a public open space [/multi-layered/ plaza/ stage/]…

[click on image for larger view]
Anyways…
I really do feel that in every act people do there is this hidden ritual, festivity or carnival spirit…
You’ll be amazed by what you’ll feel from just looking around and reflecting upon different events that take place in any open urban space…
Here in Edinburgh I’ve been introduced to even a lovelier urban festivity… “Street theatre”…
You have performers in the street dancing, playing music, singing, bag piping, sketching and/or doing magic tricks.
For me it adds a lot to the charms of walking in the Royal Mile or in Prince Street… you feel that the music is part of a sound track in a movie… and you become immersed in this fantasy world of your own… where all around is fake yet real… and you become a heroine/hero in a tale…
I would love to see Street Theatre in Amman… it is an amazing way to bring Art more into people’s lives by enhancing their urban experiences amidst busy mundane spaces…





[click on image for larger view]

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