CoHouses

ABOUT THE PROJECT

An original project by performer Lukáš Karásk.

‘The Living Room’ is an expedition of the human imagination into the uncharted territory of furniture. It takes place within the walls of a single room – a world of furniture existing in parallel to our own. Here, every object has its own character; each behaves in its own unique way. On the border between light and darkness, amidst the quiet creaking of wooden legs and the squeaking of doors, the furniture and the human body become a canvas from which fantastical figures emerge and vanish again. In his project, Lukáš Karásek treads the fine line between mask theatre, dance and circus, unfolding an exhilarating performance brimming with imagination and humour.

Photos: Simona Rybová, Adam Holubovský, Mila Vašíčková

Creative team:

Author, performer: Lukáš Karásek Dramaturgy: Viktor Černický Set design, furniture production: Lukáš Urbanec Lighting design: Zuzana Režná Costumes: Hynek Petrželka Production: tYhle, Studio ALTA Partners: Terén, Cooltour, Cirqueon, Kredance, Tanec Praha / PONEC – Theatre for Dance

http://tyhle.cz/obyvaci-pokoj/

Support:

The Living Room project is being realised with financial support from the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, the City of Brno, the City of Prague and the State Cultural Fund. The production is part of the project ‘Cooperation between cultural centres: Studio ALTA, Black Box Theatre, Baerum Kulturhus’, supported by the EEA Financial Mechanisms.

MEDIA REVIEWS

Lukáš Karásek: I don’t see online as a crutch during the coronavirus crisis (interview) Michaela Kessler, Opera Plus, 27 December 2020

Clara Zangová: Even Furniture Has a Soul (review) Dance News, 22 December 2020

Hana Strejčková: How Do You Think Your Cupboard Feels? (review) Opera Plus, 2 June 2021

Vladimír Mikulka: Slowly and quickly (review), Svět a divadlo 4/2021

MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENTS

Dance News, Dance Magazine, Informuji.cz, I-divadlo.cz, Theatre News

PERFORMANCES

• 27 May 2021 | Studio ALTA | PREMIERE

• 28 May 2021 | Studio ALTA

• 6 September 2021 | Rezi.dance Komařice

• 23 September 2021 | Studio ALTA

• 24 September 2021 | Studio ALTA

• 30 September 2021 | Move Fest Ostrava

• 8 December 2021 | DIOD Jihlava

• 27 December 2021 | ONLINE PERFORMANCE (Studio ALTA)

• 23 February 2022 | Malá inventura Festival 2022

• 24 March 2022 | Divadlo na cucky, Olomouc

• 17 May 2022 | Divadlo 29, Pardubice

• 11 July 2023 | Studio ALTA

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Am I a man? What am I allowed to do? What am I not allowed to do? What must I do? Who will tell me? What can be seen of me? Can I express what I feel inside on the outside too?

“We are exploring the stereotypes, norms and expectations that we have learnt, that have been imposed on us, that we have created ourselves, and that have become second nature to us, and we are trying to peel them away. We are seeking ways to convey this ‘peeling away’ on stage. We ask ourselves how to communicate in a way that does not impose anything on anyone, whilst still managing to express what we feel. The world around us is what we make of it. We are responsible for it. On stage, we are searching for a world in which everyone should be seen just as they are, complete with their emotions.”

Jiří Šimek, Peter Šavel and Marta Ljubková

We began by reading the book*Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men* by Criado Perez, and this was soon followed by*The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity and Love* by Bell Hooks. For two years, we explored a wide range of topics that had become particularly relevant since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic – the organisation of the world with regard to the ‘small and the weak’, contemporary communication and its forms, the idealised image of masculinity, the world as a place designed only for some of us, emotional maturity… Throughout the process, the future production was constantly evolving, as new stimuli kept piling up – for example, power struggles at universities and publicised cases of abuse. The original title remained, as did the desire to find a form that would best express what is often kept silent because it is considered embarrassing. About fragility, to which men, too, are entitled – though they, of course, make up a minority of the theatre audience. (So if you’re not a man and you’ve read this far, think about which man in your circle might need a bit of fragility, and take him to the theatre with you!)

We are experimenting with the boundaries of what and how we can express in the theatre, and also with what theatre actually is. We set no limits in terms of genre, form or expression; we see the theatrical form as a free territory where anything is possible. Even crying with impunity.

The project’s website, which serves as a map and record of the entire creative process: www.neviditelnazena.cz

Media coverage:

Lucie Kocourková: ‘Clutches Tucked Away, or What Didn’t Make It into the Reviews (2)’: Whoman through new eyes

PERFORMERS: Jiří Šimek, Peter Šavel

DRAMATURGICAL AND CREATIVE COLLABORATION: Marta Ljubková

TECHNICAL SUPPORT and LIGHTING DESIGN: Štěpán Hejzlar, Zuzana Režná

MOVEMENT COLLABORATION: Martina Hajdyla Lacová

PRODUCTION: Tereza Tomášová, Ludmila Vacková & Jiří Šimek

PRODUCERS: Studio ALTA (ALT@RT, z. ú.), Ufftenživot

CO-PRODUCER: Moving Station (Johan, z. ú.)RESIDENCIES (in chronological order): Velvarská kostka, Rezi.dance v lese, Sprang Scene (Norway), Baerum Kulturhus (Sandvika – Norway), Studio ALTA, Moving Station

SUPPORTED BY the Prague City Council and the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic

UVEDENÍ

• 19.2. 2022 10:00 | Work in progress | Festival Malá inventura 2022

• PREMIÉRA: 13. 9. 2022 19:00 | Moving Station v Plzni v rámci festivalu Divadlo

• PRVNÍ REPRÍZA: 14. 9. 2022 16:30 | Moving Station v Plzni

• 24.2. 2023 18:00 | Libeňský pivovar, Praha 8 – Libeň | Festival Malá inventura 2023

• 25.2. 2023 18:00 | Libeňský pivovar, Praha 8 – Libeň | Festival Malá inventura 2023

• 28.4. 2023 18:00 | Baerum Kulturhus, Norsko

• 29.4. 2023 18:00 | Baerum Kulturhus, Norsko

• 17.5. 2023 19:30 | Studio ALTA, Libeňský pivovar | Pražská premiéra

• 18.5. 2023 19:30 | Studio ALTA, Libeňský pivovar

• 15.9. 2023 18:00 | Studio ALTA | Parents Friendly

• 16.9. 2023 19:30 | Studio ALTA | Zažít Libeň jinak

• 27.11. 2023 19:30 | Co.Labs Brno

• 20.2. 2024 19:00 | Pardubice, Divadlo 29

• 21.3. 2024 18:30 | Ostrava, Komorní scéna Aréna | Festival Move Ostrava 2024

• 26.3. 2024 19:00 | České Budějovice, Kredance

• 07.01.2025 17:00-18:00 | SPRANG – Ål kulturhus | Taneční workshop s Peterem Šavelem

• 08.01.2025 19:00 | SPRANG – Ål kulturhus | Ufftenživot & Studio ALTA: WHOMAN

• 09.01.2025 10:00 | SPRANG – Ål kulturhus | Ufftenživot & Studio ALTA: WHOMAN (uvedení pro studenty)

• 11.01.2025 18:00 | GRENELAND FRITEATER – PORSGRUNN | Ufftenživot & Studio ALTA: WHOMAN

Regular face-to-face meetings between representatives of all partners form an integral part of the CoHouses partnership project. These took place in both the Czech Republic and Norway and were closely linked to the implementation of other project activities, so that we could minimise essential travel as much as possible whilst monitoring the project’s progress in person.

A total of five main meetings took place, focusing on evaluating the progress of the project and planning its further development.

• 19 November 2021 | Norway – Black Box Teater, Oslo / Baerum Kulturhus, Sandvika

• March 2022 | Norway – Black Box Teater, Oslo / Baerum Kulturhus, Sandvika

• May 2022 | Czech Republic – Studio ALTA, Prague

• September 2022 | Czech Republic – Studio ALTA, Prague

• 28 April 2023 | Norway – Baerum Kulturhus, Sandvika

• 23–25 September 2023 | Czech Republic – Studio ALTA, Prague

Strengthening the capacities of cultural practitioners is an important aspect of cultural development. This is precisely why one of the main activities focused on the development of cultural practitioners involved in the running of all three partner organisations.

A total of three meetings were held, aimed at sharing know-how and specific skills amongst the partner organisations.

PAST MEETINGS

On 18 November 2021, a meeting of partners took place at Baerum Kulturhus to discuss issues relating to planning management, team coordination and activities. The partners shared their experiences in these areas and discussed the tools they use for planning.

28 May 2022 | 10:00–12:00 | Cultural Houses & CSR | TEH Conference, Studio ALTA

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a topic that is shaking up the business world. It is time to turn our attention to cultural organisations as well. In this workshop, we focused on the following questions: how do we communicate our social responsibility to the public, politicians and artists? Is it important for cultural organisations to have a strategic document in this area, and how can one be created? What lessons can we learn from the business sector? The workshop was open to representatives of partner organisations, other TEH members and the wider cultural community.

On 27 March 2024 at 4.30 pm, a moderated debate linked to the Artist & Venues format (Kultivátor platform) took place at Studio ALTA and online. The final meeting, aimed at cultural practitioners, focused on the emancipation of contemporary dance and the search for a way to define the current state and role of this genre. Together with our partners, we feel that accurate and shared articulation is vital for the communication and advocacy of this genre, and thus for its development and consolidation on the cities’ artistic landscape.

Naturally, each partner has its own specific needs regarding the training of its team. Each partner has therefore also selected several in-house or individual courses which its team or team members will undertake during the project.

Another key objective of the project is to strengthen the skills of artists, which we hope to achieve by organising three courses and activities specifically designed for them and their development.

PITCH COURSE FOR ARTISTS: Inspire others with what you do!

A two-month intensive course for artists organised by Studio ALTA and PerformCzech / Institute of Arts – Theatre Institute, aimed at deepening artists’ communication and presentation skills, familiarising them with the principles of the PITCH format, and helping them to captivate and inspire others with their projects. Participants were able to apply the knowledge and skills they had acquired when actively approaching producers, dramaturgs or promoters.

Pitching is a method of presenting a project to the public in such a way as to realise its full potential to inspire, arouse interest and capture attention. It is used worldwide in both the independent and commercial sectors, in cultural and other contexts. Participants were selected via an open call. Applications were assessed by: Studio ALTA, the PerformCzech Programme Advisory Board (as an advisory body to the IDU) and the course tutors.

Tutors: Laia Montoya and Valeria Cosi – www.tinaagency.org

Selected artists: Becka McFadden, Tobiáš Nevřiva, Michaela Bartoňová, Natálie Podešvová, Adéla Fejková & Jolanta Lipková, Michaela Dašková, Carolina Arandia & Johanna Šilarová, Jakub Krejčí, Johana Panenková, Alžběta Bačíková, Natálie Matysková & Natálie Vacková

Programme:

26–27 January 2023: kick-off meeting for selected participants in Prague; getting to know one another; face-to-face meetings with the tutors; an introduction to the theory and working methods; and examples of good practice.

February–March 2023: independent work on presentations and four individual one-hour online consultations with the tutors for each selected project.

21–22 March 2023: final meeting in Prague, individual consultations and preparation with the tutors, finalising collaborative work on the presentation, and further tips and tricks.

23 March 2023: public final presentation as part of the Bazaar Festival in Prague.

The course was part of a collaboration between the cultural centres Studio ALTA, Baerum Kulturhus, Black Box Teater and the Arts Institute – Theatre Institute, as part of the PerformCzech SKILLS project.

28 May 2022 | 15:00–18:00 | ARTISTS and VENUES: Analysis of Needs | TEH Conference, Studio ALTA

Moderated meetings between a group of artists and representatives of European cultural venues, aimed at creating a space for sharing what artists need and expect from cultural centres, and conversely, what cultural centres need and expect from artists. These discussions helped to improve understanding between artists and cultural organisations.

13–17 March 2022 | FOLLOWERS GROUP | Oslo International Festival

An international group of artists active on the independent arts scene in the Czech Republic and Norway spent three days together observing and reflecting on the programme of the Oslo International Festival. The short-term platform, known as FOLLOWERS GROUP and led by the Czech art curator Petr Dlouhý, provided, from 13–17 March 2022, a platform for exchanging experiences from both domestic and international contexts, created a space for critical discussion of the festival’s programming system from the perspective of artists and organisers, and a space for reflection on the artistic projects they had viewed. The aim of this artistic exchange was to strengthen artists’ understanding and capacity for critical reflection, and to view the process of artistic programming and the reflection on other artists’ work from a broader international context.

24 September 2023 14:00 – 17:00 | Artists and Venues

A moderated meeting of artists and representatives of European cultural centres, aimed at creating an environment for sharing what artists need and expect from cultural centres, and conversely, what cultural centres need and expect from artists. These discussions will help to improve understanding between artists and cultural organisations.

ARTISTIC RESIDENCIES IN NORWAY

Part of the collaboration between Studio ALTA and its Norwegian partners involved the organisation of two artistic residencies in Norway.

The first of these was supported by our partner Baerum Kulturhus and took place in November 2021 at the SPRANG regional cultural centre in the town of Al. The residency supported the development of the new production (still) Invisible Woman by Jiří Šimek and Peter Šavel.

The second artist-in-residence programme took place from 29 April to 6 May 2022 in collaboration with Black Box Teater in Oslo. Marie Gourdain (tYhle) and Hana Turečková took part.

RESIDENCIES IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

18 September 2023 – 24 September 2023 | Magnus Myhr, Sigrid Hirsch Kopperdal, Terje Tjome Mossige: POPCORE

24 September 2023, 6.00 pm | Public ‘work in progress’ presentation

POPCORE (working title) is a collaborative work by composer Ingvild Langgård and choreographer Magnus Myhr. They aim to invite the audience into a physical and acoustic environment where pop music is dissected and stretched to its limits. They seek the mental and physical joy, comfort and satisfaction that music can provide, creating a sensory, pop-poetic fireworks display for dreaming and simply being.

26 September 2023 – 4 October 2023 | Ludvig Daae, Marcus Baldemar: Attempting Alchemy

Medieval alchemy is perhaps the most utopian of all sciences. At its core, alchemy pushes the boundaries of science and finds its home in the world of fantasy. This dream of transforming everyday objects and experiences into something entirely different and sublime is also a fundamental element of artistic creation. Through the ‘Attempting Alchemy’ project, Daae aims to create rituals and strategies for transforming movements, themes and objects that are considered ordinary, purely practical or even repulsive into things that are beautiful, magical and golden. Alchemy, like utopia, exists in the realm of the unattainable and the impossible. Through this project, Daae demonstrates that the most important thing is not to stop trying and to continue believing that people have an innate power to reach new heights together.

At the turn of August and September 2023, Studio ALTA hosted two performances by the Icelandic artist Bára Sigfúsdóttir. On 31 August, she presented her latest performance,*Fabulation*, created in collaboration with the choreographer Orfee Schuijt (France/Norway). The performance balances between illusion and reality, questions the materiality of things and focuses on minimalist movements, telling stories through the body.

The following day, 1 September, audiences were treated to the outdoor performance*TIDE*, which took place not far from Studio ALTA, near the children’s playground in Thomayer Park. The duet by Bára Sigfúsdóttir and the Norwegian composer and trumpeter Eivind Lønning combines music and dance into a single experience based on improvisation. The production aims to awaken sensitivity and perceptiveness – abilities that people are losing in these hectic times.

• 31 August 2023 7.30 pm | Bára Sigfúsdóttir & Orfee Schuijt (Oslo) – Fabulation / Czech premiere

• 1 September 2023 6.00 pm | Bára Sigfúsdóttir & Eivind Lønning (Oslo) – TIDE / Czech premiere