Description
SKUGGA BALDUR , is a theatre adaptation of a novel written by Icelandic author known as Sjón (real name: Sigurjón B. Sigurdsson) who belongs to the most distinctive contemporary artists in Iceland. The book Skugga Baldur is his most successful work and it has been translated into more than 20 languages. Sjón’s novel Skugga Baldur (English: The Blue Fox) is the base for the production project interconnecting several fields of art and dealing with issues related to the integration of people with Down syndrome. The author of the concept is Tereza Hofová, the Czech artist who has been recently living both in the Czech Republic and Iceland for several years. The producer of the project is The Studio of Heroes /Studio Hrdinů/, a recognized Prague scene focusing mainly on authorial projects, interdisciplinary overlaps, and international cooperation, and seeking progressive expressive forms of dramatic theatre. The main objective of the project is to interconnect two cultural traditions – the Czech deep-rooted tradition of theatre and the very strong storytelling and myth-making tradition of Iceland. As part of the creative part of the project workshops will be organised in Reykjavik in the spring and summer of 2015 with people with the Down syndrome. The partner in this respect is the free-time activities organisation Hitt Húsið targeting young people. The outcomes of the workshop will be used as source material for developing the graphic design for the theatre performance. The climax of the project will then be the creation and production of a theatre performance which will be prepared in several stages during the period of one year. Its premieres will take place in Prague and Reykjavik in January and February of 2016. Documentation of project implementation, including outcomes from the workshops, will be presented in the form of an exhibition held after the premieres both in Prague and Reykjavik.
Summary of project results
The project was based on theatrical adaptation of a novel by the Icelandic author writing under the pen name Sjón. The performance was preceded by workshops and meetings both in Iceland and in the Czech Republic. The project aimed at the presentation of Iceland to Czech audience differently than through tourist visits or materials and initiation of a dialogue between Czech and Icelandic artists and partners who represent the most interesting developments in the field of the contemporary live art in both countries. During the workshops Studio hrdinů and partners worked extensively with people with Down syndrome. One of them, Sindri Ploder, also became a full member of the production team. Team members inspired each other and passed on the experience of two different cultural environment and societies. It was an invaluable experience for all team members working on the project with representatives of the contemporary cultural scene in the Czech Republic and Iceland. The residence of Czech team members in Iceland and vice versa - Icelanders in Prague were undoubtedly also important experiences. Both sides had the opportunity to see a variety of environments and influences that are reflected in the project and in the performance. Reruns in Iceland brought the experience of staging presentations of the performance Skugga Baldur before non-Czech speaking audience and for the main actor Teresa Hofova assurance that she is able to play well in English. Workshops and subsequent cooperation with Sindri Ploder brought extremely positive experience with regard to the involvement of people with Down syndrome.
Summary of bilateral results
The project had 3 different partners from Iceland. List án landamaera (Art without Borders) which is non-profit organisation presenting the Festival of Independent Art of the Excluded, Hitt Húsið - a cultural centre that organises freetime activities for 16-25 years old and Jón Sæmundur as a visual artist. The premises of Hitt Húsid held a total of four workshops. Under the partnership agreement, this institution has provided all the facilities and materials required for the realization of workshops with young people affected by Down syndrome. At the festival Erasing landamara List (Art Without Borders) the results of workshops, photos and videos of Jón Sæmundur Auðarson were presented. Project partner Jón Sæmundur as a member of the creative team worked continuously in the development of production Skugga Baldur and participated in all the workshops and other activities associated with the project. He also worked in collaboration with musician/composer Ryan van Kriedtem to create a visual and musical components production of performance. It is very likely that on the basis of the progress and results of the project future similar activities based on mutual cooperation participating in Iceland and Czech partners will occur.