Introduction
On September 28th -30th 2006, writernet held a 2-day inaugural encounter in Paris at the Theatre du Lierre, including 5 to 10 playwrights from France and 5 to 10 from the UK to meet each other and to find ways to articulate and explore the issues of inter-cultural dialogue and difference.
This was intended as a long term, bilateral London-Paris initiative focusing on playwrighting that engages the diverse communities of our two major cities. The aim was to explore and learn from the different experiences of our changing populations and shifting cultural identities.
In engaging with questions of citizenship, belonging and identity – through dialogue and difference - we aimed to draw on the French model of inviting philosophers, thinkers, critics, translators and others in a facilitating role into the theatre discourse.
Cultural attitudes and institutional arrangements have led to very different approaches in Britain and France to common questions concerning our future in Europe and the internal make-up of our societies. Theatre – and its writers in particular - can provide us with a shared space in which to examine issues of interaction, accommodation, integration, separatism, conflict and change.
The question for the encounter:
What it is now to be European – in London or Paris - with the playwright as interpreter of change?
Activity
for French and British playwrights to talk, workshop, make connections
to bring a French presence into the debates on British new writing and vice versa
to consider how the communities and voices of the new Parisians and Londoners can be heard in our theatres
to analyse how theatre and its writers actualise the turbulence in our societies
to explore the scope for partnership and exchange between Paris and London-based theatres, institutions and playwrights
Following the encounter, we decided to explore options - to facilitate exchanges among the playwrights - for them to spend time in each others’ cities, cultures, languages and working environments – to steep themselves and learn and reflect and respond and write.
We might also subsequently want to commission translations to improve the flow of work between the two communities of playwrights – towards a community of interest. Through the engagement of institutional partners, we might also want to stage productions of plays in both cities.
Preparation
We planned, in partnership with French and British new writing organisations (see below), a curated programme of activity which will allow for a shared language to emerge… to mediate between the different experiences, perspectives and interests of participants.
So as not to spend time introducing who we are and what we do, writernet beforehand created an initial reader in English and French.
Participants
The project is led by writernet and is linked to their project The Fence, which is a growing network for playwrights and those who make new plays happen across Europe, with a focus on European mobility.
The project was a collaboration with the Theatre du Lierre and the British Council. It was co-facilitated by Farid Paya, Artistic Director of Theatre du Lierre and Jonathan Meth, Director of writernet and with the participation on Philippe le Moine, Head of Arts ant The British Council in Paris
With the focus on playwrights, we wanted to broaden the exchange to encompass key players in the sector: Gatekeepers Translators Publishers Thinkers. Over time, we intend to actively solicit the input of a wide range of organisations such as Hors Champs and their publication, Cassandre.
from LONDON
For writernet
Jonathan Meth (Director); playwrights Bonnie Greer (Chair), Gabriel Gbadamosi (Advisory Council and Hydroponic Project Dramaturg),
from PARIS
Farid Paya was our host. Theatre du Lierre, close to the Bibliotheque Nationale, is a building-based theatre company with its own facilities for hosting events.
Josip Rainer (playwright, dramaturg and writernet’s International Associate - Paris based);
As the new Head of Arts for the British Council in Paris. Philippe Le Moine, for many years international associate at the National Theatre Studio, assisted considerably with the facilitation the project.
We drew up independent lists of Francophone playwrights to join established UK writers in this dialogue on the changing face of theatre in Paris and London.
Schedule
The first day-and-a-half was given over to playwrights from both cities. The final half day opened up the discourse to other theatre practitioners, institutions and interested parties
Paris
Mohamed Rouabhi
Koffi Kwahulé
Alain Foix
Farid Paya
Aziz chouaki
Hubert koundé
Philippe Le Moine
London
Tanika Gupta
Roy Williams
Gurpreet Bhatti
Manjinder Virk
Dipo Agboluaje
Bonnie Greer
Gabriel Gbadamosi
Lisa Goldman
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