Performance Platforms est un programme qui utilise les arts de la scène pour offrir des opportunités fascinantes de dialogue interculturel entre des jeunes du Proche Orient/Afrique du Nord (NENA) et du Royaume Uni.

Le programme établira et exploitera des plateformes destinées aux jeunes pour qu’ils interagissent et travaillent ensemble, discutent et débattent, avoir des avis identiques ou différents. La principale force de ce programme réside dans sa capacité à utiliser les arts de la scène comme espace commun, un espace sécurisé où les jeunes peuvent s’exprimer et apprendre les uns des autres. L’intention est qu’ils pourront mieux se comprendre et juger de leurs propres capacités, mieux apprécier leurs différences, avoir une perception positive des autres, et en fin de compte contribuer à un changement social positif.

Performance Platforms s’adresse aux étudiants, aux professionnels du théâtre et aux spectateurs – à travers la région NENA et le Royaume Uni et met en mouvement des réseaux dynamiques de collaboration créative.

Par le développement des capacités et l’échange d’expertise dans les arts de la scène, le programme établira différents niveaux de partenariats à travers la région et au Royaume Uni. En même temps que l’établissement de partenariats institutionnels, le programme veillera au développement et au maintien des capacités individuelles d’artistes de la région, créant ou développant ainsi une collaboration créative avec le Royaume Uni.

Le programme soutiendra la collaboration créative entre des artistes de la région NENA et du Royaume Uni pour permettre à ces jeunes voix d’être entendues en vue d’une meilleure exposition à l’échelle internationale, d’une meilleure conscience et d’un dialogue réel. En plus Performance Platforms soutiendra le théâtre en traduction dans les deux sens, renforçant un réseau de traducteurs talentueux de la nouvelle génération qui auront accès aux maisons d’édition et aux cercles d’art dramatique à l’échelle internationale facilitant ainsi l’accès à de nouvelles œuvres aux spectateurs du Monde Arabe et du Royaume Uni.

The 4ème Art theatre hosted a training theatre skills with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts

“They learnt to look at light in a very creative way” said Matthew Prentice, Head of Lighting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) who delivered a training for trainers on Lighting and Theatre Electrics in collaboration with the British Council at the 4ème Art theatre in Tunis from 7 to 12 June.

The workshop targeted trainers of technical theatre in drama schools and head of technical departments in theatres from Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.

This workshop was the starting block in a long-term programme for capacity building in technical theatre. The programme, which falls under the Performance Platforms regional project, provides a framework of training and support to engage those involved in technical theatre in this region and to increase the effectiveness of technical training and practice in the theatre industry. This in turn helps to increase students’ chances and opportunities of creating their careers within the industry.

Khalid El Othmani, one of the Moroccan participants and technical director of many festivals, said” I think that the training met its target as we trainers learned a lot. Because I will deliver many training sessions, I will make use of Matt’s pedagogy based on encouraging participants to be creative by using the techniques they have learnt”.

Following his visit to the Higher Institute of Dramatic Art (ISAD) when he met the Director and had an open session with students, Matt commented “they do excellent work with very limited resources”.

He added “the participants are lovely people to work with; they are creative and very interested in all we have to teach them. I know they learnt a great deal from the week.

One of the Tunisian participants, Mrs Alia Zahaf, teacher at the ISAD, mentioned that ‘it was a great opportunity to meet with colleagues and share experiences with them. I discovered the British tradition of lighting and a new way of teaching which uses a lot of group exercises. Matt’s attitude and passing on information are original”.

Concerning the Algerian participants, they mentioned that “the training went well; we hope we will become more familiar with the software and catch on with new technologies in the future”.

Matt Pretence, who promised the participants to keep in touch with them, declared “I will discuss with the British Council the possibility of organizing further workshops in the region to help and support them”.

During the closing ceremony, the participants were awarded certificates

A similar workshop for trainers from Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestinian Territories and Egypt was held in Damascus last March.

Royal Academy for Dramatic Arts (RADA)

The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art was first established in 1904. It has built an outstanding reputation as a world-renowned centre of excellence. We know how important it is, however, to keep the training relevant to the ever-changing industry and we are constantly striving to maintain and improve our courses, by expanding the range and depth of training we offer, by maintaining links with the industries that employ our graduates, by working with exceptional teaching staff, by involving leading figures of international standing as visiting lecturers, directors and designers and by providing the best possible facilities such as our three in-house theatres.

For more information, please visit www.rada.org