in June of 2014 I was standing on a beach in Tijuana Mexico watching a
beach in Tijuana Mexico watching a
beach in Tijuana Mexico watching a theatre performance this was part of a
theatre performance this was part of a
theatre performance this was part of a global theater conference that I was
global theater conference that I was
global theater conference that I was attending and the Mexican theatre
attending and the Mexican theatre
attending and the Mexican theatre company had wanted to do their
company had wanted to do their
company had wanted to do their performance on that beach because it’s
performance on that beach because it’s
performance on that beach because it’s at the tail end of Friendship Park
at the tail end of Friendship Park
at the tail end of Friendship Park Friendship Park is where the long border
Friendship Park is where the long border
Friendship Park is where the long border fence that separates the US and Mexico
fence that separates the US and Mexico
fence that separates the US and Mexico is people come to this park to see their
is people come to this park to see their
is people come to this park to see their loved ones and family members through
loved ones and family members through
loved ones and family members through the slats in the fence so I’m there I’m
the slats in the fence so I’m there I’m
the slats in the fence so I’m there I’m watching this theater piece and this
watching this theater piece and this
watching this theater piece and this incredibly beautiful actress has climbed
incredibly beautiful actress has climbed
incredibly beautiful actress has climbed up onto the fence and she’s hanging
up onto the fence and she’s hanging
up onto the fence and she’s hanging there and she’s turning around and just
there and she’s turning around and just
there and she’s turning around and just fiercely performing Antigone they had
fiercely performing Antigone they had
fiercely performing Antigone they had taken the Greek tragedy and placed it in
taken the Greek tragedy and placed it in
taken the Greek tragedy and placed it in Mexico investigating borders and torn
Mexico investigating borders and torn
Mexico investigating borders and torn families and I’m watching this
families and I’m watching this
families and I’m watching this performance and I’m looking around at my
performance and I’m looking around at my
performance and I’m looking around at my theater colleagues and I thought to
theater colleagues and I thought to
theater colleagues and I thought to myself wouldn’t it be incredible if this
myself wouldn’t it be incredible if this
myself wouldn’t it be incredible if this audience was instead made up of I don’t
audience was instead made up of I don’t
audience was instead made up of I don’t know members of an anti-immigration
know members of an anti-immigration
know members of an anti-immigration group or people who work border control
group or people who work border control
group or people who work border control I mean what hearing this story would
I mean what hearing this story would
I mean what hearing this story would seeing the passion of these performers
seeing the passion of these performers
seeing the passion of these performers would it make them approach their views
would it make them approach their views
would it make them approach their views and their work in a more compassionate
and their work in a more compassionate
and their work in a more compassionate and empathetic way how do we learn
and empathetic way how do we learn
and empathetic way how do we learn compassion and empathy as humans we’re
compassion and empathy as humans we’re
compassion and empathy as humans we’re constantly searching for the tools that
constantly searching for the tools that
constantly searching for the tools that we need to interpret the things that we
we need to interpret the things that we
we need to interpret the things that we experience every day right watching
experience every day right watching
experience every day right watching theater from another country or culture
theater from another country or culture
theater from another country or culture is the tool to help us understand the
is the tool to help us understand the
is the tool to help us understand the world around us theatre humanizes world
world around us theatre humanizes world
world around us theatre humanizes world events and politics
events and politics
events and politics if three-dimensional eise’s the nameless
if three-dimensional eise’s the nameless
if three-dimensional eise’s the nameless and the faceless it gives voice to the
and the faceless it gives voice to the
and the faceless it gives voice to the voiceless theater connects us I’m the
voiceless theater connects us I’m the
voiceless theater connects us I’m the artistic director of trick lock company
artistic director of trick lock company
artistic director of trick lock company we are a 24 year old theater ensemble
we are a 24 year old theater ensemble
we are a 24 year old theater ensemble based here in Albuquerque New Mexico
based here in Albuquerque New Mexico
based here in Albuquerque New Mexico part of our mission is opening doors to
part of our mission is opening doors to
part of our mission is opening doors to global cultural exchange by connecting
global cultural exchange by connecting
global cultural exchange by connecting people through the Performing Arts we do
people through the Performing Arts we do
people through the Performing Arts we do this in a variety of different ways we
this in a variety of different ways we
this in a variety of different ways we too were internationally where we
too were internationally where we
too were internationally where we perform and we teach workshops engage
perform and we teach workshops engage
perform and we teach workshops engage with the community we facilitate
with the community we facilitate
with the community we facilitate international collaborations and we
international collaborations and we
international collaborations and we produce the revolutions international
produce the revolutions international
produce the revolutions international theatre festival where for three weeks
theatre festival where for three weeks
theatre festival where for three weeks every year we bring companies from all
every year we bring companies from all
every year we bring companies from all over the world to New Mexico for
over the world to New Mexico for
over the world to New Mexico for performances and workshops and gathering
performances and workshops and gathering
performances and workshops and gathering symposium lectures parties a lot of
symposium lectures parties a lot of
symposium lectures parties a lot of parties because we’re theatre people we
parties because we’re theatre people we
parties because we’re theatre people we like to party and we do this because we
like to party and we do this because we
like to party and we do this because we know that exposure to global theater its
know that exposure to global theater its
know that exposure to global theater its increases mutual understanding it
increases mutual understanding it
increases mutual understanding it inspires change it empowers people to
inspires change it empowers people to
inspires change it empowers people to improve the overall quality of life for
improve the overall quality of life for
improve the overall quality of life for all people because theater is the story
all people because theater is the story
all people because theater is the story of us it’s the story of people of
of us it’s the story of people of
of us it’s the story of people of culture of politics of myths of dreams
culture of politics of myths of dreams
culture of politics of myths of dreams of history in December of 2016 I had the
of history in December of 2016 I had the
of history in December of 2016 I had the great fortune of being able to see a
great fortune of being able to see a
great fortune of being able to see a little bit of a new work that was in
little bit of a new work that was in
little bit of a new work that was in progress by a Polish theater company T
progress by a Polish theater company T
progress by a Polish theater company T at figure Krakow so this one particular
at figure Krakow so this one particular
at figure Krakow so this one particular part that I got to see was a piece that
part that I got to see was a piece that
part that I got to see was a piece that they were working on in collaboration
they were working on in collaboration
they were working on in collaboration with the Oskar Shindler enamel Factory
with the Oskar Shindler enamel Factory
with the Oskar Shindler enamel Factory the piece was inspired by photographs
the piece was inspired by photographs
the piece was inspired by photographs and memoirs of people who lived in the
and memoirs of people who lived in the
and memoirs of people who lived in the Jewish ghetto in Krakow it tells the
Jewish ghetto in Krakow it tells the
Jewish ghetto in Krakow it tells the story of life in the ghetto
story of life in the ghetto
story of life in the ghetto the ways that people maintain tradition
the ways that people maintain tradition
the ways that people maintain tradition their resistance against the Nazis how
their resistance against the Nazis how
their resistance against the Nazis how they would smuggle in kosher food and
they would smuggle in kosher food and
they would smuggle in kosher food and other things into the ghetto and their
other things into the ghetto and their
other things into the ghetto and their heroic attempts at preserving dignity
heroic attempts at preserving dignity
heroic attempts at preserving dignity and creating community and may tell this
and creating community and may tell this
and creating community and may tell this story this Polish theatre company with
story this Polish theatre company with
story this Polish theatre company with shadow puppets so I’m watching this
shadow puppets so I’m watching this
shadow puppets so I’m watching this piece and they have these huge suitcases
piece and they have these huge suitcases
piece and they have these huge suitcases that they open up and they become these
that they open up and they become these
that they open up and they become these big screens and you can see the actors
big screens and you can see the actors
big screens and you can see the actors they’re onstage on either side dress all
they’re onstage on either side dress all
they’re onstage on either side dress all in black the puppeteers manipulating
in black the puppeteers manipulating
in black the puppeteers manipulating everything from behind and the light
everything from behind and the light
everything from behind and the light comes up and this incredible scene comes
comes up and this incredible scene comes
comes up and this incredible scene comes alive there’s buildings and roads and
alive there’s buildings and roads and
alive there’s buildings and roads and you know small stores they had recreated
you know small stores they had recreated
you know small stores they had recreated the ghetto and then your eye goes up to
the ghetto and then your eye goes up to
the ghetto and then your eye goes up to the top flat of this building where
the top flat of this building where
the top flat of this building where there’s this little Mouse and she’s you
there’s this little Mouse and she’s you
there’s this little Mouse and she’s you know eating dinner with her family and
know eating dinner with her family and
know eating dinner with her family and then you see her come down the stairs
then you see her come down the stairs
then you see her come down the stairs and she’s playing in the street with her
and she’s playing in the street with her
and she’s playing in the street with her friends and she’s going to the store and
friends and she’s going to the store and
friends and she’s going to the store and you know there’s music coming out of the
you know there’s music coming out of the
you know there’s music coming out of the speakers in the theater and then off in
speakers in the theater and then off in
speakers in the theater and then off in the distance you start to hear the sound
the distance you start to hear the sound
the distance you start to hear the sound of marching and it gets louder and
of marching and it gets louder and
of marching and it gets louder and louder and this little mouse starts to
louder and this little mouse starts to
louder and this little mouse starts to shake and it gets louder and louder and
shake and it gets louder and louder and
shake and it gets louder and louder and this ferocious flock of birds comes into
this ferocious flock of birds comes into
this ferocious flock of birds comes into the screen and they’re just circling
the screen and they’re just circling
the screen and they’re just circling around looking and looking in this
around looking and looking in this
around looking and looking in this little mouse is trying to hide she’s
little mouse is trying to hide she’s
little mouse is trying to hide she’s going into the buildings and she’s
going into the buildings and she’s
going into the buildings and she’s running up and down the street just
running up and down the street just
running up and down the street just looking for anywhere and these ferocious
looking for anywhere and these ferocious
looking for anywhere and these ferocious birds circling hunting finally she finds
birds circling hunting finally she finds
birds circling hunting finally she finds this one little spot where she’s able to
this one little spot where she’s able to
this one little spot where she’s able to sort of shove herself down and drop and
sort of shove herself down and drop and
sort of shove herself down and drop and hide in the sewer and I just started to
hide in the sewer and I just started to
hide in the sewer and I just started to cry it was so terrifying I mean it’s
cry it was so terrifying I mean it’s
cry it was so terrifying I mean it’s just theater right
just theater right
just theater right it’s puppets
it’s puppets
it’s puppets I have been to the Oskar Shindler enamel
I have been to the Oskar Shindler enamel
I have been to the Oskar Shindler enamel Factory it’s a museum now an amazing
Factory it’s a museum now an amazing
Factory it’s a museum now an amazing museum I have been to wear a piece of
museum I have been to wear a piece of
museum I have been to wear a piece of the ghetto wall still stands in Krakow
the ghetto wall still stands in Krakow
the ghetto wall still stands in Krakow Poland in both of these places were
Poland in both of these places were
Poland in both of these places were powerful impactful places but that
powerful impactful places but that
powerful impactful places but that theater piece that little mouse I will
theater piece that little mouse I will
theater piece that little mouse I will never forget the way that made me feel
theater connects us we have so much
theater connects us we have so much information coming at us all the time
information coming at us all the time
information coming at us all the time right we’re always on our phones and
right we’re always on our phones and
right we’re always on our phones and there’s all these articles about world
there’s all these articles about world
there’s all these articles about world affairs and then there’s these really
affairs and then there’s these really
affairs and then there’s these really intense comment threads that we can’t
intense comment threads that we can’t
intense comment threads that we can’t help but read it’s just all the time all
help but read it’s just all the time all
help but read it’s just all the time all the time how do we not just shut off in
the time how do we not just shut off in
the time how do we not just shut off in here how can we stay open compassionate
here how can we stay open compassionate
here how can we stay open compassionate empathetic with so much coming at us we
empathetic with so much coming at us we
empathetic with so much coming at us we can go to the theater and we can watch
can go to the theater and we can watch
can go to the theater and we can watch real people tell us their stories right
real people tell us their stories right
real people tell us their stories right these are our stories I was exposed to
these are our stories I was exposed to
these are our stories I was exposed to international theater in my early 20s
international theater in my early 20s
international theater in my early 20s and it completely changed my life I felt
and it completely changed my life I felt
and it completely changed my life I felt like I learned more about people about
like I learned more about people about
like I learned more about people about culture about country I felt connected
culture about country I felt connected
culture about country I felt connected to them there were people from all over
to them there were people from all over
to them there were people from all over the world sharing their stories with me
the world sharing their stories with me
the world sharing their stories with me and their stories were radically
and their stories were radically
and their stories were radically different in exactly the same as my
different in exactly the same as my
different in exactly the same as my story this past March in 2017
story this past March in 2017
story this past March in 2017 during our 17th annual festival one of
during our 17th annual festival one of
during our 17th annual festival one of the companies that we brought was in
the companies that we brought was in
the companies that we brought was in dead a troupe and Eddie is a company
dead a troupe and Eddie is a company
dead a troupe and Eddie is a company from Uganda they’re a dance company they
from Uganda they’re a dance company they
from Uganda they’re a dance company they perform indigenous dance from East
perform indigenous dance from East
perform indigenous dance from East Africa mainly from Uganda but also
Africa mainly from Uganda but also
Africa mainly from Uganda but also Rwanda and Burundi and their show
Rwanda and Burundi and their show
Rwanda and Burundi and their show incorporates song and music and they
incorporates song and music and they
incorporates song and music and they tell stories it’s an amazing beautiful
tell stories it’s an amazing beautiful
tell stories it’s an amazing beautiful lovely show
lovely show
lovely show and while they were here we also
and while they were here we also
and while they were here we also organized a regional tour around New
organized a regional tour around New
organized a regional tour around New Mexico and we facilitated an exchange
Mexico and we facilitated an exchange
Mexico and we facilitated an exchange between
between
between ended’ a from Uganda and Adonai charter
ended’ a from Uganda and Adonai charter
ended’ a from Uganda and Adonai charter school in Navajo New Mexico this was
school in Navajo New Mexico this was
school in Navajo New Mexico this was Friday before spring break so you know
Friday before spring break so you know
Friday before spring break so you know the kids are like like like you know
the kids are like like like you know
the kids are like like like you know like I don’t want to listen to a lecture
like I don’t want to listen to a lecture
like I don’t want to listen to a lecture about Africa it’s terrible but then they
about Africa it’s terrible but then they
about Africa it’s terrible but then they started to hear the drums from outside
started to hear the drums from outside
started to hear the drums from outside and then the dancers just burst in and
and then the dancers just burst in and
and then the dancers just burst in and they’re playing these huge ado goose
they’re playing these huge ado goose
they’re playing these huge ado goose which are these large wooden trumpets
which are these large wooden trumpets
which are these large wooden trumpets and they’re in their traditional attire
and they’re in their traditional attire
and they’re in their traditional attire and they’re dancing and the kids just
and they’re dancing and the kids just
and they’re dancing and the kids just lit up and there’s song and dancing and
lit up and there’s song and dancing and
lit up and there’s song and dancing and story and afterwards the kids saying
story and afterwards the kids saying
story and afterwards the kids saying Adonai song for the Ugandan dancers and
Adonai song for the Ugandan dancers and
Adonai song for the Ugandan dancers and after the performance there was a
after the performance there was a
after the performance there was a question-and-answer session and the
question-and-answer session and the
question-and-answer session and the questions got really real and honest I
questions got really real and honest I
questions got really real and honest I remember one of the questions
remember one of the questions
remember one of the questions specifically was Danai people used to
specifically was Danai people used to
specifically was Danai people used to eat a plant-based diet but after
eat a plant-based diet but after
eat a plant-based diet but after colonization we switched to a more
colonization we switched to a more
colonization we switched to a more unhealthy American diet did the same
unhealthy American diet did the same
unhealthy American diet did the same thing happen to you in Uganda and they
thing happen to you in Uganda and they
thing happen to you in Uganda and they had this really honest conversation
had this really honest conversation
had this really honest conversation about colonisation one student told me
about colonisation one student told me
about colonisation one student told me he said that he felt so connected to the
he said that he felt so connected to the
he said that he felt so connected to the dancers even though they were an ocean
dancers even though they were an ocean
dancers even though they were an ocean away in this whole exchange it began
away in this whole exchange it began
away in this whole exchange it began with performance so I encourage you
with performance so I encourage you
with performance so I encourage you please go see international performances
please go see international performances
please go see international performances I promise it will change you if you’re
I promise it will change you if you’re
I promise it will change you if you’re traveling abroad go to the theatre check
traveling abroad go to the theatre check
traveling abroad go to the theatre check out what’s happening in your town don’t
out what’s happening in your town don’t
out what’s happening in your town don’t worry if it is not in a language that
worry if it is not in a language that
worry if it is not in a language that you if it’s in a language that you don’t
you if it’s in a language that you don’t
you if it’s in a language that you don’t understand don’t worry if it looks
understand don’t worry if it looks
understand don’t worry if it looks totally weird and like wackadoo just go
totally weird and like wackadoo just go
totally weird and like wackadoo just go because theater is about stories it’s
because theater is about stories it’s
because theater is about stories it’s about connection and we need to be
about connection and we need to be
about connection and we need to be sharing stories
sharing stories
sharing stories on a global level we should be connected
on a global level we should be connected
on a global level we should be connected how can we share space with someone
how can we share space with someone
how can we share space with someone listen to their story connect with them
listen to their story connect with them
listen to their story connect with them and then turn around and treat them as
and then turn around and treat them as
and then turn around and treat them as subhuman we can’t theatre humanizes all
subhuman we can’t theatre humanizes all
subhuman we can’t theatre humanizes all of us
”
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