THEY’RE COMING. WHAT DO THEY WANT? WHAT DO WE WANT? A production about crossing borders, both national and our own.
‘ People were gathering on the bank, watching their river disappear. People are eager observers of their own misfortunes.’
――RYSZARD KAPUŚCIŃSKI
They come from Belarus, Ukraine, Syria, Yemen, Congo… Europe is turning into borderlands and a melting pot of clashing cultures. Borders are changing, some become permeable, others fortified, new ones are drawn. And each side of each border carries its own part of truth about the world, about us. What do those leaving their homes lose? What about those stepping outside their comfort zones, safety and customary way of life – what do they lose? What do we gain in doing so? What are the differences between immigrants from Iraq, Syria, Yemen, on one side, and Ukrainian refugees, on the other side? How do they differ from us? Wars and crises have been going on for far too long… Where are the limits of our empathy and compassion?
TEĎ NÁDECH A LEŤ The ensemble was founded around 2010 by Karolína Plachá and David Zelinka as an independent, unregistered group. Over the years, it has continued its activities in the same form, with new members joining along the way. From the onset, the ensemble has sought inspiration for their creative work through travel and encounters with people, exploring their lives, stories, customs, beliefs, songs. Their theatrical vision is shaped by their experiences from Poland, where they engage with local theatres and the varied forms and contents of their performances. The dramaturgy of the productions reaches from the current political issues to the vibrant tapestry of traditional culture as an integral and irreplaceable aspect of life. Initially, their journeys took them to remote places, to the peripheries of cultures and worlds. However, recently their focus has shifted towards places close to conflicts and upheavals of various kinds. Through encounters with people who have faced crises and life-changing situations, the ensemble unveils the essence of humanity and the will to live – as something shared by everyone, regardless of our origin and social, historical or other background. In general, the productions explore the situation of individuals longing for a meaningful life. The ensemble wants to give voice to those who are often overlooked and omitted by the media and tell their stories, wherever they happened in the world, in whatever conflict and at whatever side of the border or front line. Traditional songs, learned and sung at celebrations or in everyday life, are the starting point and one of the means of communication on the journeys and in subsequent performances. The theatrical journey strives to diminish the theatrical aspect and to create an environment where the stories and songs resonate with authenticity.
