Hotel Europa
A Forum Theatre Play challenging the current ideology
and creating a space to explore what a different Europe could look like.
The play | Hotel Europa
Inspired by the events of the European crisis of the last few years, Hotel Europa brings together an international cast from seven European countries to develop a Forum Theatre play about it. For two years, the cast worked and learned together exploring and understanding all themes connected to the European crisis.
The play tells the story of a middle-class family, affected by the austerity measures imposed by governments and the accompanying striving for more profit from an unreformed banking sector. Examining the historical foundations of the current crisis, the piece invites the audience to ask themselves how we can challenge a neo-liberal ideology whilst living inside a society based on these principles. What would a different future for Europe look like?
The Characters
Hotel Europa is an ensemble piece with actors and actresses playing different characters throughout. The play is told from the point of view of AOIO, a young middle class man, whose parents own and run Hotel Europa. AOIO is an activist, who tries to persuade his parents that the anti-capitalist ideology that he protests for on the streets is possible to be recreated in their hotel. This central storyline is supported by other characters, who help to illuminate the context of this struggle - workers, capitalist, banker, media, politician, police, protesters - as well as those directly involved with the specific story such as AOIO's mother and father, hotel workers, banker and customers. The piece is also supported by two musicians who play live music on the stage. AOIO, as an activist tries to persuade his parents that the anti-capitalist ideology that he protests for on the streets is possible to create in their hotel. "
What is the TOgether network?
The TOgether network is the result of the successful implementation of the training program of the TOgether qualification project. The network is a partnership between experienced practitioners of Theatre of the Oppressed from Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Scotland and Spain. It counted also with the external evaluation of the Bologna University. The training program intended to overcome the shortage of continued and more structured qualification of the various techniques of the Theater of the Oppressed method. It also aimed to stimulate the groundwork for the transformation of reality through formation of, and exchange between TO community Through the dynamic of reflection-production-reflection, participants of TOgether project improvee their training as practitioners (artists-activists) of the Method of the Theatre of the Oppressed, ratifying with it their commitment to fight for the transformation of reality in their local initiatives and advance the aesthetic work in their artistic productions of the community groups.
Getting to know the TOgether network
The organizations of the TOgether network are:
- Active Inquiry
Is a theatre company based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Our theatre is collaborative, responsive and inquiry-based. We work with many different grassroots groups and believe that everyone can make theatre and contribute to change that is both necessary and possible. - GTO LX
The GTO LX is the Theatre of the Oppressed Group of Lisbon, an NGO engaged in stimulating active and conscious participation of the citizens in the construction of society. We implement community intervention projects in critical neighborhoods where we work directly with the population in order to provoke an awareness process about their realities and encourage individual empowerment. Our methodology incentives the beneficiaries to create Forum Theatre plays based on their issues and personal realities. These plays are then presented to the whole community, creating a common ground where shared problems are discussed and solutions explored, promoting social empowerment. - ISTARSKO NARODNO KAZALIŠTE
The Istrian National Theatre - City Theatre Pula is the only theatre house in the Croatian region Istria. Our main activity is producing and organizing theatre performances (drama, dance, opera). In 2009 we celebrated the 60th anniversary of our organization. From 1996 there are two strong side activities which gave the organization a unique character among Croatian theatres: The Drama studio - with the aim to educate young people to theatre, to spread drama outside the theatre context and to participate in the life of the community. The DS with its members (children and young people) produces performances on a professional level aimed to their peers, lead workshops for teachers and youth and produces Forum theatre workshops and plays in collaboration with various NGOs. The International Youth Theatre Festival - with the aim to give professionals and amateurs in theatre and dance the possibility to learn from the most important teachers in the fields. The IYTF is divided into two subfestivals: The Pula Forum is dedicated to Theatre of the Oppressed and The Summer Dance Workshop to dance. - Krila
Krila is a Theatre of the Oppressed group based in Bologna (Italy), engaged in the promotion and development of the Method of Theater of Oppressed (TO) as a tool of education, empowerment , community development and search for social change. Born on 2002, over the years the group has developed projects and actions in different social contexts, educational environments and applying TO to the practice of active participation. The group's activity is organized in learning paths to the Method of Theatre of the Oppressed; Theatre of the Oppressed laboratory with students (from secondary school to university), social workers, teachers, community based groups; Performance of Theatre of the Oppressed; Research and development of Theatre of the Oppressed Method. We are also engaged in the development of networks between groups committed on same issues. - KURINGA
KURINGA is a space for research, production and qualification on Theatre of the Oppressed, dedicated to the creative multiplication of the method. Our projects in the community aim to strengthen - local, regional and international – networks of solidarity. We focus on the organization and exchange of popular theatre groups. Our groups promote dialogue about the possibilities to transform the oppression they face in reality. We offer a TO workshops and a summer course based KURINGA qualification program. - Pallapupas
Pallapupas is an organization founded in 2000 that tries to transform hospitals into a place for laughter during the disease process, through artistic performances of professional Clowns aimed at children and older people, who work closely with the medical staff. Each procedure is performed in a personalized manner, taking into account the physical and mental state of the patient and family situation; this information is provided by medical staff in the pre-intervention Pallapupas artistic way and it is known as "transmission". Currently, Pallapupas is working in 11 hospitals and health centers of Catalonia. Spain. Outside and inside the hospitals we do theater of the oppressed with people suffering mental illness or with their families. The theater is used as a tool of expression in their fight against stigma. Currently the theater of the oppressed groups of Pallapupas present their creations and interact with each other, unifying methodology and interests and seek improvements to mental health as a whole. - Pas a Passo
Pas a passo Theatre of the Oppressed is an association that takes part of the global movement of the Theatre of the Oppressed which is dedicated to the development and proliferation of creative methodology created by Augusto Boal. Our artistic productions are based on various techniques that make up the theater of the oppressed, such as Forum Theatre, Theatre Journal and Aesthetic of the Oppressed, in order to form community groups who wish to discuss their discrimination and train practitioners to the promotion of dialogue and solidarity networks to achieve social transformation.
