User:DreniUka/Culture in Prizren

Performance art - Theatre on stilts – MERULA
Theatre on stilts is a theatrical group consist of some people that stands on stilts and make performances like (walking, dancing, singing or other walkacts ) with stilts. This group performs in open spaces, it means that there is not necessary for stage, sound system, lighting or different things that cost or take a lot of time to make an amazing spectacle, so simply by helping of some stilts and costumes this group show an incredible performance that arouse satisfaction, enjoyment on everyone who attend this group’s performances. Theatre on stilts can be seen by everyone regardless of age, gender, religion, ethnicity or other things that separate people.

Theatre on stilts in Kosovo (Prizren) – MERULA
MERULA is the first independent theatre formation in the Balkans, exactly in Prizren* Kosovo. The group was founded during a theatreworkshop on 08.19.2013, that was implemented by Xchange Perspectives* and AWO-Kosova* during the international Dokufest Prizren 2013*.

Equipments
Stilts are not only used to acrobate but to be able to perform independetely from established theatre infrastructure in public space. Theatre on stilts intentionally gives up exhausting technic and light effect for the possibility to perform everywhere and accessible for everyone. This gives us the possibility to stage explosive. The character defining feature is the conflation of choreographic elements and choric straight theatre. Stilts, costumes and objects of production are made by local artisans remain in possession of the theater company in Prizren and form the basis for further work alone. Regional and national appearances to be made possible. Guest appearances in other European countries are planned by the initiators and organized.

Origin
This unique theatre form was significantly developed by the independent theatre company “Die Stelzer” since the 1980s From Munich, Germany. The Training was run by the director and actor Peter Pruchniewitz from Munich (die Stelzer), the kosovar playwright Fjolla Hoxha and the conflicttrainer and youth psychosocial counselor Afrim Melinchevic. The workshop was coordinated by Isen Bobaj (AWO-Kosova) and Felix Remter (XCP, Project management).

Aim
The project is a critical social discourse in Kosovo stimulate - only among the youth, then in public. The central component is the questioning of racial, ethnic and national or gender categories, as they are negotiated in the population, the media and politics. Search for identity, youth unemployment, poor education, limited freedom of movement, changing family structures , sexuality , corruption, conflicts reproduced from wartime trauma by uprooting and deportation and the so-called development cooperation issues for youth in Kosovo. The uncertainties that such a strong social change, such as the Kosovo just witnessed him bring with them , are felt by all. Due to the shape of the theater on stilts is a field of activity with these topics opened to deal constructively and creatively. The young people are thereby gain the self -confidence to see themselves as part of a convertible public discourse and to share their perspectives and artistic implement.