Low-literate students from all over the world play theatre together in Antwerp
Students from all over the world, who attended Center for Basic Education Antwerp made a theater play together last year. ‘Groot Familie’ (Big Family) became a big success. Now there is also a short documentary about it.
The students came from Belgium, China, Poland, Somalia, Syria, Morocco, Iraq or Afghanistan. They all had different backgrounds, but they all follow courses at CBE Antwerp, a center for basic education where low-literate adults can learn Dutch, or mathematics and ICT, as well as courses on how to become more confident.
Led by artistic director Stefan Perceval
Most participants did not know each other before they participated in Groot Familie, a stage project led by Stefan Perceval, the artistic director of ‘Het Gevolg’ in Turnhout. They did not have any stage experience, but that did not matter. Stefan worked with universal themes: "What does love mean? Your family? Your mum?” They are all things that connect us, no matter how different we are. This approach made the group loosen up.
Stretched their limits
Still, it took some getting used to in the beginning. Many students had to get used to the habits from our country, Belgium. For example, it was not easy for some students to touch each other. In a scene, two students had to bring their heads together very closely. One of the male participants found this very difficult. At first he used a piece of cloth, so that there was no direct contact. But just before the performance he did it without cloth. Many people have stretched their limits.
Language
The participants played in Dutch, and that wasn’t always easy in the beginning. Some of the students had only just started with Dutch lessons. But that didn’t really matter. They could also physically express what they wanted to say, with movements or while dancing.
Sold out
‘Groot Familie’ played 6 sold out performances. This was a big success, but more importantly, is the impact the project had on the students. They have really become a big family. They communicate on Facebook now and from time to time they meet, for example to go to the theater.
Opened up
Many of the students really opened up because of the play. One of them only came outside to go to work and the Dutch lessons. He never spoke to his colleagues, neither to us at school, until he participated in the theater project. Now he stands in front of the class to motivate other students for the project. It is amazing how this project changed him.
At the end of March a new play goes into première. It is called ‘I am a lion’.
Tania Polak is a teacher at Open School Antwerp who supported the project, next to Stefan Perceval, the artistic director.
This blog is based on an article which appeared earlier on cultuurkuur.be
