on kindness
hidden political powers of theatre directors
"on kindness" is a research project realized during spring 2018 in collaboration with group of contemporary theatre makers gathered around the platform organization of nice directors.
public debates and previous studies show that the directors' functions are expanding in proportion to increasing social inequalities. political aspect of directors’ position allows not only to explore, conceptualize or perform a particular social issue in an isolated framework of the theatrical ritual, but it also involves re-examination of the fundamental relations on which the theatre is founded, as a civic institution that reflects and perpetuates the existing social order. therefore, at this point, the recognition of working conditions and interpersonal relations, on which the group creative process is based in the theatre, determines the interpretation and valorization of the aesthetic outcome, at least as much as the qualities of the act itself. if we take into account that a director occupies the position of power in a highly hierarchical theatre structure and conducts the process which is, among other things, conditioned by class divisions, the question is how he or she understands and takes the responsibility for building a common work. to what extent can he or she question different aspects of inequality and exploitation at all stages of production? can he or she influence the changes of working conditions during the creative process that he/she conducts? what could be the broader social implications of such attempts? the research was performed with 22 theatre directors who were asked to articulate their own definitions of directing, but also to express opinions on the positions, qualities, needs, wishes, weaknesses and the capabilities for change. a set of their personal characteristics repressed in a group process, as well as the list of desired changes, point to the necessity of a paradigm shift, from a rigid paternalistic model that facilitates exploitation to the egalitarian approach – the one which is founded on the collaboration and constructed by the subtle qualities, such as kindness. the outcomes just seem to be surprising. actually, they are not. a theatre is an art of relations, with transformative and integrative powers, so the changes "from bellow" might be a path to re-think but also to re-create the sense of community.
authors: irena ristić i anđelka nikolić
research results were presented within plenary session of 16. IATC symposium "collective work: questioning collectivity in contemporary theatre" 2nd.of jun 2018. in sterijino pozorje, novi sad, the study "politicality of directing - the paradigm shift" with all results will be published soon in anthology "theatre between politics and policy", edited by prof. milena dragicevic sesis (fdu, belgrade).