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Published: August 15th 2008
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Hey everybody,
It's been a while since my last post, so time for a new one! I have been back from my big trip for over a year now...but still cannot get it out of my mind. I had a great time, saw amazing things and met some cool people along the way too! Really, I could recommend it to everyone!
I live in the Netherlands again now, moved to Utrecht, where I study Theatre Design. So I create sets and costumes for theatre plays....at least that is what i'm trying to do. ;-) It's lots of fun, and I'm one of the lucky people that can say they have their P (propedeuse)! I completely finished the first year and that’s quite a thing when you are studying at an art academy. In September I’ll go to the second year, and till that time .... it's time to travel!
In june I worked as a volonteer on Oerol. A theatre festival on Terschelling, a beautiful Dutch island!
The festivals theme for this year is time. The project I worked for is called 'Walking'. Its a project of Robert Wilson( a famous theatre maker from the US), dutch theatre
fog surrounding the cows
view in the evening from the Wierschuur in Oosterend designer Theun Mosk and Boukje Schweigman ( mime actrice).
So for two weeks I lived on the islands most eastern end, Oosterend, where we stayed with the big group of volunteers in The Wierschuur, an old farmhouse with bunkbeds. We had lots of fun with the group but we also had to do a lot of work!
First I will tell you what the project was all about. The idea of the theatre makers was to create a long, slow walk from the south ( the waddensea ) to the north, ( the nortsea). Everybody that takes part in the walk must experience it all on his own. Everybody walks alone, but as a part of a organic machine. You walk really slowly. About 50 metres in front of you you can see a person wich you can follow. Behind you there is also a person that follows you. In this way everybody walks together. Also there are white rocks to follow. To be prepared for this special walk there are several steps to take. And this is where we, as volunteers, come in.
My job was to be a host, so I had to work with
De Wierschuur at the Waddensea
The place Where we lived for two weeks. And also the starting point of the walk. Behind the Wierschuur you can see the black box and the conespace. the public and get them ready for there experience.
First everybody entered a container where you had to leave all your time behind. So that meant watches, camera's, phones etc. The public doesn't need to bring anything at all to the walk. It lasts about 4 hours but there will be water on the way. So without all there 'safety', there phones, watches everything.... they leave to the start of the trip.
Everybody will be split up at the beginning, because it's a individual experience. One by one we asked people to enter The Black Box. For one minute you will be in the absolute dark.....
From the Black Box you can enter the Cone Space. A big square box with a big black hole. Surrounded by the tone of low voices you can get your mind set to another level. You don't have to think anymore...just experience! After this space you will start the walk, with a host helping you to get to the slow tempo of walking.
During the walk some people got really emotional, relaxt, happy and some even angry. Being on your own, but as part of a whole, and going in a
slow pace...you have all the time to let go, think, and look around you, enjoying the beauty of the islands nature.
Halfway the walk there is a place to rest surrounded by the high sounds that crickets make.
At the end of the walk you are walking in the sanddunes and the beach at the northsea. There is also a cone. But this one is not a hole in the ground, it faces the other direction. Pointing to the sky.
As a host I worked on all the different places with the public. I also helped preparing the different loocations on the last days before the festival. Especially on the day of the festival, where we still had the morning to prepare, we were all a bit nervous about the whole thing. But It all went great. Walking was a big hit on Oerol 2008! It was a great experience and a lot of fun to do.
Afer 'work'hours I tried to see as much as possible from the location theatre the festival had to offer, enjoyed the sunshine and the beach, and chilled in beach bars, watching the european chapionships of soccer! Holland rules!
Waddensea at low tide
the view from the dijk at low tide. At high tide the sea is only about 50 metres away from the Wierschuur. The water was even IN the Wierschuur some years ago I heard! Love Laura
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BenOnTheMove
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"Walking" was wonderfull!!!
Dear Laura, I realy enjoyed The Walking on the very east of the wonderful island Terschelling on the top of Holland. The silence, the basic groundcontrol sounds in the cone area, the sea, the mud, the cows, the birds, the sand and most off all feeling all alone in the wide wide world and jet together walking in slow motion. Thanks for your invitation! Thanks for this wonderful experience I will never forget. And now I enjoy your story and your pictures and It feels like I'm walking it all over again! With Love; BenOnTheMove By the way: How was your survivaltrip with Mambo through Norway & Sweden??? I look forward to your story & pictures of that trip.