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Andriy Zholdak: “Ukraine needs a cultural Al-Qaeda” (photos and video)
24 November 2010
The Ukrainian stage director Andriy Zholdak has been living in Berlin for the last five years, working with theatres from Germany, Romania, Russia and others. He came to Kyiv for a few days with the show “Life With an Idiot”, which was being performed by the Romanian Radu Stanca National Theatre. The day before the premiere the director shared the secrets of his work with actors from different countries – from Europe to Japan.
In the assembly hall, where the master class took place, the light was turned off. Only a table on the stage, at which the director sat, was dimly lit. Andriy Zholdak began his speech stumbling, saying that he needed a little time to concentrate. He spoke about the traits a director should have, his relationships with actors and about Ukrainian contemporary theatre.
“Ukraine needs a cultural Al-Qaeda, cultural terrorists who will destroy the existing system,” said Andriy Zholdak, “because our theatre is like fresh soup or boiling water without tea. Our actors and directors lack energy.”
It is a well-known fact that it is very difficult to work with Andriy Zholdak as he is a demanding and stern director. During the master class, he explained why it should be this way: “The modern actor should have no nationality, age, sex, etc. On the stage he has to go beyond his limits, to be prepared to sacrifice himself. That is why a good director must first ‘kill the actor’. When I recruit a new team, at the first rehearsals I do my best to make the actor run away from me. If he does not, we start working together. After all, it means that he is strong enough and has energy, which can be shared with the audience.”
Performances by Zholdak are always a cultural provocation and a powerful stimulus for thinking. He is not afraid to show violence and cruelty on the stage. “Acting and directing are unmentionable professions. Actually it would be better if they raped, murdered... sing on the stage rather than in the city streets.” says Zholdak.
The master class lasted about four hours and at the end the audience applauded and shouted “Thank you!” as if they had just visited a performance rather than a lecture.
TSN, 23/11/2010, about the performance and master class by Zholdak Andriy (in Ukrainian).
Photo gallery, see below.
