Inviting to Piechowice-Michałowice two artists from Akhe Theatre from Russia for residency, became an opportunity to confront prejudices and fears of different culture with a real person. Maksim Isaev and Pavel Semchenko, and the artists of Teatr Cinema – Małgorzata Walas-Antoniello, Izabela Terek-Jopkiewicz, Anna Krych, Zbigniew Szumski and Tadeusz Rybicki through actions in common space and exchange of ideas and experiences created a platform for international dialogue in the field of art. The association has been involved in many similar action before, helping to develop and shape positive attitudes of openness and tolerance. Considering particularly important and significant subject in the field of artistic interventions – familiarizing with the “stranger” through ephemeral, small activities dedicated mostly to young people and average citizens of Jelenia Góra, Piechowice and Michałowice, the theatrical project "Understanding the World. Process/everyday life" turned out to be a success.
As part of the residency a series of workshops was organized for pupils and local communities of the region, as well as workgroup meetings for the residing artists. Studying local proverbs and parables, the actors were posing questions to participants and the audience about their Lower Silesian identity. The starting point for their work was specific yearning, sentimental outlook, well-known from their everyday life, but at the same time imbued with the dynamics of adapting to new, culturally different place. These specific experiences were something that members of this international group were trying to use in their work.
The axis of theatrical workshops organized by residents became the slogan – “Understanding the World. Fairy tales and folk stories as a source of knowledge about the roots of identity.” During meetings with high school students of Zespół Szkół Ogólnokształcących i Technicznych im. Jędrzeja Śniadeckiego in Jelenia Góra and with adult participants at Municipal Cultural Centre Muflon in Sobieszów the residents were studying how fairy tales, parables and proverbs are an indispensable element of national identity. Their impressions found reflection in the act called “The House”. This was also the starting point for artists’ workgroup. But the tragic events in July (terrorist attack in Nice on July 14th) and emotions connected with it disrupted existing course of actions and the act developed earlier during rehearsals was deconstructed.
As the artists say: “First performance of The House turned out to be a land of innocence, that we can understand through parables and fairy tales. Second one, Nice/14 VII, was the egress from the land of innocence into the world of crippled maturity, full of prejudices and fear.”
The meeting of artists connected with two different theatrical groups led not only to producing two full-fledged performances, but also encouraged “Teatr Cinema” Theatre Association’s further collaboration with Russian actors.