KORCZAK 2007 International Theatre Festival

The 11th INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF THEATRE
FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
Warsaw, October 1 - 6, 2007

This korczakian festival is a formidable event which transform from now on each year the life of the Polish head town. Warsaw is put indeed entirely at listening of the children during one full week. The plays are of great quality and there is many meetings and debates on all that relates to Childhood and Youth.

On its new website, you will learn that The International Festival of Theatres for Children and Young People "KORCZAK 2007" is a presentation of professional and school theatres from Poland and different parts of the world, a place where people of Art meet with children and young people.

"All the activities, meetings and events are prepared for children, young people and teachers, and their purpose is spreading artistic education among the young generation of Poles as well as popularising the educational function of the Theatre.

"The Festival is held in honour of Janusz Korczak (1878-1942) – an outstanding Polish educator with enormous moral authority, who devoted his life and work to children. The moral strength of Janusz Korczak resonates across the society and artistic circles in Poland and all over the world. His ideas integrate adults in creating art for children and young people.

"Following Korczak’s ideals, the organizers of the Festival choose performances that deal with problems relevant to the child, support the fight for children’s rights, raise issues difficult for the child and discuss moral dilemmas".

If you are Lucky to visiting Warsaw in this right moment, do not fail to interest you in this event and to share your feedback on this blog!

Bernard Lathuillere, Paris

More:

• • The website, with the last editions 2006 & 2005
• • Program [Word, 2 p. 130 Ko, also online]
• • More about Janusz Korczak online? See: http://korczak.info

Korczak at Theatre in Japan

"Dr Korczak", by Jiro Kondo
Tokyo National Theatre, Japan

"Dr Korczak" is a stage adaptation of Jiro Kondo’s biography, directed & scripted by Shu-ichi Yasukawa, and starring Go Kato, from the 8th to the 21st of September in Tokyo and then in Yokohama on September 23th. An important and unusual event in Japan.

The founder president of the Janusz Korczak Association of Japan, Jiro Kondo, is the author of several works on Korczak of which most famous, a biography adapted for the Japanese public, is regularly republished. With the assistance of Maurice Wajdenfeld and at the cost of several journeys to France, a long time ago his wife, Yasuko Kondo, translated

King Matthew the First

, which was also a great success.

J

iro Kondo presents us with a new play, partly drawn from his biography,

Dr. Korczak

, which had already met with success in 1995 and 1997. Yomiuri, the big Japanese national daily (80 million readers!), devoted a eulogistic article to him. On September 3, 2006, it was first performed in front of a packed hall at the National Museum in Tokyo; on September 23, it will be in Yokohama and its tour round the country is programmed for 2008.

V

ery old now, Jiro and Yasuko Kondo are happy to be able to say that “the Japanese like Korczak”. They deserve immense credit for having made Korczak very popular in their country, in spite of the authoritarian organisation and militaristic pedagogy of their culture, which had caused them many problems at the beginning of their work in the 1970s.

I

n

December 2005, David Greig’s excellent play

,

‘

The example of Dr. Korczak

’

was invited to Japan.

In 2003, the AFJK had taken an active part in the creation of this play in Brussels at the Theatre of the Curtain; it had been a memorable success

.

More:
— ‘Dr. Korczak’,

poster

and

program

—

‘

The example…’ by David Greig [

PDF 1,5 Mo

] to the Success

Network Planning of Tokyo

Dr Korczak's Example on BBC radio 4

Saturday Play
Dr Korczak's Example, by David Greig
[avec un résumé en français]

Based on the true story of Janusz Korczak, best-selling children's novelist, paediatrician and social experimenter, who set up a Jewish orphanage in Warsaw and ran it as a children's democracy.

In the play, when the Nazis close in on Warsaw, Korczak and the children are forced to move into the ghetto - stretching Korczak's pacifist ideals to the limit. But the doctor's values are threatened not only by the Nazi regime but by the arrival of a young Jewish boy who believes in fighting back.

TAG Theatre Company (in Glasgow) commissioned David Greig to write this play as part of Making the Nation. From September to November 2001 , TAG toured Dr Korczak's Example to secondary schools across Scotland.

"I thought your play was cool. I liked the wee doll guys. The slap was pretty cool as well! You made look so real with the costumes and stuff. I'm interested in history but you have to read books and I can't read very well so I liked the acting. It would be good if you looked at it a different way. Like if you were the Nazis and see what they've got to say." said a pupil from Queensferry High School, Edinburgh.

In May 2002, TAG was delighted to revive Dr Korczak's Example by David Greig, for the Bank of Scotland Children's International Theatre Festival in Edinburgh.

In May and June 2003, TAG was thrilled that not only the Children's International Theatre Festival but also The London International Festival of Theatre (LIFT) invited them to revive Dr Korczak’s Example. This was the first time that LIFT invited a Scottish company to perform. Dr Korczak’s Example also played to public audiences in the Tron Theatre, Glasgow in June.

"Densely argued and beautifully written, this is a big compassionate and knotty little play that reminds that remaining human in the face of totalitarian oppression is a triumph that cannot be snatched away or rubbed out." Lyn Garner, The Guardian said.

In Belgium, the theater's « Le Rideau de Bruxelles » has produced the English version of the piece under the tittle "The example of Dr. Korczak". Played for two successive seasons in 2003, it met a great success with both critics and adults and kids. Teachers also benefited from a teaching pack, added with a special play for children entitled "The king Mathias I, a story…", followed by a full day at the theater with Korczak exhibit and workshops on the two plays

The team Theater and the actors were completely involved and they had done an outstanding job. Partner at the outset of the project, in response to their call to expand on the educational level, the French Association Janusz Korczak and its members were pleased to lend their contributions. The AFJK keeps the memory of a formidable absolutely production which had a significant impact in the Belgian capital, and was also a very successful teamwork.

***

[French - En français]

En Belgique, le théâtre du Rideau de Bruxelles a produit la version française de la pièce de David Greig évoquée ici à l'occasion d'une rediffusion à la BBC, sous le titre « L’Exemple du docteur Korczak ». [Photo © Theatre du Rideau]

Jouée pendant deux saisons successives en 2003, elle a rencontré un très grand succès tant auprès des critiques et des adultes que des adolescents. Les enseignants bénéficiaient aussi d’un pack pédagogique, plus un spectacle réservé aux enfants intitulé « Le roi Mathias Ier, une histoire… », suivi d’une journée au théâtre avec exposition sur Korczak et ateliers sur les thèmes des deux pièces.

L’équipe du théâtre du Rideau et les comédiens s’étaient entièrement impliqués et ils avaient réalisé un travail remarquable. Associée dès le départ au projet, à la suite d’un appel du théâtre pour le développer sur le plan pédagogique, l’Association Française Janusz Korczak et ses membres avait eu le plaisir d’apporter leur contributions. L’AFJK garde le souvenir d’une production absolument… exemplaire qui a eu un fort impact dans la capitale belge, et aussi d’un travail collaboratif très réussi.

Bernard Lathuillère, 12/2007

___

More
— The TAG Theatre, which its dedicated webpage has been cancelled in 2008, unfortunally
— The teachers’resource pack which accompanies our production of Dr Korczak’s Example by David Greig, part of TAG’s Making the Nationproject [PDF, 405 Ko 9 p.]
— 2002-2003, in French, in BRUSSELS
— Dossier pédagogique en ligne du Rideau de Bruxelles
— Birmingham Young Rep Theatre Company - Touring Production/2004
— BBC radio 4 program, 1st july 2006, 14:30

Korczak, by the Plough Youth Theatre

Korczak, on BBC radio 4
by The Plough Youth Theatre (UK)

This drama - called Korczak - was performed before a sell-out audience at the Plough Arts Centre, Torrington, in February 2005. The group was then invited to present the play at the International Festival of Theatre for Children and Young People in the Polish capital of Warsaw, in october 2005. The young actors at the Plough Youth Theatre in Torrington have been on an emotional trip to Poland, wich lead hem untill Treblinka. [Photo @ Plough Arts Centre]

Rob Pudner, director of the Plough Youth Theatre said the play - written by Nick Stimson and Chris Williams - was a celebration of Korczak's contribution to humanity.

"It's not a story of despair, but one of hope told through drama, music and song. The play concentrates not on the tragedy but on the positive legacy of Korczak, his children and how through love, respect, and the power of imagination, he kept their childhoods alive."

The youth theatre started just three years ago. Its aim is to get children involved in drama: "Our philosophy at The Plough is not to turn participants into starlets, but to nurture their life skills and natural creative talent so they can aspire to be whatever they want to be in life with confidence."

[Retrospective information in nov. 2007]

____
More
— Article on BBC, 12/01/06
— The Plough Arts Centre, in Torrington, North Devon
— About Radio 4 on Wikipedia (choose your language)
— Radio 4 website
— BBC radio Player: to try to listen the play at the right time

“KORCZAK”, by St Ives Youth Theater [UK]

“KORCZAK”, an Ojemba production
at The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, 8th - 13th August 2005

Written by Chris Williams, Music by Nick Stimson, Directed by Jonathan Salt, this production is being put together by the talents of both the SIYT and the Fringe veterans Ojemba Productions.

This evocative tale is retold as musical with haunting music and unforgettable melodies. This acclaimed and highly energised group of young actors present KORCZAK in the 60th anniversary year of the liberation of the camps. Prepare to be moved and the experience the unforgettable story of KORCZAK and the children.

Made up of 50 students aged 11-17, (25 boys and 25 girls), the Youth Theatre was established in 2001 and has gone from strength to strength building a formidable reputation for performance and quality of education provided. It is based in the picturesque riverside market town of St. Ives, Cambridgeshire.

[Retrospective information in december 2007
– Autopromotion from Ojemba production's website,
— Waiting for any reports]

More
— The Ojemba productions website