Many audiences go to the theatre for entertainment and a break from everyday life, but the play «Vebratim» will not let you relax. It will force viewers to examine themselves from the outside, to reset their sense of self. And everyone will become a significantly better person after «Vebratim» because «Vebratim» engages their conscience.
The second premiere of the documentary play «Vebratim» sold out the «TA-tal» inclusive theatre, a clear sign of its success. The title «Vebratim» comes from the Latin word for «literally», and is chosen because the play includes stories about bullying, told by children and invented by the author.
As a stage genre, documentary plays are new to our theatres. Director Andrey Pavlov used this genre in an inclusive theatre setting, where children with different abilities share a common activity, some of whom are particularly vulnerable to their environment. Staging this play is extremely complex. The action takes place among a group of children, revealing social problems that we typically overlook. But they exist, or could exist.
The young actors, who have personally experienced all the themes raised, will best describe this play.
Stanislav Demidov, 12th-grade student:
– In this play, I conveyed to the audience how disgusting children who bully are. There are no «political» debates in groups of children, and yet, every child wants to become a leader or be close to one. It is good if the leader is a worthy teenager who protects the weak, but if leadership is needed to rise above others and subjugate everyone, that is bad. The play «Verbatim» helps children understand their behaviour and help them make the right decisions.
Alexander Apresin, 5th-grader:
– I am a seasoned actor, you could say – I performed in the plays «Japbaks» and «No coins, no candy». There, I played the roles of my characters. In «Vebratim» I play myself. Moreover, we challenge everyone in the audience to open up. So, those were fairy tales, but this is real life. It is interesting and challenging».
Daniil Beslyakov, 5th-grader:
– I once found myself in an unpleasant situation – the boys in my class were constantly teasing me. But I did not give in and responded to the bullies with, «You are like that!» and pretended not to be bothered by their insults. Soon, they got fed up and left me alone.
Milena Shkurina, 12th-grader:
– The theme of «Witnesses» in the play particularly touched me. The host asked, «Have you ever had situations where someone did something wrong, and instead of admonishing them, you simply became a bystander?» It is happened more than once! Now I feel ashamed of my behaviour, and I will not do that in the future.
Yuliya Shkurina, audience member, mother of Milena:
– This is my second time seeing this play, and both times the topic of «Parents» has left me uneasy. I sometimes resort to phrases like «Do not overreact», «Sort it out yourself», «You are not angel either», instead of delving into the problem and helping my child solve it. Thank you to the play; I will not do that again.
The audience and actors are grateful to director Andreiy Pavlov for his innovative approach to staging the play.
