Project:  The Chorus Project

Description: THE CHORUS PROJECT uses the founding texts of European theatre to explore the meaning of democracy today. We will use an ancient theatre trilogy to spark a collision between Europe’s past and present; start conversations about the biggest issues facing our continent; and inspire exchange between professional artists and non-professional participants. We will collaborate with people of diverse opinions, backgrounds, histories, cultures and ages, to confront the complexities and contradictions of contemporary Europe.Four theatre companies: Pathos München (Germany), Upstart Theatre (UK), Theater Am Lend (Austria) and the MKC-Youth Cultural Center (FYROM), will create new works of theatre inspired by Aeschylus’ Oresteia. These will be performed by both professional and non-professional performers, and explore the nature of democracy, its origins, institutions and discontents.The project comprises:• Residencies in which professional artists will share skills, and learn from experts. They will then disseminate knowledge to the non-professional Chorus in each country.• Performance training and rehearsal for the Chorus in each country. Each Chorus will engage in dialogue with both their local professional artists and, via web-based workshops, the other Choruses.• The creation of 3 new Tragedies, each responding to one part of the Oresteia.• Premieres of all the Tragedies in their countries of origin: Germany and Austria (one production); the UK, and Macedonia.• Festival Performances in all four cities: in which the professional performers from the four countries will perform alongside the local Chorus.• As part of each Festival, the artists will create a modern Satyr Play responding to the trilogy, alongside local artists and citizens.• Workshops for artists and audiences in each city, sharing our approaches to making and performing theatre.• Dissemination of the project results via video recording, published texts and digital lectures.