6th November, 2024
Our last day! We only had one workshop scheduled for the morning which was back at the Scoala Gimnaziala EuroEd just up the road. When we arrived we were presented with some scenes the students had been working on for us, which were 3 short comedy sketches played in English. It was particularly enjoyable to be able to witness the young actors performing and then work with them through some games and exercises. By carrying it out in this order it meant that both parties (the Romanian students and us British students) had performed to one another and so it felt as though we had reached a shared understanding of playfulness.
I decided therefore to put this to the test as I ran a call and response exercise (I had to alter this exercise slightly as the language was not entirely appropriate for their young age). I began small and then developed the exercise to become more and more dramatic, in this way every person involved was encouraged to bring their energy to the very highest point. By the time I brought the exercise to a close it felt as though we had had a universal and collaborative experience, and so I used the focus I had built to start a conversation about our show (they had seen us perform the day before). From there I was able to steer the discussion as a way of providing useful feedback for us, I did this by asking deliberate questions to stimulate thoughts, here is an example: ‘You mentioned earlier that you enjoyed hearing the different languages, what did you like about it? Do you think you will use other languages in theatre you might make in the future?’
After the conversation had found an end and the students had left, we packed up and made our way to the Copou park which was only a short distance away.
Here, our letters, that we had written to our future selves at the beginning of the project, were returned to us and we were given some time to read them and then reflect on our time in Romania, what may have changed, and any thoughts or feelings you had upon reading the letter. Here is what my notes said:
“I was right and wrong in so many different ways. I had the best time. I have met so many kind, lovely, generous people. I don’t want to leave.
I am 3,050km from home.
Yet I feel at home.
I feel so much joy and gratitude.
This is a beautiful country. Full of beautiful souls. I will never forget this.”
I read those words again on the flight home, with my heart full … and my belly full too with delicious Romanian food, I whispered goodbye to Iasi through the plane window.
A week in Iași, Romania! 