Mem û Zîn on the Road
March - April 2022
BATMAN, DİYARBAKIR, SİİRT, MARDİN (Kızıltepe), URFA, BİTLİS (Tatvan), VAN, HAKKARİ, AĞRI (Doğu Beyazıt), ONLINE
Mem û Zîn on the Road is a tour project of the play Mem û Zîn staged by Şermola Performans. The play was staged in the centres of Batman, Diyarbakır, Mardin, Siirt, Van, Tatvan, Hakkari, Doğubeyazıt, Cizre, and Viranşehir. The staging is designed using little scenery and lighting in order to make the production easy for touring. In the above mentioned provinces, theatre activities in Kurdish are either not held at all or are carried out irregularly by a few independent groups. With the Mem û Zîn on the road project, citizens living in the above mentioned towns had the opportunity to access an arts event in their mother tongue.
After each performance, a conversation was held with the spectators. The production and creation process of Mem û Zîn was explained, and questions were answered. This ensured that the audience not only watches the play in a passive role, but also receives background information about the production & creation process, and actively participates in the discussion by asking questions.
Furthermore, online theatre workshops was held for a month with young people that the troupe will meet during the tour. Workshops was carried out for young people who are new to or interested in theatre and who want to carry out theatre activities in their mother tongue, to gain a new perspective in cultural, artistic and social aspects.
The production and the tour itself was recorded and stored for archival purposes. Short videos from the performances and the tour were broadcast on digital channels, informing those who have not watched the play about the upcoming tour dates, and encouraging young people to produce, record and broadcast in their mother tongue, while setting an example for living social and professional life in Kurdish.
