Announcing the 3rd placed plays - Intercultural Remote Theatre Competition 2023
'Stone Soup' was written by Carol Read and is published in 'Doing Remote Theatre' by the Hands up Project. This version was acted remotely by Aya Abu Shaweesh, Hala Emsslam and Reimass Abu Sheirah from Nuseirat Prep (C) girls school in Gaza, Palestine and by Verónica Insongha and Rivaldo Santos Bora from Liceu Comunitário, Sedengal in Guinea Bissau. It was remotely directed by their teachers, Muneera Mohammed Taha in Palestine, and Arcer Mendes Pereira in Guinea Bissau.
Comments from the judges:
‘As a team, from apparently two very different countries, the young ensemble clearly portrayed how initial rejection of a plea from foreigners, strangers can turn via curiosity into cooperation. The actors managed to get across one of the play's implied suggestions: "To break down initial rejection, try cooking together.
I particularly enjoyed this performance on an emotional level. Clear expression and effective communication between the two groups of actors made this a moving play to watch. I was deeply involved and found the real world settings so interesting."
'The Wise Man and the Bee' was written by Alan Maley and is published in 'Doing Remote Theatre' by the Hands up Project. This version was acted by Yahya Mohammad Al- Rozi, Mohammad Kanan Mattar and Ameer Maher Al-Hallaq from Nuseirat Prep 'E' Boys' School in Gaza, Palestine and Dayan Antonella Mena Vergara and Mathias Isaac Delgado Arias from Jezreel International Academy in Ecuador. It was directed remotely by their teachers - Hussam Matar in Gaza and Elizabeth Urquizo Ponce in Ecuador.
A comment from one of the judges:
“I really enjoyed the opening with the actor playing the Oud. It drew the audience’s attention. Great sound effects of bees and it was creative how the actor mimed them to make them disappear. The students appearing and disappearing in zoom made it interesting and unique. The actors were confident and enthusiastic. The expression was clear. A very nice play with a great message”
'The Duty of the Host' was written by Scott Thornbury and is published in 'Doing Remote Theatre' by the Hands up Project. This version was acted remotely by Mo'taz Alhour, Khaled Alta'ban and Hazem Sami Alta'ban from Al Nuseirat Elementary C Boys' School in Gaza, Palestine and Debbie Chau and Suhairi Pakiah from Kapitangan Primary School in Malaysia. It was directed remotely by their teachers - Riham Alnaji in Gaza, and Dayang Kasimah Binti Jail in Malaysia.
A comment from one of the judges:
‘Wow, I really enjoyed this. The actors had a story with some difficult words to convey (‘whatchamacallit’!) and they did such a great job. There was a good range of techniques used for remote theatre, and the transitions from one scene to another were carried out very smoothly. I really liked the storyline, too – it was very dramatic, especially when the merchant woke up to find his camel and all his merchandise gone!’
'A Passport for what' was written by Benjamin Zephaniah and is published in 'Doing Remote Theatre' by the Hands up Project. This version was acted remotely by Abdulmalek Al-Najjar and Mustafa Shehada from Beach Prep. Boys "A" School in Gaza, Palestine and by Amparo Avendano Perez and Delfina Vallejos from Hamlet Online School of English in Argentina. It was directed remotely by their teachers - Fadi Skaik (Palestine) and Maria Teresa Continanza (Argentina).
A comment from one of the judges:
“The aeroplane and sound effects at the start set the scene. The labels and signs were effective and powerful. Excellent vocal expression and speech clarity. There was some great characterisation, capturing the irony of the situation, with some performances being particularly strong. There was good synchronisation, with some strong technical shifts between window tabs. There was a real connection with the audience, with faces close up to the screen.”
'Mirror, Mirror' was written by Hanaa Mansour and is published in 'Doing Remote Theatre' by the Hands up Project. This version was adapted and acted remotely by Nada Salama AbuNada, Iwana Eyad Zaqoot and Hala Ayman Karaja from Nusierat Prep A school for Girls in Gaza, Palestine and by B. Thanusha, S. Sai Kiran from MPUPS Indresham School in India. It was adapted from the original and directed by their teachers Hadeel Abdul Kareem Mayyat in Gaza and by Venkata Arepati in India.
A comment from one of the judges
This was engaging and humorous. It was a brilliant idea to use the camera as a mirror because this meant we could always see the expressive acting of the young people really well. Of course this also made us feel that we were being spoken to directly by the actors which was effective in drawing us in. There was plenty of emotion being expressed throughout.
'The Lost Key' was written by Rebecca Lemaire and is published in 'Doing Remote Theatre' by the Hands up Project. This version was acted by Jewan Abu Reialah and Ghazal Al Hendi from Beach Elementary co-ed school C, Gaza (Palestine) and Aspa Sigala and Iliana Pappa from Greece. It was directed remotely by their teachers, Luzan Mattar in Palestine and Despoina Aristeidou in Greece.
A comment from one of the judges
I loved lots of things about this remote play - the way it began with a close up of the lamp, the use of music, the naturalistic acting in parts, and the excellent costumes. It made me smile a lot when they strarted talking about remote theatre and one of the characters said ‘What’s that?’ Excellent work all round.
'An Apple for the Teacher' was written by Ken Wilson and is published in 'Doing Remote Theatre' by the Hands up Project. This version was acted remotely by Retal Akram Naem and Natal Akram Naem in Gaza, Palestine and by Valia Antonof and Pavlos Vomvas in Greece. It was directed remotely by their teachers - Neda Mohammed in Palestine and Evi Karydi in Greece.
A comment from one of the judges
“I really liked the way that the boy student ‘lit up’ with happiness when he got the good mark; and the poor girl’s disappointment was very well-acted. The teacher looked very realistic – just like teachers I’ve experienced in my own life! Finally, what a fierce parent – the ‘mother’ was also very realistic, trying to do her best for her daughter. I think that everyone must have enjoyed themselves, creating and delivering a mini-play with such a range of emotions”
'Mirror, Mirror' was written by Hanaa Mansour and is published in 'Doing Remote Theatre' by the Hands up Project. This version was acted remotely by Lama Alshaer, Hala Abu Hashem and Houria Khalaf in Gaza, Palestine and Lana Zinacanin and Ajra Brankovic in Bosnia. It was directed by their teachers - Hanan Al-Nawajeha in Palestine and Arma Tanovic in Bosnia.
A comment from one of the judges
“There was a difference in audio-quality between the 5 actors, but this was a technical issue - the pace of the delivery was great, the quality of the English was high – there was some quite complex language here, too. I was able to understand everything and – most importantly – to enjoy watching it. Thank you!”