Obstacle Race (Akadályverseny) was a theatrical education programme born from a collaboration between the Káva Cultural Workshop and Krétakör. Back in 2008 we decided that the two organisations would realise innovative experiments in which we’d try to combine the tools of constructive pedagogy and contemporary theatre. In this project we developed an education programme which places students before model conflict situations, offering them the opportunity for engaged participation.

The almost two hour-long fictional story’s setting was the school itself, whose classrooms, hallways, even director’s office all hosted scenes. The students had mostly to represent themselves, but at particular dramaturgical points could step into the role of teachers or parents, thus experiencing the validity of distinct viewpoints. Freedom was at the heart of the programme, as was the complex system of negotiations and compromises. Like theatre educational programmes in general, ours too articulated no assertions, or final truths, for the adolescents, on the contrary: its methodology is built on continuously sustaining uncertainty, on constant questioning and collaboration. With this project Krétakör took forward the artistic programme publicised in The Apology of the Escapologist (A szabadulóművész apológiája), whose central premise is to produce works of art that could promote the formation of a reflective, democratic society in Hungary.

The programme was continued after 2012 by the Káva Workshop.

CAST

Directed by Árpád Schilling
Professional supervisor: Gábor Takács

Actor - drama teacher: Viktor Bori, Máté Gáspár, András Sereglei, Kata Szeder, Gábor Takács, Sándor Terhes

Photo: Máté Tóth Ridovics

PRESS

• Anikó Oroszlán: Az új Krétakör munkái elméleti kontextusban. In: A performansz határain (szerk: Di Blasio Barbara), Budapest, Kijárat, 2014
   
• Tibor Pethő: Rajz a szabadságról. Magyar Nemzet, 20. 01. 2011.