© 2008 - The Drama Centre Malta , All rights reserved.
IMPRESSIONS FROM HORTIATIS
By Lilia Lytra & Maria Papanikolaou
Through Grundtvig Lifelong Learning Project (C'Europe on Stage), we had the opportunity to bring to the forefront once more the issue of The Antenna Park on Mount Hortiatis. While the majority of Hortiatis' residents are well informed about this issue, the consciousness and awareness has now been raised to a great level after the Forum Theatre performance, to the extent that the problem has become more obvious through the dramatic presentation.
The scenes that were presented covered all the important aspects of The Antenna Park issue in a brief, concentrated way, promoting the intervention of the spect-actors.
Although the citizens attending the performance were not familiar with Forum Theatre techniques, the participation level was extremely high. Almost all the spect-actors interacted, irrespective of their age and education level. As far as we are concerned, we are inclined to believe that the success of the performance lay on the consummate approach to the problem and the high communicative skills of the Joker from the Malta Drama Centre, Abigail Williams.
All the spect-actors agreed on the dispersion of the antennas, although there was no consensus about the way that they should handle this situation. Many seem more aggressive and proactive, while some prefer to solve the problem through negotiations and discourse. The most important outcome was that the citizens of Hortiatis and the greater region experienced in the theatre hall a collective effort against the chronic unsolved problem and they understand the power of team action.
After the Forum Theatre experience, several spect-actors have organised a meeting, and they aim to stage demonstrations and deal with the matter more effectively. We should mention, however, that before the actual dramatic presentation, there was a positive development regarding The Antenna Park, as an official Ordinance for the removal of 21 illegal antennas had been issued.
Probably, the shift of attitudes towards a more active way of combating the problem is the most important outcome of Forum Theatre with our Maltese and Austrian partners.
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The Antenna Park Project is a tripartite initiative involving the Malta Drama Centre, the Machina Theatre Company of Asvestohori in Greece and the Business Club Austrialia of Vienna. The project was sponsored by the Grundtvig Lifelong Learning Programme of the European Union. The Antenna Park on Hortiatis Hill, in Thessaloniki, is at the centre of controversy due to the apprehension of health hazards posed by the electro-magnetic antennas installed on the site. Through Forum Theatre, public awareness is raised on such controversial issues and the people are encourage to express their concerns in the open and to "act their life" on the stage by becoming spect-actors.
