Let’s get to know the participants: Lidiya Koulekova

Interview with Lidiya Koulekova, participant of the local workshop in Bulgaria held by the organisation Values, virtus, integrity foundation.

Lidiya also participated in the final event in Italy and the performance held in Perugia on 5 April 2024. 

Interviewer: Dear Lidiya, you are the living link between the partnership projects of “Values, Virtues, Integrity” Foundation (VVIF) and  Associazione Culturale Smascherati! APS. You participated in the KA1 project “Learning through theater” ( 2020-1-BG01-KA104-078330)  of VVIF and now in the KA2 project  “THEATRE TRAILS: Theatre fosTeRing Adults’ skills and IncLuSion ” ( 2022-1-IT02-KA210-ADU-000084400)  of Smascherati. How do you see through your own experience the path traveled by the two organizations so far?

Lidiya: The most valuable thing I observe is a warm relationship of trust, respect, support and interaction between the organizations (and also in bewteen their members), which nourishes each organization individually, but also develops the participants in the projects – both as professional and creative skills, as well as personality and soul, and even enriches the theater through experiences and everyone’s contribution that inspires and motivates growth, and that gives meaning to every step along the way.

 

I: A new element in the current project was local theater activities. What are your impressions of the theater workshops held in Bulgaria?

L: A three-month Shadow theater course was held in Sofia, in which about 20 people with different experiences participated. In the weekly meetings, everyone had the opportunity to learn the basic principles and to try out some specifics in practice in individual and group activities. The course ended with collective presentations in video format (made by the facilitators with added music, title and names) on preset and developed topics, in which everyone had freedom to be creative and show their talent. These results and memories, I believe, are a motive for people who want to develop in this field to look for new horizons.

 

I: You also took part in the final international theater event of the project, held in Perugia in April 2024. Tell us about your experiences in such a vibrant theater venue

L: Тhis is the third time working with Danilo and it was very delightful and inspiring – like the “cherry on the cake” 

This time, unlike the previous one being in Perugia, we had more intensive activities and little time for walks, but I’m satisfied – we went to play theater, right? Although I know some of Danilo’s method, I was pleasantly surprised by the deep work on the warm-up – movements that are always done in the same way, but now with the additional explanations brought much more meaning and personal involvement. I’m fascinated by the ease that flowed when we played children’s games – a big congratulations for this choice, I think we all need more playfulness, and as I shared on the spot – it was a pleasure for me to play for myself with more people at my level, not with small children and “on duty”. I am convinced once again that play is the universal language of the soul that makes every heart accessible. And improvisation is a means of self-knowledge, if it is conscious. I like Danilo’s method of combining a preconceived group structure with individual improvisational work. I have deep respect for his work – after rehearsals to review all the material, analyze it to select the “fruits of our labor”. There is so much patience, wisdom and love in his attitude. All this made me feel both seen and supported and given freedom and new skills. Being able to experiment multiple times with a theme is something I value and I’m glad it happened here as well.

I consider the organization of the entire event very good, I am grateful for the participation and contribution of each one. I am happy with new acquaintances and a rich intercultural environment in which I felt at home.

I:  If you had to sum up in one sentence what remains in you after the main project events are over, what would it be?

L: Thank you very much for this question, because it provokes me to turn inside myself and see a picture and feel myself as a living geographical map.

Connecting the three events in the time distance of these 2 years, a sense of space is created in me that is vibrant – as if a part of my heart and consciousness has its own inner life, invisibly connected to the rest of the world. It carries the feeling of a network – of connection with Life with love and amazement.

 

I: Thank you very much for what you shared and let’s hope that there will be occasions for new common vivid theater memories!

L: Thank you too and I also hope to continue, upgrade and spread the messages of the theatre together in long-term projects.

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