Summer Theatre 2009 - We won 2nd prize!

I cannot begin this article without having to show off and tell you that DRH-Holsted, our school, we, won the second place of this extraordinary event and competition…

I cannot begin this article without having to show off and tell you that DRH-Holsted, our school, we, won the second place of this extraordinary event and competition… I’m sorry to be pretentious, but the truth of the matter is that our performance was amazing, specially due to the fact that none of us have had any experience before what´s so ever in doing theatre or in being on stage.  And also due to the fact, that our play was a very strong, political and dramatic one. 

Since our school and our program is now composed of mainly girls, we decided to do this play; The House of Bernarda Alba by Federico García Lorca, a Spanish writer who wrote this play as a critic to Franco´s dictatorship, and just before he was arrested by some nationalists that supported Franco and executed without a trial.  

We are now 13 girls and only 2 men.  Nonetheless, the two fortunate men, took a very important part in the play as well, they composed the music and sang.  This was the only presence of men in the whole play, but this appearance is essential to the whole plays feeling of longing and vacuity for love and intimacy.   Its tragic and dramatic ending left the audience in a breathless mouth open. Speechless and with silent tears, they saw Adela´s body hanging after paper was torn apart on the back of the scenario.  For sure, a very impacting, powerful and strong ending.  And as Bernarda finished the play by saying the same exact words with which she starts her speech; Silence! I said… Silence! The curtain closes for the last time. 

At backstage euphoria, relief, intense heart beats cried and screamed while we heard all the gym (now converted into a real theater after a week of decorations) screaming and applauding.  We all came on stage again, holding hands, and saw the most gratifying and satisfying moment and experience any artist can wish for, everyone standing on both feet and just cheering at us.   We all looked at each other with a look of success that few times in my life have I ever experience so intensely, as we held up a banner saying “Thank You Antonio”, our wonderful director and the Aprils team teacher.

Hugs, cheers, screams continued all through the night, as the party still continued in Tvind, the school where this summer theater is held.  That night received us with a rocking music jam, where everyone got together and participated.  All the schools and of course all of us, still euphoric danced until around midnight. 

But the competition still continued, and on Sunday were the last performances and the results as well.   The truth is that all of the plays were great, but there can be only one winner and this was Tvind School, who did it perfectly.  With songs played and sang live and so many different characters they performed a magical and hope transmitting play.  The Good Soul of Szechuan conquered the hearts of the audience as all the people stood up and cheered at the end of the play as well. 

I think that this theatre camp has been the most exciting and unifying experience I have had since I’m here at DRH Holsted.  The good vibration and the sense and fraternity floating all around the campus were for sure inspiring.  In the company of the DNS students as well, gave me a sense and a motivation to keep on going, through ups and downs, because I could really see the effort of every single one that was present.  I could see physically and as a truth how a grain of sand really affects and can change the result of something, of anything.

This astounding event wouldn’t have been possible if just one of us wouldn’t have done his or her part in it, and to see how each and every one of us made sure to give its part has left me with a fresh feeling of hope, faith and inspiration.  It has left me with a refreshed believe that a better world is possible.