Fratz festival fun

We were in Berlin for the Fratz festival run by Theatre ON – (Fratz is a term for a kid who is a little bit crazy and bratty)
it was a gorgeous time – with a big ASSITEJ Artistic Gathering going on at the same time at the Augenblik Mal festival and our Play Space work Paper Planet performed in a suburb called Wedding.
We were working with two local performers and our team: Mischa Long of course designing and performing, Dan Whitton on the music, Emma Dodd Production Management. Our then EP Tamara Harrison was a performer also, clad in paper flowers and huge paper skirts. We had the strange experience of the work being watched from the outside rim of the room by delegates from the gathering as well as the total joy of working with children in a child care centre who poured through the tunnels and around the paper forest trees like small furry animals. It was also the first time we had to try to describe the performance experience to actors who were mostly immersed in text, and I’ll never forget their baffled expressions and then the gradual realisation as they got involved. At that festival there were deep discussions around the work – whether it was theatre, what the performers actually did, why it was important, what it meant. it was an important time, because those questions have stayed, and are vital for the continued evolution of Paper Planet.

• Sue Giles
  wedding, Berlin