Orwell’s fictional world from 1945 served as a tool for us to expose contemporary systems of oppression — those that exist in every country, albeit in different forms…
I had the opportunity to take part in a theatre project organised by Aubiko e.V – a non-profit organisation from Hamburg, in cooperation with LEVEL UP Łódź, which is the Polish partner of this venture. As part of the project, I experienced an extraordinary cultural exchange – groups from Poland, Ukraine and Germany met, as well as participants from Greece, Turkiye, Belarus and Turkmenistan. The diversity of languages, histories and sensibilities became an inspiring background for collaborative creative work. The result of our process was the play ‘’Animal Farm’’, which we adapted together and performed in front of an audience at a support centre for refugees from Ukraine in Hamburg. Orwell’s fictional world from 1945 served as a tool for us to expose contemporary systems of oppression — those that exist in every country, albeit in different forms. The creative process was participatory – each of us contributed our emotions, experiences and reflections. Our aim was to create an expressive performance that revealed the disappointment, sadness and tragedy of being a cog in the oppressive machinery of the system, but also hope – the belief that a person’s value lies in their very existence, not in their productivity. I am extremely proud of the final result – the performance was high-quality, moving and thought-provoking. But I am even more grateful for the creative process itself, which had a profound impact on every participant – artistically, emotionally and socially.
Karolina, 22, TRIYOU ,,Bridge” – A Trilateral Youth Exchange Project, Hamburg, Germany
It was an interesting experience to meet people from different countries and observe cultural differences…
During a youth exchange in Hamburg, I had the opportunity to learn about theatre from an actor’s perspective and understand that it is not just acting, but also emotions and cooperation. Participation in the workshops gave me a lot of confidence in public speaking and allowed me to develop my creativity. It was an interesting experience to meet people from different countries and observe cultural differences. At first, there was a language barrier, but with time, we managed to overcome it. The conditions at the resort were very good, and Hamburg itself made a big impression on me. I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in the project – it was a time full of learning, inspiration and new friendships. Such exchanges really develop and teach openness.
Mikołaj, TRIYOU ,,Bridge” – A Trilateral Youth Exchange Project, Hamburg, Germany
During the exchange, I had the opportunity to learn about the art of theatre and the environment from an actor’s perspective; I also understood that theatre is not only about action but also about emotions. It was very interesting to observe the cultural differences between the participants…
During the exchange, I had the opportunity to learn about the art of theatre and the environment from an actor’s perspective; I also understood that theatre is not only about action but also about emotions. It was very interesting to observe the cultural differences between the participants. I also liked the town where we lived. Unfortunately, there were also some drawbacks: the biggest problem was the language barrier – most of the participants from Ukraine did not speak English at all, which led to some misunderstandings – the group was not entirely cohesive (but in the end everything worked out fine). The conditions at the resort where we stayed were good. The surprise in the exchange was German culture-from the food to the mentality of people from other countries.
I am grateful for the opportunity to experience something as wonderful as theatre in such a wonderful city as Hamburg. Similar exchanges have a very important impact on the development and formation of creative thinking.
Siarhei, 18, TRIYOU ,,Bridge” – A Trilateral Youth Exchange Project, Hamburg, Niemcy
