News
Pegasus Theatre
Mesh 2011...
After over a year's worth of planning, and all the preparations that went hand in hand, Mesh 2011 has made a huge mark on the Pegasus calendar and the planning committee, staff and all that participated are congratulating themselves on a VERY successful youth arts festival and are already talking about how we can make it even better for 2012...bring it on!
Mesh consumed our lives for 10 days, and our visiting young people from France, Croatia, Russia, Holland, Germany and Gaza are leaving with a hole in their hearts where Mesh once was (Quote!!). We look forward to inviting them again next year to harness all that amazing talent, to create a second international youth arts festival packed full of more energy that celebrates the arts so well!
International Performances...
Each company brought their own, very different performance to present to each other and the audiences of Pegasus and North Wall Arts Centre. We encountered the return of After Gilgamesh, the last chance for some members to perform as part of the company as they leave to embark on new lives at university and concentrate on career paths. The much awaited and highly anticipated performance from the Gazan performers re-telling their monologues, reminding us how important this opportunity is to them having a voice and the freedom to take part in this festival. Next came pure entertainment from the Perm group, with back flips, athletic and skilful dance routines, that had the audience on their feet! This was complimented nicely with a thoughtful, quirky and touching performance from the Leiden dancers. The Grenoble group performed a classic play in their native tongue, but even with the language barrier they engaged the audience and entertained with their fantastic performances. The Croatians displayed their expertise at mask theatre, drawing the audience in with their characterisations and wordless story telling. And last but not least, gritty storey telling through dance as the group from Bonn left us with their thoughts and views of visiting a new city.
Debates...
Each day the performances were debated by participants, chaired by the young people, looking at the best bits as well as suggestions for improvement and development.
The Grand Debate took place at MINI Plant Oxford, highlighting Human Rights and Young People, which included the experiences of the Gazan young people, as well as guest speakers, including young people, talking about the issues surrounding human rights that they feel most passionately about.
Workshops and the Finale Performance...
Each day participants worked in mixed international workshops, concentrating on Dance, Acting, Design and Documentation, all leading up to the Finale extravaganza The Government Inspector, preceded by street theatre exerts from the play at Bonn Square and Oxford Castle and a huge precession through the City Centre, with all participants in full costume, parading the main character held high above their heads on the sedan chair, and a massive panther made by the design group, chanting the main song from the performance to entice passersby to come along the Town Hall and watch the performance they'd worked so hard on over the last 10 days. With a packed audience, the performers showed off their combined talents, leaving audience members baffled at the young people's amazing achievement and ability to bring together such a brilliantly executed performance in such a short space of time.
The buzz from the finale performance was infectious and everyone was on a high on returning to Pegasus for their after show and farewell party. With an emotional thank you and goodbye to all involved, everyone was looking to next year and Mesh 2012!
