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THERE IS ONE WAY NOT TO GET LOST - BELIEVE IN GOD - ARTHUR ELBAKYAN
12:40 / 14.11.2014
Actor, screenwriter, director and producer Arthur Elbakyan presented
his new "My Insane Shakespeare" performance in New York City's Theatre
Row on October 13 in the sidelines of United Solo Theatre Festival.
The performance was a big success and was additionally presented on
the same stage on October 19.
In this performance Elbakyan plays the main character who finds
himself in a mental hospital where the main developments are being
unfolded. Betrayed by his friends and allies, the hero starts
analyzing life, love, hatred, draws parallels between nowadays and
the days of Shakespeare. As a result the hero comes to the conclusion
that human relations and values have not changed during the time. The
performance shows how a person appearing in difficult situation finds
inner strength to live, love and create.
- Mr Elbakyan, after 20-year pause you have decided to come up and
chose solo performance, why? Has a lot been gathered inside you wanted
to share with?
- You have already given the answer to the question. Painting, film,
book, theatre are the ways of self-manifestation. If nothing has
gathered, if you do not have anything to say, you will not paint,
you will not stage, you will not write. I am such a person. I cannot
play or stage just for doing it, just to fill the list of the roles
I have played and the works I have staged. You need a pause, but this
pause is conventional. During the pause I create as well. The pause is
important to define what you are going to say. And finally this pause
is necessary for deciding the right place and time of the meeting.
When this all met in one point the place and time have become clear
for me and I came back. As to why solo performance, I can say that
there were few reasons with the main and decisive one being the piece I
wrote during this time. It coincided with the proposal to participate
in the United Solo Theatre Festival I have got, and I have decided to
stage it and play in it. Besides, I have not tried this genre before,
I did it and it was a success.
- "My Insane Shakespeare" premier took place on a New York stage. How
did you learn about the festival and how did you decide to present
your performance there?
- One of my American partners hinted me to participate in the
festival. He knew about my piece. As far as the piece was already
translated into English for printing I sent it to the festival
and received an invitation to participate in it. United Solo is the
biggest theatrical festival of solo performers. It is being conducted
not only in the USA, but in Europe as well. This year was jubilant
for the festival, it celebrated its 5th anniversary expanding its
borders during this period. In the sidelines of the festival 130
performances from 6 continents were staged in the Theatre Row. The
jubilee was a success.
- How do you rate the participation in the festival? What did it give
to you?
- The participation in the festival was really important for me as
my comeback took place in New York, in the sidelines of one of the
authoritative festivals. It really gave a lot to me. Besides giving
an opportunity to get new acquaintances, contacting with different
art figures, the festival was a good chance to present the Armenian
theatre and the Armenian language to the foreign audience, to the
participants of the festival. Thanks to it the foreign audience and
different theatrical figures got acquainted with me, I have received
working invitations and invitations to stage performances in the
international market.
- Why "My Insane Shakespeare"? Do you see Shakespeare in yourself,
or do you see Shakespeare's characters and the life he presented in
everyday life?
- For me the people surrounding us are Shakespeare heroes. Their fates
are very much alike the ones of the Shakespeare heroes. Believe me,
we are living Shakespeare's life, we just do not pay attention to it
while in Shakespeare's works you can find the answers to the questions
we face in our lives.
- The core of your performance is a human being and his way to
self-recognition. Have you found the formula of understanding yourself?
- The important thing is for the human not to apart from himself. We
must hear ourselves everyday, we must speak with ourselves and be
frank in our answers. And no matter how cruel the answers are we must
listen to them. We have to do it. I have never accepted the idea of
making concessions for yourself. The important thing is to understand
why you were born and why you live in this world.
- Which is the limit between insane and real worlds? What does a person
need not to get lost in these worlds and to find his/her mission?
- According to my hero, the drawn limit between the sensible person
and an insane has been erased. There is just one way not to get lost -
belief in God. Believe, and God will hint you what your mission is.
Believe in God and recognize yourself, there is no other secret.
- Which is the driving force of life for you, and which are your
prior values?
- The driving force of life was and will be love. Love is everything.
Love theme is eternal. The basis of our life is love. The prior values
of life are written in the Bible. My Constitution is the Bible.
- You live outside of Armenia for many years, but I think that you
follow the cultural developments taking place here. In your opinion
are valuable theatrical works being created here?
- I do not want to give any assessment to the events in the cultural
sphere as for doing it, it is necessary to be there, see, participate
and only than express an opinion. While here I just receive information
which is not complete. I am not aware of everything but I am always
in touch with my friends and I am sincerely happy with their success.
- What new performances are you going to present in near future?
- I will enumerate only those which are certain. Soon, a serial movie
will be shot by my scenario at the order of one of the Russian TV
Channels. I hope I will be engaged in the shooting of the movie.
Besides, in one of the biggest US cities exhibition of my canvases
will take place.
Currently negotiations are being held with big American producer
group over shooting a movie on the basis of "My Insane Shakespeare".
Besides, presentation of the book I have written will soon take place.
- Will you perform "My Insane Shakespeare" in Armenia?
- Answering to your first question I have said that it is important
to decide right time and place of the new meeting. I think this day
will come.
Nyut.am
12:40 / 14.11.2014
Actor, screenwriter, director and producer Arthur Elbakyan presented
his new "My Insane Shakespeare" performance in New York City's Theatre
Row on October 13 in the sidelines of United Solo Theatre Festival.
The performance was a big success and was additionally presented on
the same stage on October 19.
In this performance Elbakyan plays the main character who finds
himself in a mental hospital where the main developments are being
unfolded. Betrayed by his friends and allies, the hero starts
analyzing life, love, hatred, draws parallels between nowadays and
the days of Shakespeare. As a result the hero comes to the conclusion
that human relations and values have not changed during the time. The
performance shows how a person appearing in difficult situation finds
inner strength to live, love and create.
- Mr Elbakyan, after 20-year pause you have decided to come up and
chose solo performance, why? Has a lot been gathered inside you wanted
to share with?
- You have already given the answer to the question. Painting, film,
book, theatre are the ways of self-manifestation. If nothing has
gathered, if you do not have anything to say, you will not paint,
you will not stage, you will not write. I am such a person. I cannot
play or stage just for doing it, just to fill the list of the roles
I have played and the works I have staged. You need a pause, but this
pause is conventional. During the pause I create as well. The pause is
important to define what you are going to say. And finally this pause
is necessary for deciding the right place and time of the meeting.
When this all met in one point the place and time have become clear
for me and I came back. As to why solo performance, I can say that
there were few reasons with the main and decisive one being the piece I
wrote during this time. It coincided with the proposal to participate
in the United Solo Theatre Festival I have got, and I have decided to
stage it and play in it. Besides, I have not tried this genre before,
I did it and it was a success.
- "My Insane Shakespeare" premier took place on a New York stage. How
did you learn about the festival and how did you decide to present
your performance there?
- One of my American partners hinted me to participate in the
festival. He knew about my piece. As far as the piece was already
translated into English for printing I sent it to the festival
and received an invitation to participate in it. United Solo is the
biggest theatrical festival of solo performers. It is being conducted
not only in the USA, but in Europe as well. This year was jubilant
for the festival, it celebrated its 5th anniversary expanding its
borders during this period. In the sidelines of the festival 130
performances from 6 continents were staged in the Theatre Row. The
jubilee was a success.
- How do you rate the participation in the festival? What did it give
to you?
- The participation in the festival was really important for me as
my comeback took place in New York, in the sidelines of one of the
authoritative festivals. It really gave a lot to me. Besides giving
an opportunity to get new acquaintances, contacting with different
art figures, the festival was a good chance to present the Armenian
theatre and the Armenian language to the foreign audience, to the
participants of the festival. Thanks to it the foreign audience and
different theatrical figures got acquainted with me, I have received
working invitations and invitations to stage performances in the
international market.
- Why "My Insane Shakespeare"? Do you see Shakespeare in yourself,
or do you see Shakespeare's characters and the life he presented in
everyday life?
- For me the people surrounding us are Shakespeare heroes. Their fates
are very much alike the ones of the Shakespeare heroes. Believe me,
we are living Shakespeare's life, we just do not pay attention to it
while in Shakespeare's works you can find the answers to the questions
we face in our lives.
- The core of your performance is a human being and his way to
self-recognition. Have you found the formula of understanding yourself?
- The important thing is for the human not to apart from himself. We
must hear ourselves everyday, we must speak with ourselves and be
frank in our answers. And no matter how cruel the answers are we must
listen to them. We have to do it. I have never accepted the idea of
making concessions for yourself. The important thing is to understand
why you were born and why you live in this world.
- Which is the limit between insane and real worlds? What does a person
need not to get lost in these worlds and to find his/her mission?
- According to my hero, the drawn limit between the sensible person
and an insane has been erased. There is just one way not to get lost -
belief in God. Believe, and God will hint you what your mission is.
Believe in God and recognize yourself, there is no other secret.
- Which is the driving force of life for you, and which are your
prior values?
- The driving force of life was and will be love. Love is everything.
Love theme is eternal. The basis of our life is love. The prior values
of life are written in the Bible. My Constitution is the Bible.
- You live outside of Armenia for many years, but I think that you
follow the cultural developments taking place here. In your opinion
are valuable theatrical works being created here?
- I do not want to give any assessment to the events in the cultural
sphere as for doing it, it is necessary to be there, see, participate
and only than express an opinion. While here I just receive information
which is not complete. I am not aware of everything but I am always
in touch with my friends and I am sincerely happy with their success.
- What new performances are you going to present in near future?
- I will enumerate only those which are certain. Soon, a serial movie
will be shot by my scenario at the order of one of the Russian TV
Channels. I hope I will be engaged in the shooting of the movie.
Besides, in one of the biggest US cities exhibition of my canvases
will take place.
Currently negotiations are being held with big American producer
group over shooting a movie on the basis of "My Insane Shakespeare".
Besides, presentation of the book I have written will soon take place.
- Will you perform "My Insane Shakespeare" in Armenia?
- Answering to your first question I have said that it is important
to decide right time and place of the new meeting. I think this day
will come.
Nyut.am