In autumn, Goga publishing house continues its series of social and creative workshops for children aged 6 to 12. Under the mentorship of experienced personnel, the children are able to learn about different culture-related contents with special emphasis on ecological and social topics. The topics are addressed through various creative theatre and handicraft techniques. Roma children from the village of Brezje take part in all workshops.
Isaac Bashevis Singer: When Shlemiel Went to Warsaw
Directed by: Jelena Sitar Cvetko
Cast: Miha Bezeljak, Aja Kobe, Danilo Trstenjak
Produced by: Maribor Puppet Theatre
Shlemiel is a stay-at-home dad who babysits his children and dreams of the big, wide world while his way is away selling vegetables at the market. Striving to make his dreams come true, the Polish Jew Shlemiel wraps a loaf of bread in a handkerchief, instructs the oldest child to watch over his younger siblings and leaves his native Hevm, heading towards Warsaw. The journey is pure joy to Shlemiel and, after nightfall, the tired traveller enjoys a modest dinner, takes off his boots and tries to catch a good night sleep. Not to lose sight of the road leading to Warsaw, Shlemiel makes a conscious effort to point his boots in the right direction. But (in theatre, the immortal line “but me no buts” only seldom applies) his efforts are closely followed by the blacksmith who makes sure Shlemiel’s boots are pointing in the wrong direction. Shlemiel’s journey takes him to a different town of Hevm, a town proving very similar to the town Shlemiel began his journey in, albeit with a very significant difference – the wife of the other Shlemiel, who left the other Hevm, proves to be much nicer than his own… After all the shenanigans, Shlemiel reaches a wise conclusion: “If one were to leave Hevm, the only town to arrive in is Hevm, thus the whole world’s nothing more than Hevm,”
Hopscotch project is part of the Town of Goga project within the Maribor 2012 – European Capital of Culture programme. The project was designed to help the emancipation of the Roma population.
