ASSITEJ Magazine 2019

The
Actual
Reality
Game
MANUELA SARKISSYAN, PUPPETEER GRADUATED
FROM NATFA, BULGARIA. IS A CO-FOUNDER OF SIDEA
FOUNDATION. SHE HAS WORKED WITH CHILDREN AND
YOUTH SINCE 2011.
As a puppeteer and an acting teacher
working mostly with children, I notice a
huge necessity for an honest face-to-face
communication between generations. It
doesn’t seem to be breaking news that
the digital era makes the gap bigger, but I
believe that we can fix this by improving the
quality and depth of our conversations.
So, using my expertise and experience, I found
an inspiring solution to the intergenerational
communication problem in a talk-based
participatory performance lead by a special older
looking puppet whose only weapon is speech. Being
aware that it doesn’t include modern technology
and that it may appear static, I have accepted the
challenge and I believe it works so far.
Here is how I developed my idea into a theatrical
practice.
In my opinion the natural condition of a young
audience is to be interactive. The show itself is
an invitation to everyone who would like to join
the journey and its main target is children 6+ but
not exclusively. Thus I put my effort into opening
up enough inner space within the participants so
they feel comfortable to try it out. Not everyone
chooses to participate actively but even if they
don’t join physically, their brains and imagination
take them on a journey of their own.
48 Towards the Unknown – Confronting the Present