How do you present the concept of war to children? Celebrated director Jetse Batelaan takes the absurd, theatrical approach through his production, War, being put up as part of ŻiguŻajg International Children’s Festival.

[attach id=613496 size="medium" align="right"]Jetse Batelaan directs War.[/attach]

A theatrical presentation about ‘war’ made for children. Would you say there is a contradiction in terms?

It is maybe a contradiction. Of course, it is really difficult to deal with this subject with a children’s audience. It is not a subject that you would expect. But on the other hand, it’s a subject that is on the mind of our children since, nowadays, a number of children had to deal with war, like the children in Syria.

So, children in general are thinking about the subject. In that respect maybe it’s not a contradiction – not a very common subject but, on the other hand, it’s a subject which is on our children’s minds.

To be able to understand you do not have to be an adult – you have to be there, regardless of age. Maybe we both do not know what war is about (me and the audience). Only those who have been through it would know.

How do you explain the concept of ‘war’ to children?

I don’t think I can really explain it. What we did was that we thought that war is a subject which is too big for us so we said, let’s try to divide it in different elements. Maybe it’s possible to talk about it then. For example, at the beginning there are no actors on stage, it’s only about objects falling down. So that’s what you see – the actors are behind the wall pulling ropes – are just things which are falling down in different ways, or falling apart. So that’s one big theme.

It’s a lot about fear – they are fearing the audience, they are fearing the war. It’s also about how easy it is to start a war, but at the same time how incredibly difficult it is to end it. So we’re looking at the subject in an absurd or surrealistic way – you cannot be really serious with children of this age – the impact of a real war would be hard for them. But you cannot make it joyful, either. So we looked for an absurd way. Children might laugh at it because they are more naive in this respect.

It is important that children are aware of the things that are going on in other parts of the world

Would you say it is more important, in view of today’s international climate, that children are aware of the idea of ‘war’?

For sure, it is important that children are aware of the things that are going on in other parts of the world and, of course, there is an ongoing hope that we will learn from our history. If I look at my own children, they live in peace but, I think it is improtant for them to know that their reality is not every child’s reality. I want them to realise that on some level they are lucky and that there is also a need to fight for peace in any place. That is what I would call basic morality.

Some still harbour the idea that children’s theatre should be only about the positive things in life. What is your reply to that?

I do not agree and I am sure that even children would disagree. Children like nice things but, at the same time, they need to deal with the other parts of life. I think it’s about confidence; I’m challenging my audience by things you do know – maybe you fear them, you do not like them. But, by experiencing war you get the confidence that you may be able to deal with that. I like them to climb high up in the tree and that’s what I try to do as director – encourage them to face the world and to know that they are able to deal with it.

How does theatre help in addressing serious themes with a younger audience?

For young children I think it’s not possible – I think young children should not face reality. Our artwork has the ability to let them deal with the subject in a different way. That’s how we can let them deal with it within a safe context, with the help of our own imagination and fantasy.

What kind of feedback has the production gathered from children and from parents?

It’s really different – for parents it could be quite touching, quite a tough performance. But for children it’s different. They actually love it or even at some point – especially when we’re performing for a school  audience – they would love to stay with our War. For children the notion of joy is present in this subject, strangely enough. The peace we reach in the end is a bit disappointing. But for adults it is a relief, although they’re not sure that war has really ended.

War takes place on November 21, 22 and 24 at 6pm at the Valletta Campus Theatre.

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