ARTOLITICS

A typical PTC performance includes elements of: volxkitchen-staff (whatever that is), info-material, books, computers, sound-system, banners, props, orange overalls and helmets, soldier-uniforms and blue UNO-border-helmets, lots of wheel-tubes (a must apparently), costumes and jonglage-materials (again, what is that, do they mean ‘jingling’ or ‘jangling’?).

I think performances such as the PTC are important. Anything with a political message is (excluding those which fall heavily to the genocide and oppression type of thought). However, I am still unsure if there is a distinction between a political rally/protest and an artistic performance such as these. Is there a difference? Is it the word ‘theatre’ in their branding what makes them artists as opposed to activists, or is it mutually interchangeable? I realise they are performing—hence staging, hence acting, hence ‘entertaining’ (of some sort) But what is important at the end of the day—if people know it is a performance that imitates real life, or people understand the message that it is real life? Does it matter?

Perhaps I am jaded because I work in a theatre and have seen so many politically driven performances fail. I realise the PTC are taking their performances out of the institutional framework of THE THEATRE are taking it to THE PEOPLE... but I'm just not sure anymore... Thankyooooou art school.

http://www.no-racism.net/nobordertour/index_uk.html