Guerrilla Theater... where did the idea come from? The idea came from Canada thanks to Mojca Dimec Bogdanovski. In the original, this kind of improvisational form is called Gorilla Theater. We adapted it to Slovenian conditions and called it Guerrilla Theater. Within a few years of its operation...
Guerrilla Theater... where did the idea come from?
The idea came from Canada thanks to Mojca Dimec Bogdanovski. In the original, this kind of improvisational form is called Gorilla Theater. We adapted it to Slovenian conditions and called it Guerrilla Theater. In the few years of our operation, we have developed quite a few new improv forms here. Thus, our viewers could watch an improvised Sitcom, participate in film karaoke - muvioka, or cheer for their favorite director while creating short theater scenes for the prestigious Guerrilla badge. This year, like most of our television companies, we started a telenovela. The format covers everything from Spanish, through American, all the way to Austrian-German soap operas, all in one show. They will be on display for more than one season.
The format of Guerrilla Theater differs from the established improv forms in our country. What is the difference?
In our country, the most established is the Impro league and all its versions, where the scenes or disciplines are shorter. They are played without scenography, costume design and mostly without music. At Gverila, we always use all of the above. Scenes are longer and supported by music.
If you have all of the above, what is left to improvise?
The scenography must be set up very quickly, as the participants have less than a minute to set it up. Players must find convincing costumes for their character in less than ten seconds. The music is also improvised and appropriate to the scene and genre, performed live by the musician. The flow of the story is always left to the players and never repeats itself. Spectators also play a big role in the creation of the play, as they influence the unfolding of the play with their suggestions, either with spaces, problems or solutions, which they offer to the performers and which they must take into account in their story.
You also play in the play Štefek and Poldek. Are the game modes different from each other?
The theater performance of Štefek and Poldek is based on a script, not on improvisation. It was written by Jure Karas. In a theater performance, you have enough time to develop your character, which you can then use in various situations when improvising. I had the opportunity to develop many different characters during the filming of the Youth Relay. Once you internalize these characters, you can easily transfer them to improv. We often resort to improvisation even in classical performances. Especially when the audience participates as well. Only this can be seen in the play Štefek and Poldek Go to the Sea. Impro's experience comes in handy here. When improvising, you have to find yourself in a given situation at a moment's notice, no matter what and how complicated it is.
You are considered one of the best improvisers in Ljubljana. Do you find it strange that so few women earn this flattering title?
There are very few women compared to men in improv teams. The dominance of the "male" impro is definitely present on stage, as there are more of them, they are bigger, wider, and have deeper voices. The audience prefers to see a man in various roles, while a woman, especially if she looks good, prefers to see only some stereotypical roles on stage. Many times, even female improvisers themselves only play this card. Sometimes you can make a very funny character, but you have to distort a little, play the old, drunken neighbor, not the diva. There is also often a stereotyping of the audience that prefers to watch men. Which is wrong - babes are cool!
When does improvisation become supreme?
Good improvisation is based on the cohesion of the team that creates a performance. The best moments happen when all the members know each other and have a lot of stage mileage behind them. Socializing with each other in your free time also helps a lot. When you have shared experience, you know how your partner will react when you both let each other go on stage... The hardest part is playing with someone who is a stranger to you and you don't trust him. Good improv is built on trust.
Telenovela May 31 at 8 p.m., KUD F. Prešeren, Ljubljana
Štefka in Poldka 2, May 5 at 8 p.m., KUD F. Prešeren, Ljubljana
