Category Archives: Theater

Art Exhibition Sava-Mehdi at AstaroTheatro

Art Exhibition Sava – Mehdi


We are excited to announce our upcoming exhibition that is very close to our hearts. Our small but mighty exhibition will be showcasing the powerful stories of women who have fought for their rights throughout history.
We are honored to have our artworks inspired by the famous activists, who have made tremendous strides towards human rights. Through their inspiring stories, we hope to shed light on the oppression faced by women under patriarchy, religion, racism and apartheid…
As a small team of passionate individuals, we believe in the importance of bringing attention to these issues and inspiring positive changes. We invite you to join us in celebrating the women who have paved the way for progress and to reflect on how we can continue their legacy today.
We can’t wait to share this meaningful exhibition with you and hear your thoughts on the pieces. Let’s come together to show support for women who are still fighting for their rights. See you at the exhibition!
Sava – Mehdi

Exhibition Opening: Friday 24 March, 17:00
With special Music and Theatre Impro Act by Sava, Mehdi, Roberto

Exhibition: Saturday 25 March, 13:00 – 18:00

AstaroTheatro
Sint Jansstraat 37 Amsterdam

A La Muntagna

A La Muntagna – Up To The Mountain

Friday 10 March, 20:00
Ru Paré
Chris Lebeausstraat 4 Amsterdam

𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙮. 𝘼𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙘, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨.

It all began with a song connecting the mountains of Southern Italy to the peaks of Kurdistan by providing a common ground of resistance and solidarity.
Today this profound nexus of true international solidarity is still the main motivation for artists to come together.
Now we wish to share tales of reaching out to otherness and poems of travelers moving through theatrical routes. And music of course. Lots of music of love, friendship, dignity and resistance against any oppression.
Ru Paré is no doubt the place to be. Our A La Muntagna journey started in this warm and inclusive venue and now naturally it continues there with this upcoming event.
A La Muntagna is all yours again!

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺:

𝘼𝙧𝙞𝙭
A song of a daughter to a mother after the earthquake
Harun Turan: Performance

𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙊𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨
A Poetry Performance on a prettier road that leads to me, to you and to an abandoned theatre. Inspired by Mahmoud Darwish
Roberto Bacchilega-AstaroTheatro. Performance
Bakr Al Jaber. Performance
Argyris Plekas. Bouzouki

𝘽𝙖𝙨𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙧𝙖 & 𝙍𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙙𝙖
Songs from Italy to Kurdistan. And vice versa
Baschira. Guitar
Roleda. Saz
Savalan Ghodsi. Percussions

A la Muntagna donations are for earthquake victims in Kurdistan, Turkey and Syria.

Rembetiko Against the Machine at AstaroTheatro

Rembetiko Against the Machine at AstaroTheatro
Dear friends,
On Friday the 24th we are gonna perform some our favourite Rebetiko tunes from the early days (1930-1950) and also some of our own compositions!!
Such a pleasure to be again in Amsterdam and in AstaroTheatro with its own unique atmosphere!!!

–>The event will have a donation based entrance! 
Music will start at 20:30!
Hope to see you there!

-Guitars/Vocals: Ilias Konstantinidis
-Bouzouki/Baglama/Vocals: Argiris Papadimitriou
-Bouzouki/Vocals : Yiannis Leloudas

Friday 24 February, 20:30
AstaroTheatro
Sint Jansstraat 37 Amsterdam
Entrance by Donation

A Foreign Sound at AstaroTheatro

A Foreign sound

Friday 17 February, 20:30
AstaroTheatro
Sint Jansstraat 37 Amsterdam
Entrance by Donation

A Foreign sound is the performance by Fernando Oliveira.
It will be a special performance devoted solely to one of the best-known Brazilian music styles – Bossa Nova, samba, and reinterpretations of international music in Bossa Nova style.

The performance has at it’s core a rhythm based on samba also influenced by jazz music.
A style of Brazilian music popularized by João Gilberto. Who was a pioneer of the musical genre of bossa nova in the late 1950s. Around the world, he was often called “father of bossa nova”.

On one level, A Foreign Sound is an act of cultural appropriation of Brazilian music. In addition reinterpretations of international music in Bossa Nova style. As Cole Porter, Ira Gershwin, Bruno Martino, and Billie Holiday. Oliveira covers songs by artists who have borrowed from Brazilian traditions too. Even on songs that have no musical ties to Brazil, Oliveira exerts his elegant phrasing and supple voice to make them sound new.

Despite the fact that the artist has already been living in Holland for 8 years, A Foreign Sound’s performance is more as a musical statement than as a political one. Oliveira aims to reinterpret these songs, to make them sound new and interesting for foreign ears.

The show “A foreign sound” demonstrates how nations can meld the best of their cultures and traditions in a mutual give-and-take, a feat which makes the performance a triumph both musically and politically.

Voice and guitar: Fernando Oliveira
Double Bass: Lorenzo Buffa
Percursion: Felipe Duarte

Felipe Duarte
Felipe Duarte is a Brazilian drummer and percussionist, with a specialty in the pandeiro. He started playing music at the age of 16 and studied at renowned schools such as the Ricardo Breim Institute, and with professors such as Fabiano Manhas, Túlio Araújo. He was one of the members of the Brazilian folk band Lestics, and is currently part of the sunshine pop band Fun of the Real People. He lives in Amsterdam and dedicates his time to the study of Brazilian rhythms and jazz.

Lorenzo Buffa
Lorenzo was born in the north of Italy, a place surrounded by mountains and vineyards, in a small city called Biella. Inspired by the Nocturnes of Chopin his uncle would play for him, and by a mother that would enchant him with the beautiful sound of choirs, he began his musical career at the age of 13. After studying piano along his youth, he would then move to electric bass and the double bass, setting the stage for an adventure that, through a music study in Milan, would bring him to Amsterdam. Here he would get his Bachelor and Master’s degrees in Jazz. The knowledge he acquired throughout the course of his studies would then inspire him to explore different sides and possibilities of music, from multi pieces bands to solo projects.

ANARQUTURAS DO SABER

ANARQUITETURAS DO SABER
PABLO ALVEZ ARTINPROCESS

ANARQUITETURAS DO SABER is a creation in experimental performance art by the Portuguese-British artist Pablo Alvez Artinprocess. It explores what is a deconstruction of the spectacle, a quasi-anarchy…. an an-architecture. It is performance art seeking what is behind the show, even before the show, what can live without the ostentation of spectacularity.

The performer and the public share a state of ignorance about how the performance will unfold, and what meanings emerge from it. As in Nando Taviani’s enclaves, the public contributes collectively to the construction of meanings. The plurality of these meanings is respected in the context of a dialogue – between the performer and the audience, and between members of the audience. If a performance does not have a single author, the narrative is not imposed by a single author. With no authority, the public can be a co-author too … will an an-“architecture” of thought emerge?

DURATION: between 40 and 60 minutes, followed by a discussion with the public.

Bio
Pablo Alvez Artinprocess (UK/PT) is an experimental performance artist, artist-researcher and performance philosopher. Pablo holds a PhD in poverty economics and is currently taking a 2nd PhD in Theatre at the University of Surrey, exploring an empowerment (rather than a power) relation between ethics and aesthetics, and more specifically establishing a dialogue between the ethics of philosopher Emmanuel Levinas and his own experiments in performance art. Member of Performance Studies International (PSi) and NALS (North American Levinas Society).

Friday 27 January, 20:30
AstaroTheatro

Sint Jansstraat 37 Amsterdam
info@ourfootsteps.nl
Entrance by Donation

Chupwallah at AstaroTheatro

Chupwallah is a musical incarnation of Amsterdam based guitarist and composer John Newton from the North East of England, exploring the edges of traditional folk instruments and acoustic music through dynamic finger picking and unusual open tunings. The usual suspects in this affair include classical guitar, 12 string guitar, and the banjo.
https://chupwallah.bandcamp.com

Saturday 21 January, 20:30
AstaroTheatro
Sint Jansstraat 37 Amsterdam
info@ourfootsteps.nl
Entrance by Donation

Marx is Back

MARX IS BACK (a play on history)
meets IIRE Ecosocialist School
“Why have I returned? to clear my name!”

AstaroTheatro presents a monologue by Howard Zinn adapted and performed by Roberto Bacchilega

Karl Marx has had enough of seeing his revolution taken over by opportunists organizing each time a new priesthood and a new hierarchy, with excommunications and indexes, with inquisitions and firing squads. He is disgusted by media declaring him dead again and again. Karl Marx is back to remind us that his ideas are more alive than ever. He revisits memories of his courageous life and revolutionary theories. We learn about his family, his struggles and the boils on his arse.

Friday 2 december, 20:00
IIRE International Institute for Research and Education
Lombokstraat 40 Amsterdam
Free Entrance. Donations welcome

Rembetiko Against The Machine at AstaroTheatro


Saturday 19/11 is rebetiko night at AstaroTheatro!

A session with rebetiko tunes from the 1930’s till the early 1950’s.
The period between the 1st and 2nd World Wars had a crucial role in the development of the Greek bouzouki players and the texture of the genre.
We are gonna perform rebetiko tunes from each period. Looking forward to see you there and enjoy the night with this unique atmosphere!!!
Ilias Konstantinidis: guitar, vocals
Giannis Leloudas: bouzouki, vocals
Argyris Papadimitriou: bouzouki, baglamadaki, vocals

Rembetiko Against The Machine
Saturday 19 November, 20:30
AstaroTheatro
Sint Jansstraat 37 Amsterdam
Entrance by Donation

Theatre as Communal Experience – A workshop

Theatre as Communal Experience
A workshop


Our lives are communal; we need to be social to survive.

AstaroTheatro has a long history of community creation.
Theatre becomes an empowering act of artistic and human blossoming in the direction of communal experience and collaborative sharing.
Hence this workshop where participants engage in the process of authorship through multiple discussions, self-representation, improvisations, learning to feel the others and the space. Egos are tamed, the collective creates.

There is no separation or hierarchy among body, mind and spoken word.
We communicate simultaneously with all our faculties – a lesson easily learned, but in practice a never-ending journey of rise and fall. All this makes for inspiring moments during our workshop. We learn to work with our body, our breath, our voice in a non-judgemental way. We explore the space and we interact with the other performers. New exercises are welcome and constantly proposed. We are in the process of learning that physical exercises, improvisations and experiments allow the body to introduce new ideas. The body does the thinking, in a way. We seek a deeper interaction by ‘feeling’ the other performers while at the same time being a total actor.
Who I am is because of you.

Anyone can do theater, even actors. And theater can be done everywhere. Even in a theater
Augusto Boal

This theatre workshop explores the basics of the performative practice: posture, movement, presence, body, the other in the space, games and the voice in many of its expressions.
Our voices engage in spoken word, text and poetry in order to reach the poetry performance: from poetry to theatre.
Our work will be inspired by theatre masters like Jerzy Grotowski, Jurij Alschitz, Augusto Boal and AstaroTheatro’s own experience. But above all our practice will originate from ourselves: our memories, stories and skills. Theatre becomes the discovery that each of us is able to tell and to tell about ourselves.

How to create while one is controlled by others, how to create without the security of creation, how to find a security which is inevitable if we want to express ourselves
Jerzy Grotowski

Four sessions open to everyone from the unexperienced person to the more experienced theatre practitioner. One of the aims of the workshop is the staging of a collectively created theatre performance during the fifth session.
4 sessions: 2, 9, 16, 23 October 14:30-17:00. 30 October Theatre Performance
Max. 6 Min. 4 Participants. Please contact us for more information:
AstaroTheatro Sint Janssstraat 37 Amsterdam
info@ourfootsteps.nl
Tel 06 25382491

The wind erases the traces of the seagulls.
Rain erases human footprint.
The sun erases the trace of time.
Storytellers look for the invisible but never erased trace of lost memory, love and pain
Eduardo Galeano

Rebetiko at AstaroTheatro

Rebet guitarS

A guitar duet, will present the music of the legendary “Kostis”, the most enigmatic of all greek rebetika artists. 12+1 songs of truly unique guitar duets and black-humor lyrics chronicling the hash dens, prison culture and pickpockets of old Athens. Recorded in 1930-31 on 78 rpm records, under a pseudonym for export to the greeks living in America, research has uncovered the musician, journalist and cartoonist Kostas Bezos as the figure lurking behind the Kostis name, with ties to the famous singer and producer Tetos Demetriades. Renowned for his slide guitar playing in Hawaiian-style orchestras throughout the 1930s, the Kostis recordings reveal an entirely different underworld of the macabre and illicit. The use of guitar in these now-classic rebetika songs display a virtuosity of Near-Eastern modes and unusual tunings at the dawn of rebetika, when the bouzouki was yet to become supreme.

AstaroTheatro
Saturday 10 September, 20:30
Sint Jansstraat 37 Amsterdam 
Entrance by Donation