“Initially, my idea was to hold a puppet show. Later, I came to the realization that a contact with the audience is missing, and came up with the idea of having a hybrid mode of performance – a puppet show merged with conventional acting. To create such atmosphere, where the audience becomes an integrated part of the imaginary Antarstan community was paramount to the play’s success,” says Lilit. “One could think that the play is merely an entertainment, but it has a very powerful educational tool, which smoothly leads the audience during the whole period. For example, the attendees learn how through citizens’ initiative an issue can be included in the agenda of their community council.”
The performance guides the audience through different initiatives, the actors organize a signature collection, a voting process, thus engaging everyone present in real-case situations.
With all the success of the performance and efforts taken by Ms. Makaryan and her team, the interactive theatre will make a tournée in different municipalities of Armenia, engaging the audience of different age groups to raise citizens’ awareness on their rights and participatory governance.
