Collective residencies / RELIGIOUS BELIEFS / Olot
ROY HOROVITZ
From Wednesday, 13 September 2017 to Monday, 2 October 2017
Bio
Roy Horovitz (Israel, 1970) is a graduate of the Nisan Nativ Acting Studio, and of the Drama Department in Tel-Aviv University. He is now a PhD student in Comparative Literature at Bar-Ilan University, working on Biblical Israeli dramaturgy.
As an actor, Roy has performed many roles for various theatres, and he has directed a succession of critically acclaimed productions, which were performed throughout Israel. He is also a Lecturer of Play Analysis and Theatre History (Tel Aviv and Haifa Universities), and between 2004-2009 was the Dramaturg and Artistic Consultant of Beer-Sheva Municipal Theatre. Between 2011-2015, he was the artistic director of the Municipal theatre in Kiryat Shmona. Roy is also a member of the Theater Department of the Israeli Council for Culture and Art, a member of the Classification Committee of immigrant theater artists with the support of the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption and a member of the Artistic Committee of MATAN – Experimental Theater Center.
Project
His research examines modern Israeli plays, written originally in Hebrew and based on Biblical materials, which were produced throughout the years on Israeli stages.
Ever since its modest beginnings, somewhere in the end of the nineteenth Century, Jewish theatre turned to the Bible as a major source for its dramaturgy. Along the years, many Israeli writers found themselves exploring the richness and diversity of the Bible and using it for their creations.
The research, supervised by Prof. Thierry Alcoloumbre from Bar-Ilan University, wishes to follow these many productions and to look at their timing, the selected episodes, the different artistic approaches and strategies taken by different playwrights while dealing with the raw materials of the Bible, the relevance of the ancient materials to contemporary everyday life and political, economic, sociological issues in Israel and the way these productions were accepted among reviewers and audiences.
We created a small paradise of our own
This was my second visit to Faber Residency.
Last year, I could come for ten days only, and Francesc Serés was kind enough to let me complete my stay this year.
I had the most wonderful and fruitful two weeks: the charming city of Olot, the breathtaking view, the warm welcome everywhere, the Riu Fluvià hotel with its extraordinary facilities and staff and, of course, my fascinating, super intelligent and friendly colleagues.
And there was another ‘extra value’ to the whole experience. This time, unlike last year, we had a common theme and field of interest uniting us all: ‘Religion’.
We came from different parts of the world, from different beliefs (Being the only Jewish guy, I found myself celebrating Rosh Hashana, our New Year’s Eve, doing the traditional dipping of apple in honey, surrounded by my new ‘gentile’ friends: Tiina, Victor and Paul…), speaking different languages, eating different things (sausages at breakfast? Really? I’ll stick to my yogurt and cereals, thank you!), but sharing the same passion towards our work.
Outside the residency there were politics, demonstrations, referendum and a lot of tension going on… Inside, we created a small paradise of our own, where one could find true co-existence, respect for one another, humor, knowledge, art and beauty.
Thank you, good people of Faber and Happy New Year to all of us. Amen!
