Making Bolero: dramaturgies of conflict

This provocation reflects on Bolero, a multi-lingual devised performance I directed exploring war, conflict and music devised in the Balkans. I explore working in these contexts and weaving together dramaturgies of conflict and about conflict. I discuss the political conflict inherent in the way these narratives are interwoven to address the way the Bosnian war was somewhat overlooked in the West at the time. I highlight strategies we employed and draw on Dragan Klaic’s contribution to Theatre in Crisis (2002), where he writes about the catalyzing role theatre plays in times of conflict. This project sought to shine a light on the human tragedy that consumed Sarajevo and the Balkans and I invited its Bosnian cast members, who lived through the war, to share their autobiographical experiences of the siege as part of the piece. The style of the piece was post-dramatic and devising theatre was a new experience for them. As such, there was a conflict of styles as well as narratives of conflict implicit in the process. The role of dramaturg in this context was to seek ways in which our theatre-making might find a shared language and it is this role which will underpin my paper. Bolero was devised with an international cast, and toured to Bosnia & Herzegovina and Kosovo since its premiere at Nottingham Playhouse in May 2014. It was performed in Sarajevo on the centenary of the assassination and supported by the British Council and Arts Council England