Short Summary

Armine, Sister is a multipronged project that includes creation of a performance and presenting it in Poland and abroad, work on publications, among others on a photographic album, organising photographic exhibitions, panel discussions and concerts of musicians. The project is the first manifestation of the new domain of the group’s work –WITNESS/ACTION. ZAR collaborates with the Gomitas Institute, the Armenian Embassy in Poland and Armenian associations.

Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArmineSister
Read the story of Armine: http://armine-sister.tumblr.com/
Visit our webpage: www.teatrzar.art.pl

• Awarded performance "Armine, Sister" refers to the history of the Armenian people in Anatolia and their near-extermination at the beginning of the 20th century. The project enters into the history of Europe’s silence and is a refl­ection on the act and inheritance of witnessing.
  
  
• The project has been realised in both artistic and research fields, which include expeditions, studies of Armenian history and music tradition and work sessions led in the Grotowski Institute in Wroclaw. In the years 2010-2012 the company travelled to Istanbul and to Anatolian cities, Yerevan, and also Jerusalem, and met with choir leaders, chorists, and musicians, some of whom take part in the work on the performance work. Among them is Istanbul-born Aram Kerovpyan, master-singer of the Armenian Cathedral of Paris, who has become the key collaborator in the research. The project focuses on the phenomenon of the Armenian monodic singing tradition and the way it has been preserved or not in diaspora which was largely formed after the First World War as a result of the Armenian Genocide in 1915.
  
  
• Rather than focusing on the history of the events of 1915 or the history of the ensuing denial and taboo, Teatr ZAR centres on the history of ignorance that feeds on inaction and leads to inaction on the part of today’s Europeans. On the other hand, the history of ignorance also includes the social story of building an accord of silence around each act of violence. The events in Anatolia in the early 20th century launch us into a wider debate about lessons in “witnessing after witnessing”, which always turn into lessons in identity.
  
  
• Armine, Sister not only reveals the history of the Armenian extermination, but also the history of silence and the responsibility for it. ­The work explores what it means to be a witness, and what witnessing means to us today. We cannot and do not want to speak on behalf of Armenians, but we wish our performance to break the chord of silence.
  
  
  WITNESSME instalation in  Oslo, 4-6th of March, phot. Magdalena Mądra.
  

Why you should support us?

Our goal is to recall memory of Armenian Genocide. To do it we have to show as many people as possible the story of Armine.

• Art is the best way to keep memory alive. Don't allow to bury this tragedy in sand. We believe in a deep sense of theatre as a vehicle of memory.

• We worked on "Armine, Sister" for several years. This spectacle was awarded several times, but most importantly it has always awaken emotions. 

• The spectacle is ready to go, the actors are wonderful, you just have to see it for yourself.
  

Jaroslaw Fret, phot. Magdalena Mądra

Article about our director

"Fret unearthed these collaborators—who come, pointedly, from societies representing both the aggressors and the victims in the conflict the play depicts—over the course of recent research expeditions to Istanbul, Yerevan, Jerusalem and thereabouts, and has melded their spare, haunting, rarely heard monodic singing techniques with ZAR’s own flawless polyphonic singing"

Here you can read a full article from American Theatre in pdf version: http://bit.ly/1bANvF8

What We Need?

We need money for:

• Presenting the world an issue of neglecting memory of Armenian Genocide.
• Visiting with our spectacle additional cities around the world.
• Preparing exhibitions, paying actors.
  

Additionaly we need money for: 

• Spreading the word about the project in international media. 
• Spreading the word about Armenian Genocide in regular and social media.
• Preparing a historical exhibition commemorating Armenian Genocide ( something like http://www.kennedyandoswald.com/of course the final look depends on a gathered amount of money)

Unique Perks

Wall of thanks

It's very important for us to put your name on our wall of contributors. Your donation makes everything possible. We are very grateful for your support. Your name will be visible on our site among other contributors.

Limited edition photos

These photos, made by a great photographer Magdalena Mądra, are both beautiful and compelling. There are two categories of photos — from a spectacle and from our expeditions to Anatolia. You can see there deserted ruins, and history burried under the sand.

Photos with autographs

Printed version of limited edition photos with autographs of our actors. Great thing for every collector.

Music tracks

Music tracks from our spectacle. The music is very unique. You can hear some of it in our trailer. We will put here a lot more info about this perk.

CD with music from spectacle

Full soundtrack with compelling chants from our spectacle "Armine, Sister".

Invitation to a spectacle

The best chance to see us at work. You won't forget this experience. In touring section we will write down all venues, where you can see our show. With your support this list will grow bigger every month.

Meeting with actors

A unique chance to speak with our international cast of actors about their work and to talk with a director about making an art a vehicle of memory. For sure you will get inspired. 

Singing workshops

Amazing workshops lead by greatest Armenian traditional musicians and our cast. One weekend full of work. Unique technique of singing and acting. A visit in a heart of the world greatest theater laboratory.
Number of places strictly limited.
We will write a lot more about this experience.

Sponsors

For our sponsors we prepared three special offers. You can choose between regular, gold and diamond status. You logotype will be placed in special sections on our pages and our leaflets and posters. If you need every further details, please write to us.

For every question concerning perks or anything else we are more than happy to answer.

Touring

MAY 2015

FLORENCE
FABBRICA EUROPA 2015

“Armine, Sister” performances / Teatr ZAR
Venue: Stazione Leopolda, Viale Fratelli Rosselli 5, 50144
8–10.05

“Armine, Sister” performances
Venue: Herbst Pavilion, Fort Mason Center/ 2 Marina Boulevard (Buchanan Street)
29–30.05

Concert “Twinklings of Hope”presented by Mahsa and Marjan Vahdat with accompaniment of Khyam Allmi or Shervin Mohajer
Venue: The Chapel, Fort Mason Center/ 2 Marina Boulevard (Buchanan Street)
23.05

Concert. "Columns. Armenian liturgical chants."presented by Teatr ZAR with Aram, Virginia and Vahan Kerovpyan, and Murat İçlinalça
Venue: TBA (to be announced)
27.05

Workshops led by Teatr ZAR’s members
Venue: TBA (to be announced)
25–27.05

JUNE 2015
ROME

"Armine, Sister" performances
Venue: Teatro India
20, 21, 22.06

Venue: Pincio, Villa Borghese
17-21.06

Concert "Columns. Armenian liturgical chants."
Venue: Basilica Santa Sabina
18.06

JULY 2015
SZCZECIN

OCTOBER 2015
BERLIN
PARIS

NOVEMBER 2015
MADRID
WARSAW

DECEMBER 2015
LOS ANGELES

JANUARY 2016
NEW YORK

FEBRUARY 2016
DIYARBAKIR/STAMBUL

Risks & Challenges

Teatr Zar is a professional group with an international team of actors. Our work is well known around the world. Our spectacles were presented in USA, England, Scotland, Romania, Norway, Poland, Spain, Greece, France, Spain, Italy, South Korea, India and most recently during Theatrical Olympics in Pekin.

• The main issue is the negation of Armenian Genocide by several countries around the world. Till this day Turkey hasn't recognised these tragic events. There is no political will to change this situation. To overcome this issue we want to speak directly to people, their feelings and conscience.
  
• The main theme of campaign to recall memories of Armine and all lost lives and stories isn't the most attractive topic for mass media and public opinion. That's why we are going to use social media and indiegogo for our cause. The direct response of people, sharing and all mechanisms of Facebook, Instagram, blogs and crowdfunding are the best way to get a recognition of Armenian Genocide.
  
• Our spectacle is an experience hard to forget, our exhibitions and instalations are beautiful and compelling. We sing long lost songs, we bring to life stories. Emotions, direct contact, closeness and music are the best way to suceed in this theme.
  
  

Other Ways You Can Help