Middle Eastern Bloc Presents Spring'20

Middle Eastern Bloc Season 2

HOLY MONKEY Written by Nelly Winterhalder and Lois Armas Sound designed by Saku Kämäräinen Directed by David Kozma Produced by Post Theatre Collective
Commissioned by The Finnish-Norwegian Cultural Institute  Part of Together again festival in autumn 2023

”The pandemics hit the world like a tsunami, with several giant waves. Now, as the catastrophic waves withdraw, we slowly detect the impact that the past years have had on our lives, relations, work, habits, attitudes and values.  The writers Lois Armas and Nelly Winterhalder place fictional characters in this post pandemic landscape and explore the emotional impact from a both personal, local and global perspective.  The writing process will start from a common fictional frame which then allows each writer to express their artistic voice.” -Nelly Winterhalder

The Middle Eastern Bloc podcast, started in 2020, reflects on the global pandemic through the eyes of people belonging to cultural and linguistic minorities (who live outside their birth country).
When the first wave of the global pandemic hitted the world in Spring 2020, people were asked to stay home and avoid unnecessary contact except with their close family members. We started to wonder how people residing outside their birth country experience the situation. How people living away from their family coped with the situation. 

This podcast produced by Post Theatre Collective was part of Together alone 2.0 program in 2022 and this season 3 will be launched at the Together again festival in Autumn 2023, commissioned by The Finnish-Norwegian Cultural Institute. Post Theatre Collective has chosen Norway-based Nelly Winterhalder and Finland-based Lois Armas to be the writers of this season of the podcast. The episodes will be sound designed by Saku Kämäräinen directed by David Kozma.

Middle Eastern Bloc season 3: Holy Monkey

Middle Eastern Bloc Season 2. Episode 1:
Skin City by Sivan Ben Yishai

Performer: Satu Mikkelinen
Sound design and music: Saku Kämäräinen 
Concept: David Kozma and Bita Razavi

In Spring 2020, when the first wave of the global pandemic hit the world, we were wondering how people residing outside their country of birth experienced the situation. How people living away from their families coped with the difficulties. We asked ten writers to reflect on their experiences and published the stories in the form of a podcast.
 Now, towards the end of 2021, the situation has continued way longer than most of us could imagine. Different countries have dealt with the latter waves of pandemic with different strategies.The vaccination entered the scene but not all countries have access to it equally. Global economy and political relations came into play. All of these have created different experiences of the situation in different parts of the world. Some people deal with the disappointment of cancelled theatre performances and closed bars, some bury friends or family members on a regular basis. 
We decided to reflect on the situation again in another season of our podcast. We asked writers and playwrights from different corners of the world to reflect on their experiences and their surroundings with the hope to draw a wider image of the situation and put things into perspective.

Sivan Ben Yishai is a playwright and theater director, based in Berlin since 2012. Her plays are widely performed, among others in Berlin, Munich, Dortmund, Lucerne, Barcelona, Vienna. In 2019/20 she was the artist in residence of Nationaltheater Mannheim. In 2020 she was a scholarship holder at the Tarabya Cultural Academy in Istanbul. With LOVE/ An argumentative exercise she was invited to the Mülheim Dramatist Prize 2020.

Middle Eastern Bloc Season 2.ep. 1 Skin City by Sivan Ben Yishai

Middle Eastern Bloc Season 2. Episode 2:
Group Chat by Zhu Yi
Performers: Yuko Takeda and Timo Teern
Sound design and music: Saku Kämäräinen 
Concept: David Kozma and Bita Razavi

In Spring 2020, when the first wave of the global pandemic hit the world, we were wondering how people residing outside their country of birth experienced the situation. How people living away from their families coped with the difficulties. We asked ten writers to reflect on their experiences and published the stories in the form of a podcast.
Now, towards the end of 2021, the situation has continued way longer than most of us could imagine. Different countries have dealt with the latter waves of pandemic with different strategies.The vaccination entered the scene but not all countries have access to it equally. Global economy and political relations came into play. All of these have created different experiences of the situation in different parts of the world. Some people deal with the disappointment of cancelled theatre performances and closed bars, some bury friends or family members on a regular basis. 
We decided to reflect on the situation again in another season of our podcast. We asked writers and playwrights from different corners of the world to reflect on their experiences and their surroundings with the hope to draw a wider image of the situation and put things into perspective.

ZHU Yi is an award-winning playwright, based in NYC, born and raised in Shanghai, China. MFA in Playwriting, Columbia University. She received the First Prize at 2015 World Sinophone Drama Competition, and Shanghai Drama Valley's 2015 Outstanding Playwright of the Year Award. She is an alumni of Ensemble Studio Theatre's Obie Award-winning playwrights group Youngblood, 2012-2013 Emerging Artist Fellow at New York Theatre Workshop, a member of the Royal Court Theatre's International Playwrights Programme, Ma-Yi Writers Lab, Clubbed Thumb Theater's writers group, and Dramatists Guild of America.

Middle Eastern Bloc Season 2. ep. 2: Group Chat by Zhu Yi

Middle Eastern Bloc Season 2. Episode 3:
Group Inside by Andreas Flourakis
Performer: Timo Teern
Sound design and music: Saku Kämäräinen 
Concept: David Kozma and Bita Razavi
Translator Eleni Drivas

In Spring 2020, when the first wave of the global pandemic hit the world, we were wondering how people residing outside their country of birth experienced the situation. How people living away from their families coped with the difficulties. We asked ten writers to reflect on their experiences and published the stories in the form of a podcast.
Now, towards the end of 2021, the situation has continued way longer than most of us could imagine. Different countries have dealt with the latter waves of pandemic with different strategies.The vaccination entered the scene but not all countries have access to it equally. Global economy and political relations came into play. All of these have created different experiences of the situation in different parts of the world. Some people deal with the disappointment of cancelled theatre performances and closed bars, some bury friends or family members on a regular basis. 
We decided to reflect on the situation again in another season of our podcast. We asked writers and playwrights from different corners of the world to reflect on their experiences and their surroundings with the hope to draw a wider image of the situation and put things into perspective.

Andreas Flourakis is a playwright, director, instructor in playwriting. He has written more than twenty works for theater, which have been translated into many languages, including English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German, Turkish, Romanian, Polish, Albanian, Hindi and Finnish. Among his awards are honorable mention in the one-act play contest of the Art Theatre Karolos Koun (2003), selection by the Janus Project for New Plays and New Playwriting Across Europe (2006), second prize in the one-act play contest organized by the Municipal and Regional Theatre of Rhodes (2008), third prize in the International Monodrama contest of the UNESCO International Theatre Institute (2006-2008), a Writer-in-Residence Award at the Royal Court International Residency (United Kingdom), and a Fulbright Artists Award (United States). He has also served as Visiting Professor of Playwriting at the University of Kansas.

Middle Eastern Bloc Season 2. ep. 3: Inside By Andreas Flourakis

Middle Eastern Bloc Season 2. Episode 4:
Intubated Europe by Nicoleta Esinencu
Performer: Maija Paunio
Sound design and music: Saku Kämäräinen 
Concept: David Kozma and Bita Razavi
Translator: Artiom Zavadovsky

In Spring 2020, when the first wave of the global pandemic hit the world, we were wondering how people residing outside their country of birth experienced the situation. How people living away from their families coped with the difficulties. We asked ten writers to reflect on their experiences and published the stories in the form of a podcast.
Now, towards the end of 2021, the situation has continued way longer than most of us could imagine. Different countries have dealt with the latter waves of pandemic with different strategies.The vaccination entered the scene but not all countries have access to it equally. Global economy and political relations came into play. All of these have created different experiences of the situation in different parts of the world. Some people deal with the disappointment of cancelled theatre performances and closed bars, some bury friends or family members on a regular basis. 
We decided to reflect on the situation again in another season of our podcast. We asked writers and playwrights from different corners of the world to reflect on their experiences and their surroundings with the hope to draw a wider image of the situation and put things into perspective.

Nicoleta Esinencu is a Moldovan playwright and theatre director, who after graduating in drama and theatre arts, has been an active presence in the theatre world in Eastern Europe, writing plays, directing and developing performances.
N. Esinencu’s plays were presented in Romania, the Republic of Moldova, Sweden, Poland, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Finland, Germany, Russia, Japan, USA, France and Austria.
Her texts are translated into German, English, French, Bulgarian and Polish and were published in Romania (at IDEA), in Germany (at Walther Koenig, Solitude Press), in France (L’Espace d’un instant), Bulgaria, Austria, and in Poland.

Middle Eastern Bloc Season 2. ep.4: Intubated Europe by Nicoleta Esinencu

Middle Eastern Bloc Season 2. Episode 5:
Love in the Time of Corona by Kia Kola*
Performer: Kris Gummerus
Sound design and music: Saku Kämäräinen 
Concept: David Kozma and Bita Razavi




In Spring 2020, when the first wave of the global pandemic hit the world, we were wondering how people residing outside their country of birth experienced the situation. How people living away from their families coped with the difficulties. We asked ten writers to reflect on their experiences and published the stories in the form of a podcast.
Now, towards the end of 2021, the situation has continued way longer than most of us could imagine. Different countries have dealt with the latter waves of pandemic with different strategies.The vaccination entered the scene but not all countries have access to it equally. Global economy and political relations came into play. All of these have created different experiences of the situation in different parts of the world. Some people deal with the disappointment of cancelled theatre performances and closed bars, some bury friends or family members on a regular basis. 
We decided to reflect on the situation again in another season of our podcast. We asked writers and playwrights from different corners of the world to reflect on their experiences and their surroundings with the hope to draw a wider image of the situation and put things into perspective.

Middle Eastern Bloc Season 2. ep. 5: Love in the time of corona by Kia Kola

Middle Eastern Bloc Season 2. Episode 6:
 Solitary Confinement by Thembelihle Moyo
Performer: Wanjiku Victoria Seest
Sound design and music: Saku Kämäräinen 
Concept: David Kozma and Bita Razavi

In Spring 2020, when the first wave of the global pandemic hit the world, we were wondering how people residing outside their country of birth experienced the situation. How people living away from their families coped with the difficulties. We asked ten writers to reflect on their experiences and published the stories in the form of a podcast.
Now, towards the end of 2021, the situation has continued way longer than most of us could imagine. Different countries have dealt with the latter waves of pandemic with different strategies.The vaccination entered the scene but not all countries have access to it equally. Global economy and political relations came into play. All of these have created different experiences of the situation in different parts of the world. Some people deal with the disappointment of cancelled theatre performances and closed bars, some bury friends or family members on a regular basis. 
We decided to reflect on the situation again in another season of our podcast. We asked writers and playwrights from different corners of the world to reflect on their experiences and their surroundings with the hope to draw a wider image of the situation and put things into perspective.

Thembelihle Moyo is a Zimbabwean artist and a mother of two girls. Her passion for writing developed while she was at Magwegwe High school. She studied Media and Journalism, later on enrolling for a Diploma in Creative Arts at Amakhosi Cultural Academy. There, she specialized in writing, theatre,film and producing.
Her plays include "I Want to Fly," published under Contemporary Plays by African Women (Methuen Drama), "Color Blue" "Sibahle Nje" "Nomhle" "Let it Out" and "Who said I Don’t Want to Dance." She has directed "Song of a Woman," "It’s Not Gold," "Voice of a Solo Woman" and "Isipho Sami." The creator has also written two books: Total traditional Dances and Contemporary Dance Zimbabwe.

Middle Eastern Bloc Season 2, ep. 6: Solitary Confinement by Thembelihle Moyo

Middle Eastern Bloc Season 2. Episode 7:
For me... by Heli Sirviö

Performer: Cécile Orblin
Sound design and music: Saku Kämäräinen 
Concept: David Kozma and Bita Razavi

In Spring 2020, when the first wave of the global pandemic hit the world, we were wondering how people residing outside their country of birth experienced the situation. How people living away from their families coped with the difficulties. We asked ten writers to reflect on their experiences and published the stories in the form of a podcast.
Now, towards the end of 2021, the situation has continued way longer than most of us could imagine. Different countries have dealt with the latter waves of pandemic with different strategies.The vaccination entered the scene but not all countries have access to it equally. Global economy and political relations came into play. All of these have created different experiences of the situation in different parts of the world. Some people deal with the disappointment of cancelled theatre performances and closed bars, some bury friends or family members on a regular basis. 
We decided to reflect on the situation again in another season of our podcast. We asked writers and playwrights from different corners of the world to reflect on their experiences and their surroundings with the hope to draw a wider image of the situation and put things into perspective.

Heli Sirviö (b. Helsinki) is a Finnish actor, producer and teacher. She starred in the second season of the TV series Heaven's Fire as Päivikki Korkea-aho. In addition, she has starred in the show series Testosterile as well as visited television series Salatut elämät and Sykes. She has performed at the Finnish National Theater and Kuopio City Theater.

Sirviö graduated from the Theater Academy in 2001. In addition to acting, she has volunteered for Barack Obama. 
From 2017 she lives in New York and works as a Finnish language teacher at Columbia University.

Middle Eastern Bloc Season 2. ep. 7: For me... by Heli Sirviö

Middle Eastern Bloc Season 2. Episode 8: the centuries-long pandemic by Mirza Metin

Translator:  Matt Broomfield
Performer: Jonathan Hutchings
Sound design and music: Saku Kämäräinen 
Concept: David Kozma and Bita Razavi

In Spring 2020, when the first wave of the global pandemic hit the world, we were wondering how people residing outside their country of birth experienced the situation. How people living away from their families coped with the difficulties. We asked ten writers to reflect on their experiences and published the stories in the form of a podcast.
Now, towards the end of 2021, the situation has continued way longer than most of us could imagine. Different countries have dealt with the latter waves of pandemic with different strategies.The vaccination entered the scene but not all countries have access to it equally. Global economy and political relations came into play. All of these have created different experiences of the situation in different parts of the world. Some people deal with the disappointment of cancelled theatre performances and closed bars, some bury friends or family members on a regular basis. 
We decided to reflect on the situation again in another season of our podcast. We asked writers and playwrights from different corners of the world to reflect on their experiences and their surroundings with the hope to draw a wider image of the situation and put things into perspective.

Mirza Metin was born in Kars in North Kurdistan in 1980 and grew up in Istanbul. Mirza has been involved with theatre since 1995. He trained as an actor with Teatra Jiyana Nû and Seyr-î Mesel and has performed in numerous stage productions. He studied dance and music for three years at the Istanbul Technical University State Conservatory Department of Folk Dance and went on to graduate from the Istanbul University Department of Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism. He was selected to take part in the British Council initiative, New Writing Workshops with the Royal Court, which gave him the opportunity to work with playwrights such as Zinnie Harris and Mark Ravenhill and director Richard Twyman in workshops spread over one year. He founded Şermola Performans with Berfin Zenderlioğlu in 2008. He has won many awards and nominations for the plays he has written, directed and performed in for Şermola Performans. He writes his work in both Kurdish and Turkish. He is also the coordinator of the Kurdish Committee of  Eurodram, the European network for drama in translation.

Middle Eastern Bloc season 2 ep.8: The centuries-long pandemic by Mirza Metin

Middle Eastern Bloc Season 2. Episode 9:
Symptoms by Csaba Székely
Performer: Kasperi Nordman
Sound design and music: Saku Kämäräinen 
Concept: David Kozma and Bita Razavi

In Spring 2020, when the first wave of the global pandemic hit the world, we were wondering how people residing outside their country of birth experienced the situation. How people living away from their families coped with the difficulties. We asked ten writers to reflect on their experiences and published the stories in the form of a podcast.
Now, towards the end of 2021, the situation has continued way longer than most of us could imagine. Different countries have dealt with the latter waves of pandemic with different strategies.The vaccination entered the scene but not all countries have access to it equally. Global economy and political relations came into play. All of these have created different experiences of the situation in different parts of the world. Some people deal with the disappointment of cancelled theatre performances and closed bars, some bury friends or family members on a regular basis. 
We decided to reflect on the situation again in another season of our podcast. We asked writers and playwrights from different corners of the world to reflect on their experiences and their surroundings with the hope to draw a wider image of the situation and put things into perspective.

Csaba Székely is a playwright born in 1981 in Târgu Mureș, Romania.
His first play (“Do You Like Banana, Comrades?“) won the regional prize for Europe at the BBC’s International Radio Playwriting Competition in 2009.
He has written a trilogy about country life in Transylvania – their titles are Bányavirág (Mineflowers), Bányavakság (Mineblindness) and Bányavíz (Minewater) -, examining issues such as unemployment, alcoholism, nationalism, corruption and high rates of suicide among Hungarian population in Transylvania. The trilogy has been published in a volume by the Hungarian publishing house Magvető under the title Bányavidék (Minelands). The three plays have been produced in Hungarian, Romanian and Slovakian theatres.
His historical comedy called Vitéz Mihály (Michael the Brave), about the rise and fall of a medieval Romanian national hero, has been produced by Hungary’s Weöres Sándor Theatre.
He has written two musicals: Hogyne, drágám! (Sure, honey!, produced by the National Theatre of Târgu Mureș, Romania) and Passio XXI, a contemporary take on Jesus’ last days, which was directed by Robert Alföldi at Budapest Sports Arena.
His play containing four political satires, patru piesuțe politice despre dușmani (Four political plays about enmity) has been produced by the National Theatre of Târgu Mureș, Romania.
He is one of the scriptwriters for the 3rd season of HBO Hungary’s show „Terápia“ (“In Treatment“).

Midlle Eastern Bloc Season 2. ep 9 Symptoms by Csaba Székely

Middle Eastern Bloc Season 2. Episode 10:
Welcome to the Club by Jowan Safadi
Translation: Youssef Chaabi 
Performer: Demian Stimson
Sound design and music: Saku Kämäräinen 
Concept: David Kozma and Bita Razavi
Special thanks to Umayya Abu-Hanna

In Spring 2020, when the first wave of the global pandemic hit the world, we were wondering how people residing outside their country of birth experienced the situation. How people living away from their families coped with the difficulties. We asked ten writers to reflect on their experiences and published the stories in the form of a podcast.
Now, towards the end of 2021, the situation has continued way longer than most of us could imagine. Different countries have dealt with the latter waves of pandemic with different strategies.The vaccination entered the scene but not all countries have access to it equally. Global economy and political relations came into play. All of these have created different experiences of the situation in different parts of the world. Some people deal with the disappointment of cancelled theatre performances and closed bars, some bury friends or family members on a regular basis. 
We decided to reflect on the situation again in another season of our podcast. We asked writers and playwrights from different corners of the world to reflect on their experiences and their surroundings with the hope to draw a wider image of the situation and put things into perspective.

Jowan Safadi is a Haifa based musician, singer songwriter. Mostly known for sarcastic and political songs often considered provocative.
He broke through to the Arab world with the release of his album Namrud, breaking social taboos .
His lyrics can be controversial with his personal reflections on a wide range of issues that give his work a rare and revealing authenticity

Middle Eastern Bloc Season 2. ep.10 Welcome to the Club by Jowan Safadi

HolyMonkey E8: Final stop

HolyMonkey E7: Encounters

HolyMonkey E6: Amanda

HolyMonkey E5: Excuses

HolyMonkey E4: Who are you, really?

HolyMonkey E3: Masks

HolyMonkey E2: I'm curious, I guess

HolyMonkey E1: Off we go

Letters to Sea – Jay Mar Albaos

A student gets locked down in a student dormitory in a foreign country during the covid-19 pandemic.

Voice: Amira Khalifa
Sound design: Sammy Kramer 
Director: David Kozma
Editor: Jenni Hurmerinta/Sanattu

Middle Eastern Bloc s1, ep.1: Letters to Sea by Jay Mar Albaos

Rise of Covid-19 Racism is alarming

By Qasim Salaado

A short view on how politicians, media and even doctors justify their racist, xenophobic and discriminatory behaviour when they are trying to find someone to blame for Covid-19 crisis. But has racism really ever solved anything? 

Voice: Yuko Takeda 
Sound design: Samy Kramer
Director: David Kozma
Editor: Jenni Hurmerinta

Middle Eastern Bloc s1,ep.2: Rise of Covid-19 Racism is alarming by Qasim Salaado

The Sludge Puddle Rainbow
by Fjolla Hoxha

 When facing the Covid-19 pandemic people are put under mass surveillance but asked to concentrate on inner exploration. Is there really a silver lining in the situation? 

Voice: Alistair Logan
Sound design: Samy Kramer
Director: David Kozma
Editor: Jenni Hurmerinta

Middle Eastern Bloc s1, ep.3: The Sludge Puddle Rainbow by Fjolla Hoxha

In Acetate We Trust
By José Luis Rico

Helsinki-based writer worries about his family overseas and follows the Covid-19 pandemic on social media. 

Voice: Robin Kawa
Sound design: Samy Kramer
Director: David Kozma
Editor: Jenni Hurmerinta

Middle Eastern Bloc s1,ep.4: In Acetate We Trust by José Luis Rico

Notes from a Finnish balcony
By Arash Irandoust

Dreaming of a journey from a Finnish balcony to a busy Iranian market place and to a weekly family gathering. 

Voice and director: David Kozma
Sound design: Samy Kramer
Editor: Jenni Hurmerinta

Middle Eastern Bloc s1, ep.5: Notes from a Finnish balcony by Arash Irandoust

#StayAtHome
(To all the invisible victims of this pandemic madness)
By Tanya Tynjala

How can you stay at home if home is not a safe place to be or if you are an essential worker? A short reminder that simple orders aren't equally easy for everyone.

Voice Camil Rosa
Sound design Samy Kramer
Director David Kozma
Editor Jenni Hurmerinta

Middle Eastern Bloc s1, ep.6: #StayAtHome by Tanya Tynjala

Quarantine, curfew and new Corona lifestyle!
By Manal Al-Sheikh

The Covid-19 quarantine brings up childhood memories from a war zone. A parent believes in life after Covid-19 but what is the new normal like? 

Voice Salla Kozma
Sound design Samy Kramer
Director: David Kozma

Middle Eastern Bloc s.1 ep.7: Quarantine, curfew and new Corona lifestyle! by Manal Al-Sheikh

Here’s the thing, It’s about time.
By Anonymous 

The pandemic caused unexpected unemployment for some while others especially immigrants have received even more working opportunities than before. At a job interview the applicant gets a chance to speak their mind. 

Voices: Rufaro Rwambiwa & Yasmin Ahsanullah
Sound design Samy Kramer
Director David Kozma
Editor Jenni Hurmerinta

Middle Eastern Bloc s1, ep.8: Here’s the thing, It’s about time By Anonymous

Covid-19 at the International Criminal Court 
By Mohammad Habeeb   

 Covid-19 is facing a trial at the International Criminal Court. It’s being prosecuted for crimes against humanity. But the virus doesn’t let the judge and the humankind off the hook easily.

Voices :Anastasia Trizna, Sanna-June Hyde, Robin Kawa, Salla Kozma, David Kozma
Sound design: Samy Kramer
Director: David Kozma
Editor: Jenni Hurmerinta

Middle Eastern Bloc s1, ep9: Covid-19 at the International Criminal Court by Mohammad Habeeb

Walking around again
By Luis Guerra

When the curfew is starting to loosen up in Barcelona in April 2020, a parent is reflecting about life under lockdown and speculating about their children’s future. 

Voice Sanna-June Hyde
Sound design Samy Kramer
Director David Kozma
Editor Jenni Hurmerinta

Middle Eastern Bloc s1, ep10: Walking around again By Luis Guerra

Podcast written by ten bright writers who reflect the global pandemic while living outside their birth country. Produced by etc.
***
Ptc. is a Helsinki-based collective and network for performing arts professionals with international backgrounds. Ptc. produces multidisciplinary performances, installations and events as well as the yearly R.E.A.D. festival in Helsinki.

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