Simona Hamer    

Postcards or Fear Is Only as Deep as the Mind Allows

Year of writing: 2016
The theme of fear of anything different, foreign or other, as suggested in the title of the play, is always topical. But this play deals with it from a fresh and complex, distinctly experience-based angle. This is a stylistically varied script written in confident, broad strokes and painting, describing, presenting and commenting the relationship toward different/other.

grown-ups

drama
humour, fear, foreigners, newcomers, immigrants

The plot is actually a series of scenes, taking us on Tinka’s journey as the character is travelling across continents and broadening her horizon. During her travels, she meets various people and her conversations with them are interspersed with Tinka’s monologues. This is contrasted with the characters of Conqueror and Esquire who actually represent a parody of great European male conquerors. Their status is established and firm, Tinka’s position however, is insecure.

Translations

Simona Hamer

Postcards or Fear is Hollow on the Inside and Empty from the Outside

Language of translation: English

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Awards, nominations, shortlists and recommendations

Slavko Grum Award for Best Play

The chosen theme being as wide-ranging as all human fears and with no chronological and certainly no geographical limitations, meant the author Simona Hamer has not limited herself with the rules of conventional playwriting. Despite the loose structure it is clear that the writer is well acquainted with the principles of dramatic tension and her talent for juicy dialogue is evident. Postcards take form either as typical dialogue between two clearly defined characters, or as inner monologues or sometimes as mere comments from a travel diary or even as a cacophony of urban, consumerist voices. So when reading, a most diverse palette of characters take shape: from historical personalities reduced down to their dull function (Conqueror, Esquire), to contemporary travellers (Tinka, Luka, Boy, Girl, Their New Friend, Paqo, Emina, Lungelo etc.). The action is completely free of time or place limitations so even anthropomorphised objects such as an eagle’s feather or a tree, get their comments of historical events in. Stylistic variety allows for the representation of various emotional states: joy, fear, sadness, empathy, affection and hatred but most comprehensively laughter or humour. Postcards’ theme is a display of fears of the human tribe but the play’s humour is the strongest weapon against them. In this way, separate fragments of the script continue to maintain the nature and charm of an anachronistic postcard which is using a limited space to sum up the fascination with a certain stage of one’s journey. Postcards are open to a wide range of staging possibilities. They guarantee an inspiring textual core which will serve as a source for theatre makers of the most diverse staging styles.

2017

Play's productions

Directed by: Ajda Valcl

Razglednice ali Strah je od znotraj votel, od zunaj pa ga nič ni

SNG Drama Ljubljana, 2017

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