Savina is a creation inspired by a set of works by the gypsy writer, Mateo Maximoff. The proposition of the play is to provide an insight into the world of the gypsies, their ethics, culture and peculiar way of life.
The gyspsies have no homeland or borders, but they are united by language: Romane. It was on this, with its musicality and nuances, that we constructed the characters of the play.
Savina is the tale of the love story between two young people, promised in marriage even before their birth, that ends up in tragedy, caused by refusal to keep to the word.
The show made its debut in 2006, and received a nomination for the Shell Prize for Best Costumes (Stephane Brodt). Savina was acclaimed by the Brazilian Gypsy community through its leaderships, considered an authentic expression of the Rhom culture, in the International Year of Struggle Against Prejudice and Integration of the Gypsy People.
"I am proud to belong to a people who have never declared war, because we, the gypsies, have never had a need for a territory. We neither eliminate nor push other populations into installing us in their territory."
Text Ana Teixeira e Stephane Brodt from the masterpieces of Matéo Maximoff
Director Ana Teixeira
Cast
- Klebari Stephane Brodt
- Vasila Gustavo Damasceno
- Ordanka Ludmila Wischansky
- Savina Nívea Magno
- Ika Breno Primo de Melo
- Tchoukouro Ricardo Damasceno
- Stervo Cassiano Gomes
- Tchero Kely Brito
-Children Joana Brodt (Tereina) e Julia Limp (Tchuli)
Music Mintcho Garramone
Costumes Stephane Brodt
Scenery Ana Teixeira
Lighting Renato Machado
Graphic Design Paulo Lima
Press Angela Pessego
Production André Schmidt
GYPSY WORDS
It was with the sensation of carrying the world on my back that I went to watch SAVINA. I kept trying to imagine what the outrage would be, the defamation or charicature that would be made of my people this time. Throughout my life, this, unfortunately, is what I have experienced. Everything I have read, watched in films, theatre plays, and even serials, shows gypsies as villains, thieves and sorcerers. A people without moral principles or hygiene.
Our real values, sentiments and culture have always been disrespected. Unfortuantely, illiteracy reigns among my people, and for this reason, most of the the time, the gypsy has no knowledge of the barbarities that they write about us. Gypsy people have always been excluded from the excluded, always considered citizens in the shadows and a people without a voice.
Nevertheless, it seems that the world is waking up and discovering that a people who have undergone undescribable atrocities continue firm and surviving all the hardships without losing its ideology of LIBERTY. They are beginning to understand that the survival of this people is due to their exceptional capacity for unity and solidarity.
SAVINA did justice in reviving the real values of this ancient people. In the course of the drama inspired by the set of works by gypsy author, MATEO MAXIMOFF, what most impressed me was the sensitivity of the text and its adaptation. The spectator had the rare opportunity of becoming acquainted with gypsy values, such as the love of the family, the importance of virginity of gyspsy girls, respect for the elderly, the authority of the Khris Romaí (gypsy council) and the word as a bond. For the first time in my life, I saw our way of life and feelings approached with respect.
The accordion played with feeling and mastery in the play transported me to our encampment in Mesquita, Rio de Janeiro. At dusk, my Papu (grandfather), KAKU RHISTA used to play laments, tunes about love, protest and joy on his accordion. This instrument in the play spoke more than a thousand words.
The actress who played the role of SAVINA succeeded in conveying the power of ther first great love. Love, a source of happiness or tragedy. Divine!
The gypsy matriarch is our Phuri Dhiei, our queen and goddess of knowledge; is responsible for the preservation of our code of ethics, customs and traditions. The strong, eloquent presence of the actress who represents the matriarch conveys the figure of the woman and gypsy mother exactly. Sublime!
In SAVINA, I saw a little of the fight to bring my people out of their historical invisibility. I, a gyspsy woman of the Kalderash clan, have a goal to conquer dignity and citizenship for my people. Only after participating in the IX National Human Rights Conference and the 1st National Conference for Promotion of Racial Equality did I manage to halt the consideration of them as citizens in the shadows and a people without a voice. We approved 29 proposals to improve the quality of life of the gypsy people in Brazil, the most symbolic being the institution of the National Day of the Gypsy. On 24th May, the day of our patron saint, Santa Sara Kali, the gypsies will be commemorated.
Seeing my people portrayed with fidelity, dignity and respect, as has happened in SAVINA, is for me one more reason to continue the fight. And mainly to continue, with much pride, being simply a GYPSY.
Mirian Stanescon Batuli – Gypsy Rrom Kalderash (Gypsy leader in Brazil)
