Workshop “SQUARE PLAY” - Skoplje, 14-19 October 2011

The final workshop “SQUARE PLAY” took place in Skopje (Macedonia). The series of 3 regional workshops aimed to provide creative ideas how to “give life” to the open public spaces as well as valuable input for the guidelines that will act as a reference material to local authorities to undertake concrete actions based on participatory principles for city square transformation. Not less important result from these workshops will be the contribution towards creating a network and “esprit de corp” of young advocates in the three Balkan countries to promote the discourse on how city squares can be transformed into vibrant community places.

Moderator of Skoplje workshop was a director Nataša Poplavska. 40 students from Albania, Montenegro and Macedonia participated (10 from Montenegro).

All activities within the workshop “SQUARE PLAY” were carried out on the plateau – the bridge connecting the new part of the city and the Old Bazaar.

Various daily thematic activities were organised during the workshop:

* First day # See the Place - Feel the Space

Perception of the space – description through words and drawings;

* Second day # Playground

Playground on the plateau – a dynamic space and place of interaction were created to attract the passers-by to stop and spend some time at the square having fun and meeting other people;

* Third day # Living room

Living room on the plateau – all groups worked out their own space (position, offer, comfort) looking for the best possible way to draw attention of the passers-by and make them stay in their living room space. The passers-by also gave their opinions about the flaws and necessities of such space.

* Fourth day # Park

Park on the plateau – each group had the opportunity to organise the space of the plateau as a green zone. Studying the movement and behaviour of the passers-by through their created green matrices, they were testing their concepts and drawing conclusions.

* Fifth day # Market

Creating setting, costumes, reconstructing and directing the Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliette

* Sixth day # Square play

Theatre on the plateau – parallel between the play Romeo and Juliette and the old and new part of the city, their differences and eternal love which must conquer these differences to unite what was already united by love. By performing this play on the plateau, all groups showed their vision and concept of how to develop this drama.