Words of Power 1-3

April 13 and May 6 and 9, 2015

Adaptations of Political Speeches
Concept: Ágnes Eperjesi

Words of Power is a three-part project, dealing with the impact of political speech. The texts are presented in three venues, symbolizing different levels of power.
I selected the original speeches based on which topics I, as a citizen, feel are urgently missing from political public discourse. I chose speeches by foreign politicians who are currently in power. In the work, the invoked presidents and prime ministers take a stance on four social issues that are considered particularly important in other countries as well:
1. the issue of division within a country;
2. the question of citizens’ autonomy;
3. the consequences of sustainability;
4. and finally the topic of sexism.

The original speeches were adapted according to the requirements of the specific locations.

Words of Power was created as part of the Check Your Head! program of the OFF-Biennále Budapest.

Second location: Hátsó Kapu Theatre

With the help of the inaugural and farewell speeches of Hungary’s prime ministers since the political transition, and with the participation of actors from the K2 Theatre, we revisited the political speech culture of the past 25 years.

“Here in the theatre we can also shape the future. As the performance reaches the present moment, we step into a space of possibilities and alternatives. This field of possibilities is opened by the farewell speech of Viktor Orbán. After that, this evening in the theatre, we may also choose what themes and speeches—and what characters appearing on stage—will guide how we imagine the politics that will frame our lives after 2018. But as is often the case, our choices here come without an expiration date or a warranty certificate. However this karaoke-experiment turns out, the last word—the final speech of this evening—has been sealed by ourselves in an envelope.
As for power politics and speeches of power, we are long past what we usually call ‘the last drop in the glass.’ Tonight we will do nothing else but empty this glass to the very bottom.”

The third location was the space of the public sphere.

In this part, starting from a single speech, we analyzed and explored the nature of the word of power with the help of experts. This discussion took place at Szabadság Square as part of the Eleven Emlékmű conversations.

Further details: http://www.eperjesi.hu/protest/hatalmi-szoval-words-of-power-1-2-3?id=177