(ANS – Bratislava) – Thanks to the enthusiasm of some Salesians, there are moments in our oratories, when children and youth get on the “big stage”. In the Salesian youth centers two or more plays are rehearsed every year.

One of the Salesians enthusiastic about theatre is Fr Róbert Flamík from a community in Partizánske. Together with young people from ther local pastoral center, he stared in a piece called “Stačí otvoriť dlaň” (“It´s Enough to Open Your Palm”) in 2010. “Then we decided to try another one. – says Fr Flamík – It was a journey of seeking, meeting with a drama club – nine young people and us, Salesians. Together we created a play from our own production “Legenda o dobre” (“Legend about Good”), the work of Veronika Ďurčeková, animator of the oratory.

“Legend about Good” was at first performed in front of the elementary school pupils from Partizánske and then in front of the public. “We hope we will leave behind a little bit of good, because one can never know how much a simple theatre piece can influence the lives of others,” said one of the actors. By the end of April 2011 “Legend about Good” had been seen by more than seven hundred children from different schools in Topolčany.

Another drama piece originated in Humenné. Fr Maroš Husár SDB managed to rehearse together with 25 young actors, mostly boys a play “Malý kominár” (“The Little Chimney Sweeper”). It premiered in Humenné on May 2011, followed by few repeats, mainly for pupils of local elementary and secondary schools.

The story about a boy´s soul is revealed through two characters, one set in Turin in the 19th century and the other in present Slovakia. The little chimney sweeper is a poor beggar Giovanni and the modern boy in the present is Erik who loves to draw. Among the co-helpers were for example the director of Drama of The State Theatre in Košice Jozef Úradník, dramaturge Božena Čahojová from Bratislava and the director of Dance Theatre Pavol Danko. Musical accompaniment was performed by Ľubica Čekovská. Costumes were designed and sewed by mothers of the actors.

In the last 20 years of freedom of action for the Salesians in Slovakia, almost every year there have been several brand new plays and many drama teams have participated in the festival in Močenok. However, Salesian theatres offer something more. Their priceless benefit is the dimension of education hidden in the effort of Salesians and young people while creating, preparing and performing these plays, always with joy, humour, thinking about real life and values through which the theatre touches the conscience and stealthily brings youth up. This is the Gospel in Salesian style.

Published 03/05/2012