厲瑋
賴聲川說(shuō),真正有文藝氣息的城市,每天都能有戲劇。7年前,他走進(jìn)杭州新華電影院,并產(chǎn)生了改造這家劇院的美好念頭。這里一樓的實(shí)驗(yàn)小劇場(chǎng),曾是很多文藝青年聚集的地方。
沒(méi)想到,還是讓孟京輝搶先了一步。杭州蜂巢劇場(chǎng)在今年11月正式開(kāi)幕了。這是他醞釀了多年的一個(gè)戲夢(mèng),繼北京、上海之后開(kāi)辟的第三個(gè)“戲劇陣地”。
燈光在聚攏,觀念在更新,民營(yíng)劇場(chǎng)也在不斷地革自己的命。杭州的戲劇演出量,開(kāi)始慢慢接近這個(gè)城市的文化承載量。
戲劇能幫一座城市修正亞健康狀態(tài)
“戲劇節(jié)的生態(tài),比民營(yíng)劇場(chǎng)更早活躍于這個(gè)城市。杭州要感謝孟京輝,這些年在他的推力下,這座溫婉的城市有了更多犀利的藝術(shù)切片,讓杭州人對(duì)戲劇現(xiàn)場(chǎng)越來(lái)越熟悉?!?/p>
戲劇制作人李懷珠說(shuō)的,是孟京輝發(fā)起并擔(dān)任藝術(shù)總監(jiān)的杭州國(guó)際戲劇節(jié),至今已是第五個(gè)年頭了。從第一屆的“美麗的戲劇,美麗的城市”,到去年的“遇見(jiàn)戲劇,遇見(jiàn)不一樣的你”,再到今年的“杭州當(dāng)代戲劇節(jié)”,戲劇用它獨(dú)特的魅力感染了這座城市,并一點(diǎn)點(diǎn)融入杭州人的生活。
戲劇制作人袁鴻曾經(jīng)也是其中的參與者,他發(fā)起的愛(ài)丁堡前沿劇展作為杭州國(guó)際戲劇節(jié)的組成單元,年年都登臺(tái)亮相。2012年,第一屆愛(ài)丁堡前沿劇展最初選擇了三個(gè)城市:北京、上海和杭州。袁鴻的理由是,杭州和北京的文化背景不一樣,而比起上海,又更有讓戲劇發(fā)酵、生長(zhǎng)的可能性?!安贿^(guò),在西溪天堂藝術(shù)中心誕生之前,我們一直在打游擊,哪個(gè)劇場(chǎng)有空檔期,我們就見(jiàn)縫插針。現(xiàn)在,終于安家落戶了,在杭州變成了西溪國(guó)際藝術(shù)節(jié)?!?/p>
一年之中,有幾個(gè)藝術(shù)節(jié)袁鴻是必去的,他比誰(shuí)都明白,一個(gè)戲劇節(jié)的能量是巨大的。“英國(guó)的愛(ài)丁堡、法國(guó)的阿維尼翁、澳大利亞的阿德萊德,現(xiàn)在還有中國(guó)的烏鎮(zhèn),這些地方都因?yàn)閼騽《鵁òl(fā)新生。甚至可以說(shuō),戲劇節(jié)能幫助一座城市來(lái)修正眼下超負(fù)荷的亞健康狀態(tài)。”
現(xiàn)在袁鴻選戲的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)是,首先要剔除掉劇場(chǎng)條件不允許、成本無(wú)法承受的,剩下的還要考慮中國(guó)人的文化背景和審美取向,然后在舞臺(tái)形式上做到超前、藝術(shù)探索上力道深厚的。
“這幾年,杭州國(guó)際戲劇節(jié)的上座率都能保持在七成左右,我們西溪國(guó)際藝術(shù)節(jié)的上座率也基本相當(dāng),去年的經(jīng)典默劇《安德魯與多莉尼》,最火的一場(chǎng)達(dá)到了九成。為了讓杭州人慢慢把看戲變成一種生活常態(tài),我們目前在非周末也會(huì)安排適量的演出?!?/p>
袁鴻還發(fā)現(xiàn),杭州人的戲劇審美水平在提高?!敖衲甑奈飨獓?guó)際藝術(shù)節(jié),我們引進(jìn)了16個(gè)斬獲國(guó)際大獎(jiǎng)的頂級(jí)劇目,其中有不少更具觀賞價(jià)值的高級(jí)別作品,比如英國(guó)AD無(wú)限劇團(tuán)的《光》,英國(guó)先鋒戲劇大師蒂姆·克勞奇的《我,馬瓦里奧》,還有巴西阿默克劇團(tuán)的《薩琳娜·最后的脊梁》?!?/p>
小劇場(chǎng)要在杭州爆發(fā)出一股顛覆性力量
李懷珠說(shuō):“在木馬劇場(chǎng)出現(xiàn)之前,杭州一直沒(méi)有嚴(yán)格意義上的民營(yíng)劇場(chǎng)。國(guó)營(yíng)大劇場(chǎng)有一種曲高和寡的姿態(tài),如果是小劇場(chǎng)演出,都在當(dāng)時(shí)武林女裝街上的省群藝館?!?/p>
2013年10月26日,發(fā)端于北京的木馬劇場(chǎng)在西湖文化廣場(chǎng)開(kāi)幕,宣告正式落戶杭州。100平方米的360度無(wú)障礙舞臺(tái),258個(gè)觀眾座椅,是一個(gè)典型的黑匣子形式小劇場(chǎng)。雖然木馬在運(yùn)營(yíng)之初不被業(yè)內(nèi)看好,但沒(méi)想到,它的首場(chǎng)話劇演出《北京的腔調(diào)》非?;鸨?,兩輪4場(chǎng)賣出了將近1000張門票。半個(gè)月后演出《非常懸疑》,三場(chǎng)全部爆滿。
“以劇場(chǎng)為據(jù)點(diǎn),音樂(lè)、戲劇、表演秀、工作坊等一切藝術(shù)都可能在這里對(duì)接、聚散?!蹦抉R主理人方依蘭介紹,“現(xiàn)在,我們已經(jīng)有1500多位會(huì)員,幾乎每種類型都已經(jīng)累積了一定的觀眾群體。湖南的沒(méi)想好戲劇工坊和中央人民廣播電臺(tái)主播楊晨,現(xiàn)在每年都會(huì)來(lái)木馬演出。甚至,我們還嘗試過(guò)讓一個(gè)戲連續(xù)演出兩個(gè)月,同樣反響熱烈?!?/p>
2015年,西溪天堂藝術(shù)中心的出現(xiàn)燒起了杭州非國(guó)營(yíng)劇場(chǎng)的第二把火?!皽?zhǔn)確來(lái)說(shuō),我們是企業(yè)自主運(yùn)營(yíng)的小劇場(chǎng),需要自負(fù)盈虧。”董怡林是西溪天堂藝術(shù)中心的運(yùn)營(yíng)負(fù)責(zé)人,她從沒(méi)想過(guò)有一天自己能運(yùn)營(yíng)一個(gè)劇場(chǎng)?!爱?dāng)心底一個(gè)從未消失的念想被再次撩撥,誰(shuí)都愿意赴湯蹈火。我一直認(rèn)為,舞臺(tái)具有狂熱的破壞性去解構(gòu)和改變一座城市。”
從10月到年底,短短三個(gè)月董怡林就帶著團(tuán)隊(duì)交出了一張讓人意外的成績(jī)單。包含西溪國(guó)際藝術(shù)節(jié)在內(nèi),西溪天堂藝術(shù)中心總共舉辦了近30場(chǎng)活動(dòng)。僅藝術(shù)節(jié)期間,就有6000多名觀眾購(gòu)票進(jìn)場(chǎng)觀看演出,票房累計(jì)近100萬(wàn)元。加上其他免費(fèi)戶外演出和其他互動(dòng)活動(dòng),直接參與藝術(shù)節(jié)活動(dòng)的觀眾近2萬(wàn)人次,影響人群約20萬(wàn)。
“獨(dú)立選戲的策展模式,是我們的核心競(jìng)爭(zhēng)力,一定會(huì)小心地維護(hù)下去?!苯衲晡飨焯盟囆g(shù)中心的火更旺了,超過(guò)100場(chǎng)的演出正席卷而來(lái)。眼下,董怡林把這個(gè)劇場(chǎng)的經(jīng)營(yíng)范圍定位為現(xiàn)場(chǎng)表演藝術(shù),涵蓋舞蹈、音樂(lè)、戲劇、民謠,要打造成一個(gè)多媒體藝術(shù)空間,所以,甚至連平行影像周、綠城新帥上任發(fā)布會(huì)、自媒體食話的線下分享會(huì),都被她搬到了西溪天堂藝術(shù)中心的舞臺(tái)上。
在平庸的生活里,人們仰望戲劇。但是,一群人,一座城,與一個(gè)劇場(chǎng)的相逢,是可遇不可求的。如今有了木馬、西溪、蜂巢,以及越來(lái)越多的入局者,在北京、上海已經(jīng)被談?wù)摿瞬恢故甑拿駹I(yíng)小劇場(chǎng)文化,真的就要在杭州爆發(fā)出一股顛覆性力量。
請(qǐng)別把戲劇變成一門賺錢的生意
翻開(kāi)北京民營(yíng)劇場(chǎng)的生存簡(jiǎn)史,會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)這些理想主義者們一腳踩在云端,一腳卻深陷泥潭。而在現(xiàn)實(shí)中,杭州民營(yíng)劇場(chǎng)經(jīng)營(yíng)者也不例外。
最近,董怡林有一個(gè)壓在心頭的苦惱?!安簧儆^眾反應(yīng),今年西溪天堂藝術(shù)中心的演出門票價(jià)格上漲了不少,并且提出了質(zhì)疑?!?/p>
董怡林不否認(rèn),調(diào)價(jià)是事實(shí),一場(chǎng)西溪國(guó)際藝術(shù)節(jié)演出的票價(jià)調(diào)整到了180元至480元,最高檔880元是提供給年卡會(huì)員的?!暗怯^眾的立場(chǎng)往往是,好戲看在眼里,認(rèn)為劇場(chǎng)就應(yīng)該是一個(gè)論藝不談商的地方?!倍鴼埧岬默F(xiàn)狀是,木馬劇場(chǎng)和西溪天堂藝術(shù)中心所依托的地產(chǎn)不是國(guó)有資產(chǎn),理想的背后需要真金白銀的支撐。
“在民營(yíng)劇場(chǎng)的生存困局中,我最有發(fā)言權(quán)?!痹櫴菄?guó)內(nèi)民間劇場(chǎng)經(jīng)營(yíng)第一人。當(dāng)年,他在北京為了北兵馬司劇場(chǎng)差點(diǎn)搭進(jìn)半條命?!暗搅?003年最艱難的一年。根本沒(méi)有逢年過(guò)節(jié)的概念,經(jīng)常只有我一個(gè)人守著小劇場(chǎng)。那年冬天,我請(qǐng)贊助商吃飯,結(jié)完賬,身上只剩8塊錢,打面的的錢都不夠。走回北劇場(chǎng),我的鞋底都脫落了。其實(shí),在北劇場(chǎng)結(jié)束之后,我甚至有一種輕松的感覺(jué),就像牛虻給瓊瑪寫的告別信,說(shuō)他要上刑場(chǎng)了,很像一個(gè)小學(xué)生背著書(shū)包要放學(xué)了的心理?!?/p>
“開(kāi)辟一個(gè)劇場(chǎng)并不難,但想要守住它很辛苦?!泵耖g力量經(jīng)營(yíng)劇場(chǎng)似乎很難避免悲情。2014年初,沉重的資金壓力壓倒了一匹桀驁的木馬,黯然告別北京市場(chǎng),而如今轉(zhuǎn)戰(zhàn)杭州的木馬劇場(chǎng)堅(jiān)守也同樣不易?!艾F(xiàn)在木馬的演出……做到如此平價(jià),就是為了讓更多的人能慢慢培養(yǎng)起付費(fèi)看戲的習(xí)慣?!?/p>
西溪天堂藝術(shù)中心一直以來(lái)都把握一個(gè)原則——堅(jiān)持賣票不贈(zèng)票,熟人和媒體概不例外。關(guān)于這一點(diǎn),業(yè)內(nèi)也是議論紛紛。董怡林認(rèn)為,賣票是對(duì)藝術(shù)家的基本尊重,看戲本來(lái)就是認(rèn)可藝術(shù)價(jià)值而產(chǎn)生付費(fèi)的行為,沒(méi)有免費(fèi)的道理。
如今在北京,不少民營(yíng)劇場(chǎng)在夾縫之中找到了一些生存的“錦囊妙計(jì)”。繁星戲劇村每年70%的演出都是自制劇,成本可控,利潤(rùn)全收,現(xiàn)在70%的劇目還都有品牌植入。蓬蒿劇場(chǎng)白天沒(méi)有演出,東城區(qū)文委就將這里作為社區(qū)居民文化活動(dòng)室,為周圍社區(qū)居民提供服務(wù),每年支付蓬蒿劇場(chǎng)租金41.5萬(wàn)元,很大程度上緩解了蓬蒿的房租壓力。
“但是,過(guò)分強(qiáng)化市場(chǎng)引導(dǎo),會(huì)失去戲劇藝術(shù)精神?!边@是董怡林一再?gòu)?qiáng)調(diào)的觀點(diǎn),“戲劇可以是一個(gè)不錯(cuò)的產(chǎn)業(yè),但請(qǐng)別把它變成一門賺錢的生意?!?/p>
“劇場(chǎng)和咖啡館、博物館一樣,已經(jīng)成為一個(gè)新的精神社交空間。我相信,燈光在頭頂,路在遠(yuǎn)方。”董怡林希望看到的是大家對(duì)劇場(chǎng)的激情和幻想,能為杭州戲劇撐起一個(gè)豐滿的穹頂。而一切更新鮮、更好玩的藝術(shù)形式,在我們的身邊都將變得觸手可及。
(本文照片由作者提供)
Stan Lai, a theater director from Taiwan, holds that a city of culture makes theatergoers happy by staging plays every day. Seven years ago he visited Xinhua Movie Theater in Hangzhou and found himself liking the experimental theater on the ground floor. The theater used to attract the young drama enthusiasts a lot. He toyed with the idea about remodeling the venue and set up a theater for various drama events. However, he wasnt fast enough. Meng Jinhui, a pioneering theater director, set up Beehive Theater in Hangzhou in November 2016. This is the third theater he has set up in the country. The first and the second are in Beijing and Shanghai respectively.
The theater Meng set up in Hangzhou is part of the citys emerging private theater sector. In the past five years, Hangzhou has hosted an annual international theater festival. Meng Jinghui initiated the festival and has acted as its art director. The festival has spawned private theaters across the city and nowadays there are other theater events in Hangzhou.
In Shanghai and Beijing, small theaters have been going on for the last ten years or so. In Hangzhou, it is a brand new phenomenon. Theater performances now flourish across the city.
The first success in the citys private theater sector was made by Trojan Horse Theater at the West Lake Culture Square in downtown in 2013. It is a typical black box theater with a 100-m2 space in the center as the stage and audience members sit around the floor that serves as the stage. Many industrial insiders were suspicious about the future of the 258-seat theater. The misgivings were soon gone. , the first play ever staged there, sold nearly 1,000 tickets for four performances. , the second play in a month, was a blockbuster. At present Trojan Horse Theater has more than 1,500 locals as members of a theatergoer club and different genres attract different theatergoers. The theater has run a show for two consecutive months and it was a success.
The second success is West Streams Paradise Art Center. A private business, the center opened to business in 2015. It hosted Edinburg Frontier Drama Exhibition for the first time which came to the city in 2012. Back then, the exhibition did not have a good place to stage all the shows. Making a show schedule and finding all the venues was a big challenge for organizers. Now the center is home to the exhibition.
Last year, the Paradise Art Center staged nearly 30 events and attracted 6,000 paying theatergoers. The box-office reached nearly 1 million and nearly 200,000 were involved in the events held there. As of the last year, the exhibition will be regularly held at the art center as part of West Stream International Art Festival which was started in 2015. The festival this year will be more flourishing as over 100 performances are set to be staged.
The private theater sector in Hangzhou has a long way to go. First of all, there are difficulties to conquer for survival. Yuan Hong who started Trojan Horse Theater in Hangzhou knows what he has experienced. His theater project operated for a while in Beijing and then the theater crashed. He was no longer able to afford the expenses. So he closed the shop in Beijing and moved to Hangzhou. It was him who brought Edinburg Frontier Drama Exhibition to Hangzhou. Some theater directors agree that one way to survive is never give away tickets. They insist that all theatergoers must buy tickets. This is the very big battle the private theater sector fights and wants to win.
In Beijing, some private theaters survive by producing plays themselves. That way, they can bring costs down and expenses are controllable. And they can sell space for commercials. One private theater in Beijing rents the space out to the local community for daily activities of local residents. The theater gets paid for the daily uses of the space and the payment eases its financial burden.