Last Friday and Saturday's performance of "Rosa Cuchillo," a monologue based on the experiences of Peruvian political violence victims, was recited in Spanish. But not understanding the language didn't prevent one observer from being moved by the performance."Even though I don't speak any Spanish, I felt that the message of the performance was powerful enough to transcend any language barrier," Sarah Ye '11 said.

The monologue was one of a series of problem-solving workshops and performances in "Acting Together on the World Stage: Setting the Scene for Peace" from Thursday, Oct. 4 through Monday, a program that intended to foster a creative approach to dealing with global issues such as war, poverty and culture clashes. The events were open to Brandeis students and faculty as well as members of the Waltham community.

The seminars and workshops were led by various theater artists, peace-building scholars and practitioners. They utilized the art of theater as well as storytelling to examine different solutions to international conflicts. Sponsors included Brandeis organizations such as the Alan B. Slifka Program in Intercommunal Coexistence and Coexistence International, as well as off-campus groups such as Theater Without Borders and Stage Source, the Theater Alliance for Greater Boston.

Friday and Saturday's productions of "Rosa Cuchillo," performed by artist Ana Correa, were spoken in Spanish to be accessible for the Spanish-speaking population of Waltham. An English translation was also available to the audience.

The monologue was followed by a slideshow that documented measures taken by the Peruvian population and the progress made by the Peru Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a group focusing on militaristic and rebellious acts of violence during the 1980s and '90s. The performance came after a day of workshops focusing on the importance of creative and communal approaches to peace.

"Together we can free ourselves," said Prof. Mark Auslander (ANTH), who was involved in the organization and production of a workshop that took place Saturday afternoon.

One goal of the five-day program was to allow participants to relate to various issues and experiences through the medium of theatrical experience.

"Theater happens wherever you create it," Correa said.

"Theater unpacks academic concepts," said Charles Mulekwa, a speaker involved in the program. "It's all about the packaging of reality."

Mulekwa spoke in a seminar attended by students and faculty at Brandeis that dealt with the war-torn regions of Africa. The seminar used reading materials from various University Seminars to discuss the violence and tension in Africa. A playwright from Uganda, Mulekwa draws on personal experiences to educate others on the effects and consequences of war and postcolonial reconstruction.

"It's a forum in which I can contribute and also learn," Mulekwa said. "I'm learning the . world's interests in my part of the world." The idea of cultural exchange between audience and speakers was a popular theme throughout the event.

Correa said the Acting Together program was designed and organized to benefit all participants, including speakers, performers and audience members from both within and outside the Brandeis community.

"This university has given back to the . community of Waltham a truly enriching experience," she said.

For more coverage of these events see article on p. 20.