Culturefile: The South shall rise again

"I wanted that sense of a Shakespearian theater - with the audience close enough to the stage as to experience everything that happens on it."

By INBAR BERCOVITZ-EFRAIM
Yes, it's elections year. But, even with all the jostling of small town political egos, with one ambitious project after the next being presented, and all the colorful if not questionable statues filling the city like never before - it's hard to not be truly excited about the new Center for Performing Arts in Beersheba. And, the Beersheba Theater and Symphonette now have homes following years of desert homelessness. Back in the seventies, Salo Hershman designed a quarter of Jerusalem's Gilo neighborhood, and was acclaimed as an icon of a new local architecture. In the eighties, he mastered Tel Aviv's Cinematheque building. Now, this small man with a big smile talks proudly about the NIS 140 million CPA Beersheba project as if it was his first. Hershman's instinctive feel for the intrinsic nature of his used materials is apparent all around the building. His use of reflective materials to give the effect of opening space. Perforated terracotta bricks in the colors of the Negev to advanced metals, symbolize development and prosperity. Sky-blue glass, anchored by heavy, square poles set at an angle, make this building a great example of what happens when talent, desire and function meet. "I don't worry about the swinging trends of fashion. That's why I'm addressing the past rather than slavishly mimicking it, or worst, treating it with contempt," Hershman says. Smiling, he goes on, "I wanted that sense of a real Shakespearian theater - with the audience close enough to the stage as to experience everything that happens on it. So, we decided to give the hall a feeling of being built at an angle, as if everything, including the gallery and private balconies, leans forward towards the stage." After eight years of passing the construction site for this building, which stands at a prominent location along the cities main boulevard, its anticipated completion was met with great concern. There was no way to avoid the possibility that it would be yet another white elephant in a city too familiar with failed or stalled projects. To be clear, the resulting structure is very exciting. Avishag Avtobi, municipality CEO and Beersheba old-timer, says the center will host both local and national events. Also, it will open the south to international arts. "We view ourselves as the capital city of the Negev area. This facility puts us there with pride. It will be the face of the vivid cultural life that really happens here and will encourage a positive shift in other areas as well," Avtobi says. Arnon Porat is the former artistic manager of the Holon Mediatheque and now holds the same position at CPA Beersheba. She notes, "the result of this project is a buzzing social sphere that will serve as a counterpoint to opera, dance, classical music, theater and avant-garde art." I can't help but to share their optimism. Afif Adris, CPA Beersheba's technical manager, dazzles me with some of the impressive technical aspects of the building. There is full wheelchair accessibility to all parts of the center. Specially spaced seating is available in different areas of the two halls for impaired patrons who must come with escorts. A hearing aid system is available at all events for the hard of hearing. A supertitles system has been installed for opera and other foreign language events. And, get this, there is a special elevator for latecomers to take them to the balcony where they can enter the hall without interrupting others. The events are already lining up. BaletTango Buenos Aires is scheduled for this month as part of the Dance Tel Aviv Festival. A large cast will perform Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors. Guitarist Baldi Oliyer comes in November. Israel Award winner Mandy Rodan will conduct the Symphonette in January. And, come spring, the Israel Festival will have a new desert home. Finally, here in Beersheba, 600,000 people have a seat and much to look forward to. As for me, I can't wait! For more information about CPA Beersheba call (08) 626-6400.