We recently connected with Buba Basishvili and have shared our conversation below.

Buba , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?

Even if I make interesting work for most people I am not given similar opportunities to grow and to achieve my goals. The shows I made has very positive reviews and interest is growing from the audience to attend future shows. But it is extremely hard for me to find similar support as locals do.

I have plans to work on the method for the expression on stage to combine movement, sound/voice and metaphors to tell stories. I want to have my friends teaching the amazing craft they have which is “not mainstream” in a theatre world. And I want to have several groups of the artist working on different projects like touring or local shows, like, workshops for the communities and professionals. I also like to work on events as a side gig. There’s a lot I can accomplish if I’d given opportunities. I know I can create a cultural place for hang out and initiate/provoke social conversations in our community. I just need support. This year we had tree original shows. First was our own “inbox” – silent comedy about the climate change. Second was a collaboration with Emancipation theatre -The Ballad of Bobby Trombone and Zotto – Japanese American Folktale. All of the shows are original and had an amazing attendance from the general public. Next is – “The Nostalgia Disease” A story about the nostalgia, disease and political propaganda in USA

We as theatre company went to talk to some foundations but most of them saying that the minorities have a priority at this point. That is wonderful! I love to hear that system is turning around to help minorities but then I say, you know I’m from little country in the middle of Europe and Asia. Feels like somehow they are not convinced that I can be classified as one. Maybe because I have a white skin, maybe because I have wrong accent while talking, maybe I have a wrong appearance I don’t know what is in their heads. But i’m not getting similar support as the others. If we have gotten any support is a half of the budget what we are asking and the other half we need to come up to pay artists involved. We never pay ourselves. There is never enough to feed your soul! You just constantly need to fully sacrifice yourself to be able to create meaningful art. The only payback you get is an applause’s but no money!

Our theater work with the different community groups and diversity of the people we cast, speaks for itself lookout up at theartibus.com . The idea of the making new theatre is to make “theatre of the place” with the people live in. No exclusions. We have taken local stories and created performative plays with the people who owns the story or with their permission and casted it accordingly. It always has a deep impact to the owners of the stories and the community.

Anyway I feel like I don’t want to brag about things but then there is a reality where very valuable time is waisted instead of making whatever I know will make a good impact into our community and individuals live in. Intentions, knowledge, risk, ideas are there to make professional and bohemian art. Let’s see how long it last until I will just get tired of being mischaracterized and get a job in a local dinner place as a napkin folderer.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I was born in a city called Tbilisi Georgia which is 1600 yrs old approximately. It’s a beautiful and magical place in a middle of caucasian mountains, black and Caspian Sea. With the history starting 8000 BC. We are agricultural country with wine and lots of the goods growing. It’s an awesome place to visit. Growing up I went to a school on my neighborhood. Bulling and fighting was normal thing at that time so I wasn’t very motivated to go to school. Then accidentally in about 7th grade I discovered a theatre after school thin which has changed my life. I went on stage for a monologue during one of the competitions with the other school and somehow it made people laugh really hard. It got me confused but interested to why people were laughing especially because my intentions were not make them laugh but deliver a monologue. It just poisoned my mind and I followed it.

The journey was insanely hard especially because of fall of the communism caused major changes 30 years ago and then civil war, and russian occupation several times. Economic struggle always was there. I was drinking and smoking from very young age. Lots of the stress was coming from the orthodox society who has struggles for changes. Lots of people I know has died through out my life. At some point death is became a normal thing and when I have noticed that I wasn’t moved by the loss any more, I have decided to leave the country. I have left behind a big family, friends and very dear people around me.

I was making my own projects when one of my very dear friend found some money with the government for study abroad. We worked out our plan well and It worked. After so many years here am I doing my own theatre, teaching movement, masks, clown and giving passion/answers to the people who has similar questions I had growing up. And I still have the passion to learn and grow!

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Nothing special, really! When people know that there is a place where they can show up and see something meaningful. engage in a fun conversation, watch artists growing and have a fun with being together with the similar focused people, they will show up. They will do things to help the place grow and to be accessible. We just need support to start a place honesty.

People love to follow passionate artistic projects and witness details themself. I think if the infrastructure around the process supports an access for those who wants to learn and be engaged, it will help artists cultivate the meaningful community around. Spread the word, bring people and donate please.

There is some info on out theatre website theartibus.com to learn and there is little button for the donations too if you think you want to be a participant in our process.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Most rewarding is that I have learned about Denver’s history so much from the residents perspectives. From the families who shared their history and personal stories. It is so eye opening to know things firsthand from the people who experience identity inequality or racial trauma, immigration or economic struggle or personal stories of the achievements. To be able to listen is a big thing. Id probably hate to be locked in my bubble like an ostrich with its head in a ground.

Contact Info:

• Website: theartibus.com
• Instagram: theartibus
• Facebook: Theatre Artibus

Image Credits
Personal and first photo by Michael Ensminger Second standing on a table: Adams VisCom Third by me Court and fifth: Anthony Arnista An angel by Janessa Johnsrude