Deformojmë

Deformojmë, also known as the Albanian Telephone Play, is a form of underground theater and performance art that originated in Albania in the 1980s. It is characterized by its use of social satire and commentary on the government and society, often performed in a low-key and intimate setting.

During the communist era in Albania, the government tightly controlled the media and public expression. In response to this censorship, artists and activists began to create their own form of underground theater, which became known as deformojmë. These performances were often improvised and satirized the official ideology and social norms.

Deformojmë involved a group of people, typically between 10 to 20 individuals, dressed in formal attire, who would receive telephone calls in a mock scenario. The calls were often humorous and irreverent, parodying the official language and behavior of the Albanian government and people. The performances were typically intense and created an atmosphere of tension and unease.

Deformojmë was a means of subverting the official ideology and expressing dissent without being explicit. The artists involved in deformojmë were often motivated by a desire to comment on the social and political conditions of the time. The performances were typically small and private, with 10-20 people in attendance.

Although deformojmë was never officially acknowledged or promoted, it became an important part of Albanian underground art and theatre. Deformojmë continued to exist in some form even after the end of the communist era in Albania. The concept of deformojmë has also influenced other forms of social satire and performance art in the region.