De Balie and ITA present a one-off collage performance directed by Ivo van Hove about the state of democracy in Europe. With a special performance of one of the most famous historians worldwide: Simon Schama.
The artist and the tyrant have been age-old foes. The arts are outlawed in most dictatorships, because dictators know that the artist has the power to win over the public and inspire freedom. Throughout history, artists and writers have fought for truth, freedom, and democracy.
For democratic rule to endure, citizens must believe in its worth. Failure to internalize a culture of democracy can lead to its demise. Misinformation and propaganda fuel distrust, which can in turn breed dictatorships. Therefore, nurturing the arts is vital for a true culture of democracy.
Bringing together political speeches and theatre texts, recent events and historical moments, the performance, featuring ITA’s ensemble and guest speaker Simon Schama, reflects on the European society of today.
Every two years, De Balie and Ivo van Hove create a one-off performance for the Forum on European Culture. The performance Re: Creating Europe (2016) travelled to Manchester International Festival and Théâtre d l’Odéon in Paris.
About Simon Schama
Simon Schama is one of the most famous historians worldwide, a renowned expert on European history, ecology and art history. He published numerous awarded history books such as Landscape and Memory (1995), Rembrandt’s Eyes (1999) and A History of Britain (2000). He also created famous television series such as The Power of Art, The Story of the Jews and most recently The History of Now (2022). With over 40 documentaries on his name, he keeps informing his audience about Europe’s vast history.
Speakers
This programme takes place in Internationaal Theater Amsterdam, Leidesplein Amsterdam.
More Forum on European Culture:
Land of Plenty raises questions about social participation by asking them. A series of interviews as an artistic intervention that scratches where it hurts. Since Europe isn’t built on values, but on economic interests, let’s talk money. Europeans are currently experiencing a crisis of imagination. ‘It has become easier to imagine the end of the
How can the future of Europe be imagined? What are threats to European democracy, and what should we pay attention to? We asked five writers to envision the future of Europe. Whilst looking at the past writers from all over Europe predict the present in a letter on democracy. The first letter will be drafted
‘We’re not just individuals, hungry and mortal, but also representative types, subject to expectations, demands, prohibitions and punishments that vary enormously according to the kind of body we find ourselves inhabiting. Freedom isn’t simply a matter of indulging all material cravings, Sade-style.‘ (From ‘Everybody: A book about freedom’ by Olivia Laing) Ethnic profiling, LGBT-free zones
