Meet Becky, a community participation officer from a small municipality who is tasked with reengaging the angry citizens of the :Bloemenbuurt” in local democracy.
Armed with cookies and good intentions, she dives into the complex world of citizen participation.
From a disastrous consultation evening to a successful citizens council: true democracy isn’t something that happens overnight. When her project is terminated despite its success, her idealism clashes sharply with the realities of politics and her personal life.
For: policymakers, municipalities, government bodies, participation professionals and every citizen.
Duration: 1 hr including aftertalk
Upon reqeust a workshop or tailored programme can be added after the talk.
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Why Becky is interesting for your organisation
For participation professionals: recognition, acknowledgement, and perspective for action
For professionals working with participation, consultation, and citizen engagement, Becky is very relatable. The passion, the frustration, the feeling of running into walls. The loneliness of working between the system and society. The performance acknowledges these feelings, but doesn’t stop there. The follow-up discussion creates space for reflection: What tools are we missing? What steps can we still take? And how do we keep this work human and persevering?
For policymakers, municipalities, and government bodies: the systemic perspective
Becky zooms out to the larger system. What does democratic renewal truly require? Not a one-time process, but structural engagement. How do you achieve that?
The performance opens the conversation about system change: How do you take the next step in democracy? What does it mean to collaborate with citizens on a structural basis? What can we learn from examples such as a permanent citizens’ council or other forms of ongoing citizen engagement?
For citizens and the public: what does it mean to be a citizen?
Becky demonstrates that citizenship isn’t an abstract concept, but something everyone embodies daily—or perhaps even outsources. The performance invites the audience to realize: I am a citizen. And immediately poses the question: what does this mean? Active citizenship begins with awareness, recognition, and the courage to take a stand. Becku takes that first, necessary step.
For all three groups, we also offer in-depth workshops or tailor-made programs that can take place after the performance and discussion.
Credits
performance: Isil Vos / Oukje den Hollander
composition: Carmen van Mulier
music: Carmen van Mulier / Ishtar Bakhtali
concept en direction: Lucas De Man
text: Frank Siera
songtexts: Oukje den Hollander & Frank Siera
dramaturgie: Gerko Tempelman
production: Charlot van der Meer
technician Joram van Vliet
The Quest
Together with the music theater collective KASSETT, we spent a year researching the state of democracy in general and participatory processes in particular. The time for greater citizen participation seems to have arrived. Countless municipalities and provinces are dedicating themselves with great energy and ideals to restoring contact between politicians and citizens and building a resilient democracy—through public consultation evenings, co-creation sessions, and citizen assemblies, for example. We spoke with participation officials, researchers, organizers of dialogue processes, government bodies, and citizens about their experiences. Together with the Citizens’ Council Bureau, we delved into democracy fitness and, as creatives, became part of the organization of the National Citizens’ Council Climate. Everything to understand: What works? And how does it work? We gained a lot of knowledge, but also encountered the gap between idealistic ambitions and realistic feasibility. What do we want to achieve together, what can we achieve, and above all: what is our own role, as citizens, in this?
Partners
