Playing improvisational theater is giving and receiving
We resolutely choose improvisational theater at TIM Theater because for us it is a strong way to make the theme as relevant to the audience as possible. Because of the interactivity, each performance is different even though it deals with the same theme and we use the same scene set-ups. We zoom in on the meanings and interests the audience gives to the theme through our questions. And that can vary considerably depending on age, context, region,...
Conversely, we often learn new things that we take back to subsequent performances, so a TIM performance only continues to grow.
In this sense, interactivity runs both ways.
Our TIMs are mainly played on demand, and so is usually for a closed or defined audience: at a study day, in a company,... Also, we are often a part of a larger program.
Thematic improvisational theater for everyone
So this season, we decided to occasionally host our own TIM performance for open audiences, so that anyone can come and see a TIM.
For our performances on Dementia and Warm Care by the way, there is a major collaboration in the pipeline with a healthcare organization, which will mean that those two performances will be set up regularly for open audiences in the future!
Learning together about poverty
A few weeks ago we played arMoed at the Wagehuys in Leuven. We realized even more then how valuable it is to set up our TIMs in separate open programs. After all, every spectator chose freely to come and watch. Nothing else is programmed either, so it's not something that comes with it. And even though we usually experience a great deal of audience involvement in TIMs, that evening was invaluable.
You can here read what was put forward from public in relation to thresholds in leisure activities for people in (opportunity) poverty, and how to lower them.
We left the scene with all kinds of feelings about spectators:
- deep admiration for the passion about and fight against poverty in one's own work
- inspired by the incredibly fine suggestions
- cheerful and hopeful about possibilities we explored together
- grateful for the things we learned
Did you know...
There are more than 50 places in the world where there is a poverty stone? And that at 5:17 p.m. every 17th of the month, people gather there to draw attention to poverty? There are two in Belgium, one in Leuven and one in Ghent. (All going there so soon.)
In addition to giveaway cabinets, there are also giveaway fridges?
There is a wonderful fight song against (opportunity) poverty?
To every spectator on that evening of Oct. 5, 2019 in Leuven: thank you very much Because of Daisy, Suzanne, Leen, Marc and Nathalie!
>> recently played arMoed in Ninove and there we heard Jos Gheysels speak. Read here His flaming pamphlet!
>> The City of Peer is also hosting an open performance arMoed on Oct. 18! All info here.
>> On December 14, we play to other TIM at the Wagehuys: 22 Questions - then together we will explore environment and climate and our conversations about it