"In a surprising way, we generate dialogue in large groups."
That phrase has been on the home page of our website for years. With our newest addition, 22 questions, we wanted to take this to the next level and we succeeded quite well.
In this performance about the environment and sustainability, we combine debate in which everyone can participate, with improvisational theater.
Read below how that went down at the premiere. In italics, you'll find that in the wording of attendees.
That thematic improvisation, is that funny too?
I didn't know what to expect but I got everything more than expected. More humor. I was afraid somewhere that it would be too serious, but it wasn't at all.
It's not that we ourselves find it particularly funny that the earth is warming at breakneck speed. However, as in all our performances, we focus on how people "get along." For example, when they need to give feedback, or if a family member is affected by the dementia process goes, or if an organization turned upside down becomes, or in this case when they have to think and make decisions together about how to proceed with ecology. Then all sorts of petty aspects come into focus, and to be able to look at them, it helps not to take ourselves too seriously. Humor is also a strong medicine against despair and despondency, and can help focus on the positive and on solutions.
Experiential Learning
I wanted to know more about the different points of view, the pros and cons to different statements, in order to refine my opinion. And I succeeded.
All kinds of terms are used when one wants to indicate that theater is used as a means to learn something: educational theater, infotainment, edutainment,... But that sounds as if nothing can be learned from "ordinary theater." We like to assume that there is always and everywhere something to learn as long as there is engagement. We are not in the habit of providing a lesson folder that tells you what to take out afterwards. We also believe that interaction increases engagement and are always looking for how to provide an instant learning experience. One that can work through on its own, like any strong experience.
The time flew by! It was very interesting and I was totally "in the moment."
At 22 Questions, the interaction is in all the moments of debate that the attendees can have with each other in various forms, as well as, of course, habitually in the way the players base the improvisational theater entirely on what they hear and sense from the audience.
The conversation forms are primarily methodologies from Deep Democracy, a conversational framework that focuses on allowing all voices to be heard.
Tapping into the wisdom of the collective
Very dynamic for the audience, and yet you can stay in your comfort zone if you want.
With TIM Theater, we never set ourselves up as the ultimate expert on a particular topic. Our concepts are designed using in-house or outside expertise, but are primarily envisioned to be receptive to knowledge and experience from the audience. We like to entice audience members to share their own wisdom as much as possible, even if it is sometimes exciting. This performance starts from 22 propositions, leading immediately to the sharing of perspectives.
You are somewhat forced, but in a relaxed way, to think and express your point of view.
A tight plan
The whole thing was tightly supervised, which was necessary. There was an ideal alternation of scenes and moments of conversation in the audience.
It is not because the scenes consist of improvisational theater that such a performance is an improvised gathering. It is just within a sharply defined framework that space is created for the improvised, the unforeseen, the surprising, the new.
Now for a tighter overall plan for gaia!
>> Would you like to contribute to this and boost the conversation about sustainability in your own association or organization with the performance 22 questions? Contact us!
