The Agonistic Conversation

Sharing time, space and words

With Building Conversation, the Dutch theatre maker Lotte van den Berg and the visual artist Daan ’t Sas build a space in which perspectives can be exchanged. They show and run through the conflicts in our society, without smoothing them over or over-radicalising them. Inspired by conversational techniques from a number of different cultures, they raise up the discussion to the status of an artwork. Starting from their fascination for encounters, they build up a repertoire of possibilities for sharing time, space and words.

The Agonistic Conversation

How do you facilitate a good discussion between opponents? The Agonistic Conversation was developed as a reaction to the philosopher Chantal Mouffe. She speaks about the importance of conflict in the political arena, and the way in which the Maori deal with conflict within their own community.

• Lotte van den Berg uses theatre to render relationships between people visible. Rather than being something that one simply views from a distance, her work emphasises life as an activity. Kaaitheater has previously programmed performances of Pleinvrees (Het Theaterfestival 2013), Cold Turkey (2010) and Braakland (2008).