Let's Talk!
Discussion format with artists, experts and Basel Theatre Festival audiences

«Let’s Talk!» is a discussion format that takes the diversity of the theatre festival into account. In interaction with artists, local and international experts and audiences, «Let’s Talk!», under the direction of the cultural scientist Rahel Leupin, debates the social, political and economic aspects of the productions on show. Across four discussion panels, «Let’s Talk!» picks up on important festival themes.

Talk I_Silent and loud forms of resistance on and beyond the stage
Resistance to social inequality or authoritarian states has many faces. One of them is artivism - the combination of art and social action in a public space. Artivism is often mentioned in the same breath as the great revolts and occupations of recent years. The idea behind artistic action is that culture gives minorities a voice and can thus promote social change. Besides large and spectacular public settings, artivism also takes place as an individual or collective revolt on stages and within communities. The question is: Can theatre and dance bring about social change?

In «Let’s Talk!», the Brazilian choreographer Lia Rodrigues, who helped develop the Centro de Artes da Maré in one of Rio’s largest favelas, and the Syrian choreographer Mithkal Alzghair discuss their experiences with art as a social practice and the artist’s body as a form of resistance. In English language.


Talk II_Cultural participation in the theatre: Future or illusion?
Demands for a more inclusive society and more diversity in existing institutions reflect the fact that too many people worldwide are still excluded on the basis of their gender, background or appearance. What are the chances of community, cooperation and inclusion in a world of global inequality and exclusion? Cultural participation assumes that people learn to understand themselves and their experiences better by participating in cultural events. Can theatre create a welcoming environment in which people can meet each other in a self-determined way on a level playing field? Or does theatre merely reproduce power structures and inequalities?

In «Let’s Talk!», the directors Kristina Norman, Marion Siéfert and Helgard Haug discuss inclusion and self-empowerment in the theatre. In English language.

Talk III_From western cultural identity to global co-production
European colonial powers viewed their own culture as the primary one and the universal standard from which other societies deviated. Today, local knowledge and traditions are more respected and celebrated. But if you look at the cultural programmes and repertoires of many countries of the Global South and East, it is striking that they are still dominated by the western cultural canon. In times of cultural exchange and cultural globalisation, there are, nevertheless, still many important questions that need answering: Which cultural references and traditions are decisive in a diverse society without a common history? If the representation of a primary culture is no longer the main goal, what might the co-production of a new cultural repertoire look like?

In «Let’s Talk!», the South-Korean director Jaha Koo and the Swiss-Chinese choreographer Rebecca Weingartner discuss cultural traditions, appropriation and assumed authenticity in global cultural exchange. In English language.

Talk IV_Fakes and facts in theatre and politics
The original form of storytelling is based on the age-old fascination humans have for real and true tales, fully authenticated by living witnesses who reveal all. Fake news and deepfakes play with this primal human enthusiasm. Today, there is the possibility of every public political statement being fake. Documentary theatre also lives from the fact that the audience believes that everything is exactly as it looks. But when so-called experts of everyday life (amateur actors with a certain level of expertise) present their own stories on stage, the real and the invented fade into unreliable statements. Fakes and facts in theatre and on the political stage have never been as malleable as they are today. Facts have become assertions

In «Let’s Talk!», the Argentinian director Lola Arias, who has developed her own documentary theatre language, and Swiss politician Sibel Arslan discuss what reality actually is when fiction is sufficient. In English and German language.