Info
We explore the plurality of inclusive theatre by bringing together artists and organisations from diverse perspectives: from artists who create with their identity as a starting point as part of the disability arts community, to makers who integrate inclusion into broader artistic practices. The focus is not on disability, but on talent and the ways in which that talent can flourish. How do talent, representation, and ownership relate to one another? And who determines the conditions under which we work?
At Oerol, we are committed to a sustainable movement towards an inclusive arts landscape where people with and without disabilities participate on an equal footing – as makers, staff, and audience members. During this professionals talk on 19 June, we will discuss the position of inclusive theatre in relation to festivals, the mainstream field, and prevailing perspectives.
Together with programmers, we will examine how inclusive theatre relates to mainstream venues and vice versa. What is the added value of makers with disabilities for the mainstream circuit? Should inclusive makers continue to create ‘exclusive’ theatre, or merge with a mainstream sector that is becoming more open? And what does this demand from programming, policy, and the audience?
Morning programme | Exception or essential? (11:30 – 13:00)
The session begins with a look back at last year’s session and the progress made so far. Chloe Lofthus and Florent Develsaver will speak about their performance The Air Between Us, followed by a panel discussion with makers, programmers, educators, and critics from the field, including Jordy Dik, Erik-Ward Geerlings, and others. We conclude with a collective reflection on what shared responsibility means in practice, and which concrete steps are needed to structurally embed inclusion, both at Oerol and within the wider field.
Lunch (13:00 – 13:45)
Afterwards, you are cordially invited to join a communal lunch to continue the conversation. The cost of the lunch is €7.50, which can be paid on the day at the MIWB.
Afternoon programme | Work in progress and discussion (14:30 – 16:30)
In 2025, we launched the Inclusive Theatre project in collaboration with the Bartiméus Fund. Following a selection process, two makers, Toni Kritzer and Dominique Stevens, were invited to a residency in 2026 as part of Werkplaats Oerol. The afternoon programme consists of a visit to the presentations by Dominique and Toni, followed by a post-show discussion.
Tickets and more information about the afternoon programme can be found here.
Please note: To participate in the afternoon programme, you must book tickets for both work-in-progress moments.
Inclusive theatre as a day programme
It is possible to visit for the day. For example, you can travel from Harlingen via the 10:30 fast ferry or the 09:55 regular ferry (please note: the regular ferry arrives slightly after the programme begins). Return journeys are available via the ferry at 17:35 or 20:25. For times and tickets, please visit www.rederij-doeksen.nl.
Good to know: We have reserved a number of tickets for the 10:30 fast ferry on 19 June. If you would like to make use of these, please contact professionals@oerol.nl.
This session is intended for all Oerol Professionals, including specifically those from the field of inclusive theatre. To participate, you require a (free) admission ticket, for which you must be logged in as an Oerol Professional. For access, you will need both your ticket and your Oerol Professionals or “Wij Maken Oerol” festival wristband.
This session will be held mainly in Dutch. We use a bring-your-own-language approach: feel free to speak in English or another language — as long as someone in the room can translate, you are good to go.
Don’t have accreditation yet? Apply for it here. Questions or issues? Email professionals@oerol.nl.
If you have any questions regarding accessibility or specific requirements, please contact us via professionals@oerol.nl and CC toegankelijkheid@oerol.nl.