On 4 September, during the Dutch Theatre Festival, the Open Call Inclusive Theatre was presented by artistic director Sabine Pater:
‘The word Oerol literally means “everywhere,” but we also want it to mean “for everyone.” We want to be an inclusive, polyphonic festival, where people with disabilities can participate on an equal footing, independently and fully, as audience members, behind the scenes, and on stage.
This year Oerol and the Bartiméus Fonds started a three year collaboration to realize a site-specific theatre performance created by theatre makers with and without disabilities.’
‘We are open to all disciplines and all kinds of audience experiences. What is essential is that the project is led by a maker with a disability; they must carry the artistic leadership. This way of working also aligns with what Oerol stands for in general: the more diverse makers are involved in Oerol, the more people are invited and challenged to empathize with others, and the more underrepresented stories and perspectives gain a broader reach. Curiosity leads to understanding, and that leads to greater impact.’
The jury, consisting of Malou Gorter, Erik-Ward Geerlings, Ayşegül Karaca, Alicia Hoost, and Sabine Pater, will announce the results on Thursday, 27 November.
