Powers of Speech – political speech as performance

Powers of Speech

Whether prepared in advanced or improvised on the spot, a speech is always given in a context of the “here and now” which is similar to that of the theatre where an audience listens while an argument or point of view is developed. In every age, country, culture and societal system, speeches have been one of the most significant driving forces in the political functioning of states and communities. In a performance series initiated by the Kaaitheater in Brussels and the Siemens Stiftung, four international theater makers have created works exploring the formal and substantive forces behind the speech that in extremes can lead to war or peace, to “good” or to “evil”.

The performances at PACT Zollverein are made possible by the support of the Ministry for Families, Children, Youth, Culture and Sports of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.