"The Netherlands is the most American country in Europe" said journalist and entrepreneur Sander Schimmelpennick in 2022. We love Friends, New Girl, NCIS and also eat in Eindhoven at Papa Johns, Taco Bell and KFC. We also follow the news from 'the US' with excitement; Trump's lawsuits and of course the upcoming elections. The impact of America on Dutch culture, identity and values is visible all around us. But Americanization goes far beyond trends, lifestyle or products.

US & us

Social movements in America, such as Black Lives Matter and #MeToo, are fighting every day for an inclusive and just society. Through their protests, they have caused us, too, to look differently at how we treat each other. Inequality looks different through everyone's eyes and these resistance movements have shown the world through their eyes for a moment. In the Netherlands, this has also ultimately led to new bills.

And not only on our society or in politics has the US left its mark on us. Even our economy cannot do without the technologies developed in Silicon Valley, think Big data analytics or artificial intelligence.

Land of the free?

In 2024 we will celebrate 80 years of freedom in the Netherlands. Important moment to reflect on this. What do freedom and security mean to us, and what are we willing to do for them? And what role do the American elections play in this? With so many conflicts around us and the rise of autocratic leadership, it is clear that freedom and security cannot be taken for granted. What happens in the world around us directly affects our sense of security. It is something that we must continually work on with other countries.

Let's talk about it!

During the empowering theater festival Let's talk about Us & us, we dive deeper into the land of unlimited possibilities. With the American elections coming up, we look at what American culture brings to us and what we have to offer them. We want to move beyond pigeonholing, disinformation and fake news, and make the ocean between our continents a little smaller.

We will have theater artists, thinkers and doers speak to share their perspectives on the American world order as it relates to us. Curious about the program? We'd love to tell you more!

Program

Check out the complete program here and watch, talk, experience:

Besides theater performances we also offer an interactive program. As Parktheater, we like to take these program elements a step continue: check among other things the exhibition of Rogier Klomp, participate in Food for Thought or talk along during the dialogue on the theme of governing.

Let's talk about it... with Griet Menschaert

This year we are diving even deeper into the theme by inviting a local artist or creator as a guest of the festival. For our first edition of'Let's talk about it with...' we are giving the play to Griet Menschaert. Curious about her take on the theme? She wrote a blog about it.

Let's talk about it... in Eindhoven
Not only in the Parktheater we pay attention to the influence of America on our daily lives. Er is meer to experience in Eindhoven.

Why are we organizing this festival?

In our empowering festival series Let's talk about... we want to explore the important themes that affect us all and that demand deepening. For us, theater is the means to engage with each other. From that depth arises connection, and that is exactly what Parktheater wants to be: the connecting factor between a diversity of people, of all generations and with different opinions.

Partners
Theater festival Let's talk about US & us comes about with the help of several partners. This month we are collaborating with Natlab, Franke Elshout Fooddesign, among others.

Let's talk about US & us is made possible in part by Vfonds. Vfonds is the National Fund for Peace, Freedom and Veterans.