Freedom Festival 2019

Lucas De Man: In Search of Democracy 3.0 (BE/NL)

An IN SITU Pilot Project 

For his project In Search of Europe, Lucas De Man (Belgium & Netherlands) travelled to 17 cities in eight countries in 30 days. He interviewed more than 20 young creators and creative professionals, who are trying to change the society they live in for the better.

What struck him is that there is a new generation awakening in Europe and that they are ready to fight for change. Inspired by this journey, Lucas made and performed a lecture performance De Man in Europe using video fragments of the interviews to take his audience on a journey past the most important insights and battles of the young European generation he encountered.

In his new project In Search of Democracy 3.0, Lucas works together with local partners to make an investigation of current democracy and its challenges for the future. With a travelling visual and musical show, full of stories and dialogue, he shows how a young generation shapes tomorrow’s democracies.

This ongoing research will inform not only the theatre performance but also a documentary series and online knowledge platform. In Search of Democracy 3.0 presents democracy as an experience and gives a face to the diverse people of the European continent.

In Search of Democracy 3.0 is an IN SITU Pilot Project which will premiere in 2019. We're extremely proud to be one of only three UK partners of the Europe-wide IN SITU Network.

In May 2018, in Hull, IN SITU members selected six pilot projects to collectively support from inception to touring. Six projects with a social consciousness, that address contemporary issues and are relevant in an international contest.  Each project reflects the artistic vision of IN SITU including, scale adaptability, accessibility to large audiences, involvement of local artistic collaborators, leaving a real visual or physical trace. 

In Search of Democracy 3.0, an IN SITU Pilot project, has received a creation aid by the ACT project, co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union. The co-producers are Atelier 231 (FR), Festival di Terni (IT), Freedom Festival (UK), La Strada Graz (AT), Lieux publics (FR), Norfolk & Norwich Festival (UK), Østfold kulturutvikling (NO), Oerol Festival (NL), Theater op de Markt (BE), UZ Arts (UK).