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29/9/2016 / Issue #009 / Text: Ana Barona

No means no

NO means NO! is a public discussion about sexual consent. With the Forum-Theatre play “NO means NO”, which explores the social construction of the idea of gender and this construction’s concrete consequences, Madalena-Berlin and PLEK-Maken.nl intends to expand the public discussion around the current European discussion of: “women’s NO”.

The laws about sexual consent vary by country and situation. It can make the topic confusing, that’s why Madalena-Berlin offers a space to sincerely question what NO really means. What does NO really mean? How does consent work in real life? What does “NO” look like?  How could we build a community where women feel safe and respected? 

Performing group
The performing team, Madalena-Berlin, is a female Theatre of the Oppressed group and collective of activists from KURINGA (Berlin), founded in 2011. With several Forum Theatre plays, the group stimulates public debates about the oppressions faced by women, and dynamizes the search for concrete alternatives to identify injustices. Madalena-Berlin is part of the Madalena International Network. Video: Madalena International Network. 

Audience
We would like to see in the audience women and men who wish to take a deeper look, discuss and find new concrete actions around the sexual violence against women and how to change laws to better protect them. >> Special call to women’s organizations, activists, policy makers and lawyers. << 

Methodology
Forum Theatre is a short play which shows a certain complex situation that a certain group of people is dealing with. The audience becomes a so-called ‘spect-actor’ and each time a member of the audience thinks the protagonist should do something differently to reach her/his goal, is allowed to shout ‘Stop!’, in order to step forward and replace the protagonist to show what he/she would do in this situation to see what effect this could have on the outcome. 

Legislative theatre is essentially a Forum Theatre performance — the public attends a Forum Theatre piece and, in addition to the usual participation at the Forum session, is invited to submit written suggestions for the creation, modification and/or cancellation of laws related with the topic represented on stage.

Would you like to experience legislative theatre? 
We will organise our first Forum Theatre play in Amsterdam this October:
Here is the online invitation with all details - also in Dutch: 

01-10-2016 in Amsterdam - www.facebook.com/events/1172676376103931
Perdu, Kloveniersburgwal 86, 1012 CZ, Amsterdam
02-10-2016 in Rotterdam - www.facebook.com/events/691622480989101 
Rotterdams Wijktheater | Herenwaard 17, 3078 AK | Rotterdam

Entrance fee
Tickets are now available. The tickets will cover basic costs: transportation and venue costs. This performance is non-commercial. Normal entrance: €10 euros and we have also Sponsor entrance: €15.