Dissident Lara Staal & NTGent

They have become - often unconsciously - experts in provoking the ruling authority. But this time the roles are reversed and the young people take over the stage.

What does it mean to constantly be the exception? And what do the rules and expectations in our educational system tell us about the prevailing ideas of successful citizenship? In what ways is today's education determined by work pressure, performance drive and bureaucracy? In what ways does unconscious racism still determine who gets second chances and who doesn't? What does it take to really learn?

Dutch theatre and programme maker Lara Staal goes in search of young people who refuse to adapt and who challenge power relations. Their view holds up a mirror to us. What can we learn from that which does not suit us?

(read more after the video)

For Dissident, Lara Staal collaborates with the Ghent musician, beatboxer and performer Serdi Faki Alici. Serdi coaches the youngsters and co-creates the performance.

Dissident is a mix of live acting and documentary film material in which parents, teachers, youth workers and the school are also involved. An indictment of the mould that is present-day education, in which those who are 'different' and always fall by the wayside now have their say.

As the performance progresses, the stage transforms into the sanctuary the young people long for so deeply.

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Spiegelfestival Dissident

Six schools in Ghent and the Fontys Hogeschool for the arts in Tilburg are developing their own view of the NTGent performance Dissident, under the guidance of our theatre teachers. They show their results to the public between 16 and 21 November 2021 in NTGent Minnemeers.

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Meet the cast!

Haroun Couvreur

Seppe Jacobs

Isaac Van Weyenberg

Siham Lamrini

Serdi Faki Alici