The play “Europe on Trial” was performed at the Nice Opera House. It was an opportunity for the audience to reflect on a current issue that is gaining increasing importance.
Amid Brexit and the rise of nationalism in several European countries, the staging of “Europe on Trial” could not have been more timely.
More than just a play, it is an interactive theatrical performance, where the actors take on the roles in a classic trial (judge, prosecutor, defense attorney, court clerk), and the audience acts as the jury. Naturally, it is Europe, specifically the European Union, that is on trial as an entity.
Following the structure of a classic trial, the play comprises arguments and pleas both in favor of and against Europe, thereby allowing the audience to reflect on the subject. As in many criminal proceedings, witnesses are called to the stand; here, they are audience members well-versed in the theme. These individuals are invited to answer various questions posed by both parties (prosecutor and defense). Through this, they bring new knowledge to the spectators, who, by the end of the play, have a broader base of reflection on what Europe can offer its citizens.
Created by the association “Les Tรชtes de L’Art” and written by Sam Khebizi, a staunch European, the play aims primarily to open people’s eyes to a current problem, inform them, and provide new avenues for further exploration to potentially advance the debate.
