Neighbourhood meeting at the prison gate

How can we, as village dramaturges, contribute to telling, spreading and (re)activating local stories? 

We found it interesting to support an initiative that breaks with the prevailing idea of 'being together in good spirits', towards a community that often falls outside Haren: prisoners and their visitors.

Now that the prison is actually there, the neighbourhood committee is trying to relate to this new reality – no longer against, but with the prison. Under the motto 'we are all neighbours', they have been organising a gathering at the entrance to the prison for two years, in which they openly ask how the prison and Haren can coexist. With the arts platform PLAN B, we participated and devised a small intervention in which visitors and residents could make signs around the questions: "What can Haren do for you?" and "What do you need here?" The answers were concrete – a taxi, a bus connection – but also surprisingly personal, with messages such as "Courage à toutes les familles des détenus."

The signs thus formed not only a collection of needs, but also messages to others: to visitors with whom people felt connected, and to the prisoners. After two days of conversations at the prison gate, it became clear how great the need for communication is — across the walls.