For his project In Search Of Europe, Lucas De Man travelled to 17 cities in 8 countries in 30 days. He interviewed more than 20 young 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 created the lecture performance De Man in Europe.
In this performance Lucas relates the transition period our continent is in now, to the previous paradigm changing period: the shift from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. At that time a generation of visionaries emerged with Erasmus, Thomas More and Luther, on whose ideas Europe as we know it now was built. Is something similar happening now?
For In Search of Europe, Lucas took a camera team and a journalist from Dutch news website De Correspondent with him to look for our current European generation. Who are the visionaries? How do they see our time and society? Where do they stand in current hot issues such as “new democracy”, (the enclosure of) “the commons” and Europe? What do they think should change and, more importantly, what are they doing about it?
★★★★ “Lucas De Man grabs his audience in a passionate way.” – de Volkskrant
“De Man is a charming theatre personality with an opinionated view, who effortlessly guides his audience through philosophical or scientific, sometimes very complex, discourses.” – Trouw
“Charming, amusing and entertaining lecture performance.” – Theaterkrant
“Lucas massages his audience, always striking the right note.” – Brabants Dagblad
“Very rarely does a show cause such insight into current affairs.” – Cultuurpers
De Man in Europe is part of the art project In Search of Europe. Discovering the Self. This project is co-produced by Het Zuidelijk Toneel and Company New Heroes, in collaboration with several (international) partners.