Zomaar Een Straat [“Just a Street”]

“Zomaar Een Straat”, which translates to “Just a Street”, is a performance based on personal stories about life in financial poverty and debt. Seven residents of a nameless street struggle, without knowing each other’s troubles, with mounting bills, shame and guilt. Zomaar Een Straat is a performance about missing out or not having enough, and passing on stories from generation to generation about the importance of opening up discussions on the topic.

One in seven Dutch people admits to being ashamed of their financial situation. Unfortunately, financial poverty, debt and inequality in opportunities are a very present problem in Rotterdam. Zomaar Een Straat is the first in a series of performances produced by Rotterdams Wijktheater (RWT) that deal with these subjects. 

About

The Rotterdams Wijktheater (Rotterdam Community Theatre) was founded in 1992. It is a theatre company that, supported by Rotterdam City Council, produces theatre for, by, and with people from the community. The main aim of this community arts organisation is to develop original theatre that is accessible, appealing and relevant to non-theatre goers. In order to attract new and culturally excluded audiences RWT presents theatre performances that are based on the stories of their own community, dealing with issues that are relevant to those groups. To date, RWT has created well over 50 original shows, which tour to different neighbourhoods in Rotterdam. On average, the company performs sixty times per year, mostly in schools and community centers, and occasionally in regular theatre venues. Annually, their performances reach anywhere between 3,000 and 5,000 spectators from all age groups and cultural backgrounds, of which there are many in cosmopolitan Rotterdam. The Rotterdam Community Theatre is living proof that theatre by, for, and with people from the popular neighbourhoods can be alive, interesting, moving, entertaining, and of high artistic quality.