Dutch Negotiations with Otherness in Times of Crisis

The two productions discussed here were influenced by tragic events which changed and polarized Dutch society. Both stood in defence of tolerance and multiculturalism, denounced xenophobia and populism, and presented the Other in a sympathetic and understanding light. However, the change of approach was less profound than might have been expected. In Othello, although the Other was linked to radicalized Muslims, the connection was tenuous and the production focused more on a generalized outsider and a sense of isolation which embraced all the characters in the play. It hovered uneasily between... Mehr ...