In preparing for the ISC of 2024 the desire arose to create something cohesive and interconnected. How could we prepare a student conference where all the activities and aspects somehow related to one experience or picture? There was also a question of how we could create this feeling of interconnection with the greater society, and not just the conference community. How could we make an offering to the many people who live in the area around the Goetheanum?

This is how we came to the idea of preparing a participatory story telling event for a public space on the last full day of the conference. Many of us are used to storytelling events that take place in theaters, auditoriums, in cinemas or on videos, but there are also ways to tell stories that involve the participation of everyone. One example can be found in open air puppetry and pageantry.

Not only did we want to have the event involve as many students as possible, and to take place in a widely accessible and public place, but we also wanted to find the right story for this conference. Gradually we arrived at a vision to bring together song, movement, imagery, procession, and performance to tell “Excerpts from the Journey of the Peacemaker”. This story relates the watershed transformation that led to the Haudenosaunee confederacy in North America over seven hundred years ago. It unfolded in an area in perpetual war, dominated by a culture of cannibalism and dark magic, and culminated in a constitutional confederacy built around the power and spirit of peace. It is an event and story deeply related to our theme “Taking Heart: Finding our way together” and immediate challenges around the world.

Between February and April much preparatory work will be taking place as well as opportunities to help. We will share about this in our newsletter.

The pictures are from past productions, to give you an insight in this form of puppet art and participatory performance.