The Environment Squad - 11+
Planetsaving plans by environmental heroes
This succesfull project of Theatergroep Max. is housed under a seperate foundation, the Max.Milieubende (The Environment Squad). This foundation is a cooperation of Theatergroep Max. and Maurits Groen Milieu & Comunicatie. Max. performes the play 'There's Still Macaroni' in the class, followed by a workshop How To Become an Environmental Hero and Save the Planet. It is interactive theatre and an educative workshop in one, and stimulates children in 6th and 7th grade (11-12 years old) to learn about the climate crisis and what can be done about it. Kids and actors together enact ways in which problems can be solved.
The project in spring 2008:
What have yoghurt, a car, falling in love, a flood, paper and the sun got to do with each other? More than you think, or as a matter of fact: everything!
This is a story about engergy. Energy you get from yelling very loud when you are angry. And the energy it costs to open a small cup of yoghurt. Or the engery that you can generate with a few simple bicycle wheels. Engery is something big, almost containing everything, something we all need to live.
And that's where the adventure begins. Because Max. is going to make some energy. With the help of a big number of schoolkids in 7th grade from Rotterdam we are going to find out how we can generate energy. We are going to declare our love to the bicycle, one to the most amazing inventions ever. We are going to give heaps and heaps of energy to good things, to trees, to schools, to litter or windmills.
In Februari and March 2008 Theatergroep Max. visited 80 classes of 60 primary schools in Rotterdam with The Environment Squad. At the schools, the actors of Max. performed the cheerful and absurd play There's Still Macaroni, about what happens at the end of the world. After that, the children participated in the workshop How To Become an Environmental Hero and Save the Planet, which stimulated 2.000 schoolkids for a month to do heroic environmental deeds.
Winners of The Environment Squad 2008 Rotterdam
On April 25th, in the city hall of Rotterdam, a jury of experts chose the four winning classes. They were chosen out of the 80 classes that participated in the project. The classes were judged on their plans to save the environment. A few of the best ideas and actions: a vegitarian dinner for parents, a boat working on solar engery, a lobby for green electricity, smart plans to recycle rainwater, plays and raps about the environment, an environment-game and teaching lower classes on the environment.
On July 16th, in Blijdorp Zoo Rotterdam, the Minister of Enviroment and a city councellor made their appearance. The four winning classes presented their plans for the environment to each other, guests, the press, sponsors and to the two VIP's.
Cast and creatives
Idea - Moniek Merkx
Text play - Enne Koens
Text book - Elena Simons
Directors - Dorien Folkers, René Geerlings
Performance - Rosa Knaup, Wim Staessens
Co-production Theatergroep Max. and Maurits Groen Milieu & Communicatie
Special thanks to
This project is being made possible to financial contributions of Stichting DOEN, the Mondriaan Stichting and the city of Rotterdam. The Max.Milieubende final day was being sponsored by Greenchoice, Van Gansewinkel, NS and Roteb.
