Silence and a sense of togetherness prevail at Lelystad Spreekt!

The third edition of Lelystad Spreekt! once again made a deep impression on both the audience and the participants. On Wednesday 17 June, seven storytellers transformed the hall at the Zuiderzee community centre into an intimate storytelling space where personal, moving and sometimes challenging stories were shared.

That evening, the audience listened to the personal stories of Arie ten Wolde, Ellen Kok, Geertje Wiersema, Ger Koreman, Fred Wilcke, Jeanet van Eeken and Eunice Scheuer.

The harsh reality

The evening drew a full house. From the very first story, the audience’s attention was palpable: they listened intently, responded with genuine interest and engaged in conversation with the storytellers afterwards.

The stories varied greatly in tone and theme. They touched on the history of Lelystad, on loss and grief, on personal pain, and on how new insights can lead to strength, love and the courage to be yourself. The raw reality of life was also given a place on stage.

Silence and togetherness

Level Joy provided the music for the evening. A singer from Almere who, with her warm voice and personal charisma, enhanced the atmosphere. She brought the evening to a close with a moving song about life, bringing the audience together once more in silence and a sense of connection.

‘The public’s engagement was evident not only in the silence during the stories, but also in the many questions and conversations that arose afterwards. The evening demonstrated just how powerful sharing personal experiences can be and how stories bring people together,’ says co-organiser Juul Baars, looking back with satisfaction.

Lelystad Spreekt was organised as part of the Samen Lelystad Oost programme and has one aim: to bring people closer together. There is one more event scheduled for this year: on Wednesday 18 November. Anyone interested is very welcome to attend.

Photo: Shot By Sylla