The Debate

When Gary and I were first thinking about the play we were keen to organise accompanying events that refected the issues of the play and gave the audience something else to do or see. As the play is so political and leaves huge questions about our current political climate open for the audience to make their own decisions about, we were especially keen that we organise something that gave the audience the opportunity to be heard themselves. We wanted to open up these issues so that they belonged to a public arena and, so, to ensure that the play itself was public property.

What we came up with is a public debate that will be held at 6pm on Thursday 13th June entitled 'How Shall We Live?' And here's the blurb:

Everyone from Socrates onwards has asked, how shall we live? Politicians, and thinkers all through history, have had a vision of what human life is for. And then you get to us, the most advanced civilisation there's ever been - and we duck the only question that counts. We offer people 'more and better choices'. And look at us. All those boring statistics about suicide and addiction and depression. All those boring facts about how the planet is dying.

Should the politicians offer a vision of what human life is for? Or is it ridiculous to expect the First Minister to have anything interesting to say about the meaning of human existence? Following tonight's performance of An Enemy for the People, representatives of all the main parties talk about the Big Questions of Life, the Universe, and Everything - or explain why they don't have to.