“Starlight” lights up the stage and hearts in the battle against loneliness
March 6, 2024

Determined to shed light on the challenges of loneliness, the theatre play “Starlight” showcased its long-term success last Sunday in Nuth (the Netherlands) drawing an audience of 300 people. As part of the euPrevent PROFILE project, the play aimed to raise awareness of loneliness and encourage community engagement.

Created by Flemish theatre maker Luc Stevens, “Starlight” shares a powerful narrative that deeply connects with the audience emotionally. The theatre continues to serve a vital tool in the ongoing awareness campaign on loneliness in the Euregion. The PROFILE project, funded by the Interreg V-A Euregion Meuse-Rhine program, has officially concluded in 2023, but the discussion on loneliness continues through the tour of “Starlight.”

The turnout shows the community’s enthusiasm for discussing loneliness and the importance of collective efforts to address this societal concern. The success of “Starlight” highlights the value of artistic expression in tackling and alleviating social issues, paving the way for ongoing discussions and initiatives in the field of mental health and community well-being.

Additionally, it is worth noting that this artistic approach to addressing mental health issues was previously employed in a theater project years ago. It was highlighted as an example of good practice in the fight against dementia by American author Mary Crescenzo in her recent research project, “How Theatre as Art and Public Forum Can Foster Dementia Awareness.” Thus, we are happy that our euregional effort is also recognized worldwide.