Mindlab is a theatre performance that inspires and challenges us to reflect on what truly matters in our daily work and personal lives—both within the university and beyond. Through Mindlab, we aim to contribute positively to a safe working environment of our university, fostering an open, safe space where everyone feels a sense of belonging. Mindlab breaks down barriers, captivates its audience, and, most importantly, stands out as a truly unique experience.
You can register now
You can sign up for one of the Mindlab's performances here.
These will take place between 20 January and 7 February , in the morning (10-13hrs) or afternoon (14-17hrs).
TU Delft strives to be a place where everyone can work in a socially safe and inspiring environment- essential for our quality of life both inside and outside of work. To support this goal, the high-profile theatre performance Mindlab by TheatreMakers Radio Kootwijk has been brought to Delft.
Mindlab is not a documentary or an educational performance, but an artistic interpretation of real-life situations that have happened within the university. Originating from a collaboration with Prof. Dr. Ellen Giebels and Prof. Dr. Naomi Ellemers, both of whom have made social safety and a positive working climate central theme in their work.
It is a combination of a stimulating theatre experience featuring five top actors and an intriguing plot. It touches the heart of science, as well as our emotions—what makes us happy, sad, uncomfortable, or angry, and what we find deeply important. Following the performance, a meaningful conversation will take place, about what you have seen and experienced. And as experience shows: so many participants, so many perspectives
Mindlab is like the cement between all the initiatives we are currently undertaking and between us, coming from all parts of the university. It offers a collective experience, a shared space for everyone's perspective, a common language.
But we can’t do this without you! Creating a positive working environment is something we can achieve together, with no voices left unheard. So, join us at Mindlab and make sure your voice is part of the conversation.
Last 8 April, Mindlab was played for directors and managers. Now we invite all TU Delft employees to experience the performance! In November and January-February, a series of morning and afternoon performances will be played in Lijm & Cultuur, next to the campus.
Programme
To ensure that Mindlab has a strong impact, the theatre performances will be hosted by a chair, who will present Mindlab and prepare the particiapants for the follow-up conversations. These conversations will be partially facilitated by pre-trained colleagues from TU Delft.
The language during Mindlab is English. The performance will be performed in Dutch, with live English surtitles.
Trailer and more information:
Curious? Check out the trailer of Mindlab and more information on the FAQ.
This performance by TheaterMakers Radio Kootwijk has previously been performed at UTwente, Utrecht University, TU/e, Leiden University and Erasmus University, among others, and was found to be very valuable there. Curious what your colleagues say about it? See for example:
https://www.utwente.nl/en/mindlab/experiences_more/
https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/mindlab-a-theatre-performance-that-touches-at-the-heart-of-science-and-academia
For other matters, please email mindlab@tudelft.nl.
FAQ
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What is Mindlab?
Mindlab is the combination of a high-profile theatre performance and an in-depth follow-up discussion in small groups guided by discussion facilitators (the Mindlab Café). The performance is given by the company TheaterMakers Radio Kootwijk and is specifically aimed at the academic context. Mindlab appeals to what touches us in our underbelly, in what makes us happy, sad, uncomfortable or angry, in what we find deeply important. Mindlab immerses us all in theatre and exposes the sometimes extreme, often subtle aspects of social (in)safety and the impact of our behaviour on others, and makes this discussable in a safe way. It is neither a documentary about TU Delft nor an educational performance, but a science fiction thriller that above all aims to loosen and deepen the conversation afterwards. With five top actors and an intriguing story. And afterwards, a conversation about what you have seen and experienced, in which we really need you. Because we can only create a pleasant working climate together, no voice excepted.
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How was Mindlab developed?
The project originated from a collaboration of TheatreMakers Radio Kootwijk with Prof Dr Ellen Giebels (UTwente) and Prof Dr Naomi Ellemers (Utrecht University), both of whom have made the topic of social safety and good working climate a topic in their work. Together with Theo Toonen (UTwente) and Madelijn Strick (UU), they took the initiative to have TheatreMakers Radio Kootwijk develop this performance Mindlab. It is an artistic interpretation of actually happened situations from the university, based on extensive literature research and interviews with staff from various universities.
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What is the theatre performance about?
Mindlab is a theatre performance that goes to the heart of science. About truth-telling, values and truthfulness within the institution of ‘the university’. A science fiction thriller that can happen to us all if we dare to live our own truth and impact of actions in full transparency. When cognitive dissonance reduction has left our minds...Veni, Vidi, Vici? A challenging theatre performance for anyone who shares with heart and soul much of their life within the university. For the one who ever wants to say ‘it was really worth all the effort’.
‘You are not who you think you are. You are what you do.’
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What is the objective of the theatre performance Mindlab and the follow-up discussion?
The theatre performance Mindlab is ‘a performance that touches the heart of science and wants to spark conversation about who we are, what we (stand for) and where we want to go’, according to initiators Ellen Giebels and Theo Toonen of the University of Twente, and Naomi Ellemers and Madelijn Strick of the University of Utrecht. Mindlab aims to spark conversations about what is needed to create and maintain a socially safe, honourable and inspiring climate within the university. A climate in which diverse employees come into their own and receive recognition and appreciation; a climate where integrity is paramount. Mindlab inspires and challenges you to think and discuss - together - what is important in your daily work, career and life - inside and outside the university. Mindlab is threshold-reducing, gripping and unique.
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Who is the performance intended for?
Mindlab is intended for all university employees.