‘Am I that Kind of Person?’: Reflective Affective Dramaturgies from Concept to Production in Two Truths

The chapter discusses the development and impact of the production Two Truths, which explores the affective dimensions of political loyalty and decision-making. It delves into the influence of affective and relational forces on political discourse, particularly in the context of the post-truth era marked by disinformation campaigns and increasing polarisation. The production, inspired by the party game ‘Two Truths and a Lie’, invites participants to take on roles within a theatrical representation of a political system, where they win points by completing goals relevant to their role and collectively determine the future of their fictional world through choosing from policy statements made by actual politicians. The chapter outlines the iterative development of Two Truths, highlighting how it expanded the reflective affective dramaturgical model to experiment with highly agentive intervention by participants in the practice of political dissensus, ultimately aiming to develop generosity towards difference within political discourses. It also discusses the challenges and significant findings of the production, emphasising the importance of providing space and time for reflection by participants on their own affective responses and of shaping reflective activities to enhance or direct participants’ affective journey through the performance.