Data takes center stage
25 February 2026
During THiNK FeST, the festival for and by employees of THUAS, DATAtheater was one of the most striking elements in the program.
The theatrical lecture, developed by Klaas Jan Mollema (university lecturer in ICT and researcher at the Civic Technology research group), turned out to be a big hit. “DATAtheater guides you through the topic of data in a non‑technical, accessible way”, says Klaas Jan. “I want to show that data is not something abstract meant only for specialists, but something that affects all of us.”
During the “Festival for the Future” organized by the Municipality of The Hague, Klaas Jan was involved in the event planning. There, he noticed that most of the planned activities were highly technical, and he proposed adding sessions for non-experts as well. “The experts at the table tended to speak from their deep knowledge and in terms that sound illogical to the ‘ordinary citizen’”, Klaas Jan explains. “Meanwhile, non-experts can really benefit from such a day. So how do you create something that is truly useful for them?”
His answer: a theatrical lecture that explains data in a way people can understand. No technical deep dive, but explanations in context, using examples from everyday life and excursions into the past to make current developments easier to grasp.
What exactly is data?
In DATAtheater, Klaas Jan guides the audience step by step. “Data, at its core, consists of bare facts. Only when you understand the who, what, and when does data gain meaning and become information.” He demonstrates how we store and apply data, combined with previously acquired knowledge, and how it ultimately turns into insight. He also surprises the audience with freely available data that is directly relevant to their own daily lives. “Once you see what’s already out there, you start looking at information differently. It becomes tangible.”
Positive responses and wide applicability
DATAtheater was organized for the municipality and drew many civil servants from all levels, who responded enthusiastically to the accessible approach. During THiNK FeST, it also encouraged students and colleagues (Executive Board, research, education, and support staff) to reflect on their own use of data and on data‑driven ways of working. “You can feel something happening in the room”, says Klaas Jan. “People recognize situations from their own practice and realize that data is not some far‑removed concept.”
A continuation within and beyond THUAS
If it’s up to Klaas Jan, this is just the beginning. He sees theatre as an opportunity to explain complex topics clearly and with a light touch, both within the university and beyond. “Data affects all of us,” he emphasizes. “The better we understand what it is and what we can do with it, the more consciously and effectively we can work with it. I’d love to see us use this format more often for students, colleagues, and the city.”