> THE FACT

Conceived by a brand new organisation, the Mediation Association for Optimal Use of the Night (AMUON), based on trials conducted in BarcelonaandValencia, ‘Les Pierrots de la nuit’ are a troupe of around fifteen actors who have the job of preventing noise disturbances around festive areas. At around 7 or 8 pm, they start their preventative role by putting up small posters in night clubs and bars in order to encourage customers to respect their neighbours. Then, from 11 pm onwards, they put on small plays to make people smile and encourage the noisiest ones to tone it down.  The trial is running until the Spring.

> THE ANALYSIS

As original as it is unexpected, the initiative that the AMUON has developed reveals how communication campaigns aimed at changing individuals’ behaviours are now envisaged. They no longer involve forbidding or telling off, instead they make everyone think about their behaviour in a light-hearted and fun way. By intervening in festive places, ‘Les Pierrots de la nuit’ surprise, shock and disturb, but are not rejected because they too belong to the festive world that itself is criticised for being noisy. With their small plays, they get messages across in an unconventional way. So now, there are no longer those who “reproach” on one side and those who “do harm” on the other: the virtues of festive control in a festive rather than a repressive way?