Programme BIG in BELGIUM 2015 - A new wave of Flemish theatre

A GAME OF YOU _ ONTROEREND GOED

A R eason to T a l k _ S ac h l i G h o l ama l i z ad

P ardon /In CUFFS _ SKaGeN

T h e History of t h e Wor l d B A S E D O N B ana l ities _ K opergietery

T h e G reat Downhill J ourney of Litt l e T ommy _ B oris V an S everen & J onas V ermeu l en ON TRACK _ TRISTERO

G omaar T ri l ogy _ U ltima Thule

This brochure contains the complete program of the third edition of Big in Belgium: a selection of ­modern Flemish work put together as a showcase at the E ­ dinburgh Festival Fringe.

Just like the ­previous ­editions in the past two years, the work is divided between Summerhall and Traverse.

Both former editions, which contained hit shows like S ­ KaGeN’s

BigMoutH and Ontroerend Goed’s S ­ irens, have led to over 100 worldwide e ­ ngagements for the companies involved. We could not be more proud. The selected Flemish theatre works have proven to be adored by a widespread community of both theatre professionals looking for new work at the Fringe and international audiences.

Both SKaGeN & Ontroerend Goed are back this year with new work in Traverse: SKaGeN presents Pardon / In Cuffs about the complex relationship between culprit and judge, ­ while ­Ontroerend Goed presents the final part of its Personal T ­ rilogy:

A Game of You (previous parts The Smile off Your Face and Internal were some of the company’s greatest hits at the Fringe).

This year we tried to feature the Flemish young companies who we believe are on the verge of an international breakthrough.

Whether they specialize in puppetry (Ultima Thule – Gomaar

Trilogy), rock-opera (The Great Downhill Journey of Little Tommy), contemporary new writing (Tristero – On Track) or experimental cross-cultural

research (Sachli Gholamalizad –

A Reason to Talk), each of them contain essential elements that make up the core of Flemish theatre today: originality, strong craftsmenship and artistic vision, freedom of both form and content supported by a creation process that allows sufficient time to take the show where it needs to go. Enjoy.

Big in Belgium was created by Program David Bauwens / Production Richard ­Jordan, Tammy Dale, Elaine Innes / ­Communication & ­Finances David Bauwens & Wim Smet / Production on location Jo Mackie / Technical Asssistance JB & Captain / Press Martin Shippen / Design Nick Mattan / ­Coproduction Big in Belgium, Richard Jordan ­Productions, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Theater aan Zee & Summerhall / ­Special Thanks to: Simon Stokes, Hans Rabaey & Theater aan Zee, all artists & c ­ ompanies involved, Summerhall & Traverse, all technicians involved & the Edinburgh audiences. Supported by the Flemish goverment

7 / 8 / 11 / 12 / 14 / 15 / 18 / 19 / 21 / 22 / 25 / 26 / 28 / 29 / 30 August Start show 20:30 75 minutes S U M M E R H A LL at Main Hall Tristero, Big in Belgium, Richard Jordan Productions, Theatre Royal Plymouth in association with Summerhall

TRISTERO An old-fashioned exhibition room with ­fitted carpet, various things on panels and in display cases. At the back sits an ­attendant, while in the middle a living being called Kristien De Proost attracts all the ­attention. She runs and keeps on ­running, as if her life depended on it. In the ­meantime she describes her insides and her outside.

From her smallest toe to her ­biggest fantasies. From freshly-­washed armpits to heavy sweat, she tries to ­summarise her present state.

On Track is not just some flabby confessional monologue, but a real ‘tour de force’. **** De Standaard De Proost’s piece is a gem: the acting, the script and the ­humour. Brazen, sharp, witty and recognisable, the way theatre should more often be. **** Cobra K r i s t i e n D e P r o o s t in co l l aboration w it h Y o u r i D i r k x & P e t e r V a n d e n b e m p t te x t ­ Kristien De P r o o s t performance K r i s t i e n D e P r o o s t & M a r k D e P r o o s t scenograp h y & costumes ­M a r i e ­S z e r s n o v i c z H a r r y C o l e make - up & h eardress design M a r i e M e s s i e n tec h nicians B a r t ­L u y p a e r t & T o m B r u w i e r set construction B a r t L u y p a e r t , W o u t J a n s s e n s & K o e n R a e s trai l er & video captation M a t h i a s R u e l l e p h otograp h y M i r j a m D e v r i e n d t & Y o u r i D i r k x production T r i s t e r o coproduction K a a i t h e a t e r & C a m p o by

l ig h tdesign

7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 August Start show 17:05 80 minutes S U M M E R H A LL at Old Lab Kopergietery, Big in Belgium, Richard Jordan Productions, Theatre Royal Plymouth in association with Summerhall

K opergietery Philip’s mother is dangerously ill. He decides to look after her the very last months of her life. Starting from ­run-of-the-mill situations and objects, the young man embarks on a quirky voyage through his mother’s past, and that of the world. By and with Titus De Voogdt, aka Vincent Bourg in the renowned BBC series The Missing.

“A fast-paced gem about having to say goodbye to your nearest and dearest.. and so full of quick-witted, comical play that it yields dazzling theatre”. **** KNACK “(painful) jokes, sadness, romance, introspection, poignancy… are strung ­together in a masterly, perfectly natural fashion.” ****1/2 DE MORGEN T i t u s D e V o o g d t , J o h a n D e S m e t director J o h a n D e S m e t w it h T i t u s D e V o o g d t composition G e o f f r e y B u r t o n l ive music G e o f f r e y B u r t o n / B o r i s Z e e b r o e k scenograp h y J o h a n D e S m e t , T i t u s D e V o o g d t , J e r o e n D o i s e , K a r e l C l e m m i n c k , S e b a s t i e n V a n H u f f e l l ig h t design J e r o e n D o i s e sound K o r n e e l M o r e a u x tec h ni q ue J e r o e n D o i s e , K o r n e e l M o r e a u x , S e b a s t i e n V a n H u f f e l te x t

7 / 8 / 9 10 / 12 / / 14 / 15 16 / 17 / / 20 / 21 22 / 23 / / 26 / 27 28 / 29 / August

/ 13 / 19 / 24 / 30

65 minutes S U M M E R H A LL at Main Hall

B oris V an S everen & J onas V ermeu l en

Big in Belgium, Richard Jordan Productions, Theater aan Zee, Theatre Royal ­Plymouth in association with Summerhall

The Great Downhill Journey Of Little Tommy is about Tommy who leaves his

Start show 22:30

safe town up on the hill to see the sea.

On his way down he meets everyone whom for some reason isn’t allowed or doesn’t belong in the city. A ­journey through music history that gives the floor to the outsiders of society.

A ­coming of age performance told in songs and live drawings.

‘Theatre as it should be... pure sex, drugs & rock’n roll. One simple ­storyline - a boy looking for the sea - functions as a thread upon which the ­performers hang their funny disturbed scenes/songs.’ Knack.be J o n a s V e r m e u l e n & B o r i s V a n s e v e r e n P erformance , V oca l , G uitar , K eys J o n a s V e r m e u l e n G uitar B o r i s V a n s e v e r e n B ass guitar P i e t e r - J a n J a n s s e n D rums T h o m a s D e c k x Y u Z e e b r o e k / M a i l y B e y r e n s C oac h ing P i e t e r - J a n D e W y n g a e r t S ound J o n a s ­C a s t e l i j n s Lig h t design , S u B tit l es T o m D e R o y T e x t, concept:

­

P erformance ,

Live ­D ra w ings

V oca l ,

Sarah

7 / 8 / 9 10 / 12 / / 14 / 15 16 / 17 / / 20 / 21 22 / 23 / / 27 / 28 29 / 30 August

/ 13 / 19 / 24 /

Start show 13:50 75 minutes S U M M E R H A LL at Cairns Lecture Theatre Kunst Z, Big in Belgium, Richard Jordan Productions, Theatre Royal Plymouth in association with Summerhall

S ac h l i G h o l ama l i z ad Sachli Gholamalizad, a young Belgian actress of Iranian descent, ­questions her troubled relationship with her ­mother. She dives into her families history and confronts her mother. The actress blends various sources into an unruly performance: self-registered ­tapes, diary excerpts, memories, novels and soundscapes.

The many layers and contradictions in the lives of these women are evoked on stage throughout the use of different media.

Is it a story of extremes, proper or bi-cultural upbringing or is it simply the story of all mothers and daughters?

“In ’A Reason to Talk’ the performer searches - with her back turned at the audience- for the truth about her family leaving Iran. The war buzzes in the background, but Gholamalizad’s story has a more personal approach: the ­strategies an unrooted person uses to keep himself standing. The distant ­format - three screens, the actrice communicating through webcam - sharply displays a deep desire for closeness.“ De Morgen C oncept and performance S a c h l i G h o l a m a l i z a d scenograp h y and tec h ni q ue S t e v e n B r y s C oac h G r e e t V i s s e r s S oundscape A n d r e w C l a e s P roduction k u n s t Z managemen T: S a s k i a L i é n a r d C oproduction M e s t i z o A r t s ­F e s t i v a l t h anks to S h o k a t A r m o n , B a r t B a e l e , J u l i e D e C l e r c q , Z e y n a b H a m e d a n i M o j a r a d , E h s a n H e m m a t , S e n j a n J a n s e n , B a r t V a n N u y s w it h t h e support of t h e g o v e r n m e n t o f F l a n d e r s & the city of Antwerp

HEAD OVER HEELS 7 / 8 / 12 / 15 / 19 / 22 / 26 August (65 minutes)

U l tima T h u l e Everything Always Returns.

LOOK WHO’S HERE

9 / 13 / 16 / 20 / 23 / 27 / 29 / 30 August (75 minutes)

ALWAYS SOMETHING WRONG 10 / 14 / 17 / 21 / 24 / 28 August (80 minutes)

Although it’s nicer to see the three shows, it’s not necessary. You can enjoy just one or two parts of the trilogy as well.

Gomaar, son of a farmer, behind the arse of a horse.

Gomaar college student in the era of Che. Gomaar divorced, still driving his Norton.

Three shows, one life.

The life of Gomaar.

GOMAARtrilogy, written by Wim De Wulf for theatre company Ultima Thule, is a funny and cathartic portrait of life against the background of a changing Flanders. Full of love but not without irony. A deeply human and universal folk tale in which the grievances of life are joined with the poetic panorama of a village, a city, a family.

Start show 15:20 S U M M E R H A LL at Old Lab Ultima Thule, Big in Belgium, Richard Jordan Productions, Theatre Royal Plymouth in association with Summerhall

‘A trilogy which gives the spectator the feeling of having leafed through an album full of memories of someone whom you’ve come to know so well by now. A cycle to cherish.’ **** Liv Laveyne, Knack W i m D e W u l f performance E l s T r i o , K u r t D e f r a n c q & S v e n R o n s i j n scenograp h y & puppets F i l i p P e e t e r s music M a u r o P a w l o w s k i , N i l s D e C a s t e r & Y v e s M e e r s s c h a e r t costumes ­V i o l e t t e V a n h o o r e b e k e , J u d i t h V a n H e r c k , C h r i s S n i k & E v e l y n e M e e r s s c h a u t tec h nica l support R u p e r t D e f o s s e z w it h t h e support of t h e g o v e r n m e n t o f F l a n d e r s , t h e c i t y o f G h e n t , p r o v i n c e o f E a s t F l a n d e r s & G r e e n T r a c k p h otos M a a i k e B u y s w riter and director

25 / 26 / 27 / 28 / 29 / 30 August Start show 14:00, 14:30 15:00, 15:30 16:00, 16:30 19:00, 19:30 20:00, 20:30 21:00, 21:30 30 minutes TRAVERSE

BAC, Richard Jordan ­P roductions, BIG IN ­B ELGIUM In ­a ssociation with ­T heatre Royal ­P lymouth with support of V ­ ooruit & National ­T heatre Studio

6 D AY S O N LY

ONTROEREND GOED After The Smile Off Your Face & Internal, we ­present to you the third part of our trilogy.

For those who don’t know us yet there’s seven of us craving to spend some time with you to get under your skin, if possible to get to know you better than we know ourselves some say we’re forward, inquisitive, manipulative or downright evil.

Some claim we can’t be trusted.

Rest assured, they are wrong. We’re players and our intentions are always sincere.

Our sole purpose in unreal life is to let you find out who you might be and get entangled in the game you play You’ll be safe. We’re doing it for you.

“In ‘A Game of You’, Ontroerend Goed makes you feel how uncomfortable it is when your mirror image eludes you.“ **** De Morgen “...a genuinely unsettling experience, and the best advice I can give is: be yourself, and don’t pick your nose.“ *** The Guardian – Lyn Gardner

D irected b y A l e x a n d e r D e v r i e n d t PERFORMANCE A l e x a n d e r D e v r i e n d t , J o e r i S m e t , C h a r l o t t e D e B r u y n e L i s a S c h a m l é , J o e r i H e e g s t r a & K a r e n V a n G i n d e r a c h t e r TECHNICIAN B a b e t t e WITH THE SUPPORT OF t h e F l e m i s h G o v e r n e m e n t , t h e P r o v i n c e o f E a s t - F l a n d e r s a n d Poncelet the city of Ghent

7 / 8 / 9 10 / 12 / / 14 / 15 16 / 17 / / 20 / 21 22 / 23 / / 26 / 27 28 / 29 / August

/ 13 / 19 / 24 / 30

Start show see overview 80 minutes TRAVERSE SKaGeN, Big in Belgium, Richard Jordan Productions & Theatre ­Royal Plymouth

SKaGeN Much is at stake for those who’ve just been caught in the act: either a judgement will be passed or they’ll have a lucky escape.

From the creators of BigMouth and SmallWar (Festival 2014), and ­ inspired by the documentaries of award-­winning Magnum photographer Raymond ­Depardon, Pardon / In Cuffs unravels the complex relationship between culprit and judge.

Through a series of tense exchanges on one side sits a criminal: fighting, lying, begging. On the other side, a ­public prosecutor in their nightly routine: ­representing society, reaching verdicts.

A story of ‘little people’ clashing with massive structures.

“SkaGeN... a distinct and unusual voice in European theatre.“ **** Daily Telegraph “Pardon / In Cuffs offers ample food for thought, is consistent and the ­acting is delightful. This tiny gem reminds us that Lady Luck does not smile on ­everyone in today’s society.“ Cutting Edge

C oncept V a l e n t i j n D h a e n e n s C ostume D esigner B a r b a r a D e L a e r e S et D esigner S K a G e N cast V a l e n t i j n D h a e n e n s , K o r n e e l H a m e r s , C l a r a v a n d e n B r o e k production assistant B o b C o r n e t tec h nician ­J e r o e n W u y t s genera l manager S a s k i a L i é n a r d p h otos D a v i d V a n M i e g h e m S K a G e N is funded by t h e Flemish government

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The Great Downhill Journey of Little Tommy

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summerhall old lab - 80 min £ 10 / £ 8

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The History of the World BASED ON Banalities

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On Track summerhall main hall - 75 min £ 10 / £ 8

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A REASON TO TALK summerhall Cairns Lecture Theatre- 75 min £ 10 / £ 8

GOMAAR TRIOLOGY summerhall OLD LAB - 70 min £ 10 / £ 8

A GAME OF YOU TRAVERSE - 30 min £ 18 / £ 13

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Big

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TRAVERSE - 90 min £ 18 / £ 13

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Pardon/ In CUFFS

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A GAME OF YOU _ ONTROEREND GOED

A R eason to T a l k _ S ac h l i G h o l ama l i z ad

P ardon /In CUFFS _ SKaGeN

T h e History of t h e Wor l d B A S E D O N B ana l ities _ K opergietery

T h e G reat Downhill J ourney of Litt l e T ommy _ B oris V an S everen & J onas V ermeu l en ON TRACK _ TRISTERO

G omaar T ri l ogy _ U ltima Thule