While we are here — Lisa Vereertbrugghen

A piece of old-school folk string tied to a hardcore stone

Can rave, despite its resistance to tradition, be a contemporary folk dance? Ugnė Jurelevičiūtė questions it during Lisa Vereertbrugghen’s new piece While we are here, that finds inspiration in hardcore techno, gabber style and Walloon peasant dances.

Ugnė Noreikė

review 14.12.2023

When history goes awry

An in-depth reading of Jaha Koo’s Hamartia Trilogy

Caroline Lee-Jeong

essay 08.12.2023

Bojan Djordrev — Politics of Colours / Chromopolitika

Layers, lines & colours

Bojan Dordjev is a performance artist from Belgrade educated in theatre and art theory. He’s the co-founder and editor of the platform TkH (Walking Theory) and the Journal for Performing Arts Theory (2001–2017). For his performance Politics of Colours / Chromopolitika he collaborated with Georgian artists. It is the opening act of the Belgian arts festival Europalia, dedicated this year to the Georgian art scene. In the introduction, he perfectly describes what it is about by saying something along the lines of ‘if you get lost don’t worry and let it take you somewhere, you’ll get the script at the end.’

Ugnė Noreikė

review 02.12.2023

Friction — Sophia Rodriguez

Contradictory compromises

Sophia Rodriguez’s FRICTION departs from the hypothesis that friction between individuals is disappearing in our contemporary, capitalist society, because of the common association of friction with resistance and conflict. In attempting to ensure that everything runs smoothly, we trade proximity for coldness. FRICTION explores whether deliberately provoking friction between people is a way to rid them of psychological and cultural differences, which often get in the way of connecting with others. While Rodriguez’ ambitions are hyper relevant and important, the resulting performance is a watered-down version of them. 

Dagmar Teurelincx

review 27.11.2023

Marthe Koning – What Pessoa Taught Me
 / Louis Verlinde & Gina Beuk – BROKEBACK SHITSHOW

Within & Without

What Pessoa Taught Me and BROKEBACK SHITSHOW are part of the 2023 LAFS (Love at First Sight) theatre festival program. The festival takes place in Antwerp and focuses on the work of young theatre makers. At first sight, these two shows, both premiering at the festival, have little else in common. One is a one-woman show, brooding and minimalist in its setting; the other is a flamboyant Hollywood look-alike. However, despite being situated on different ends of the spectrum, they’re both pieces of reflection; Marthe Koning’s performance comes from deep within while Verlinde and Beuk focus on the outside, the shining veneer covering our society.

Ugnė Noreikė

review 02.11.2023

Laurie Anderson – Home of the Brave &  Italo Calvino – If on a winter’s night a traveller

Eerste liefde / First love

In First love, we ask artists about the artwork that marked the beginning of their practice. Writer and performer Luanda Casella shares how a Laurie Anderson film and a book by Italo Calvino have shaped her work.

Luanda Casella

special 26.10.2023

Once Upon a Time – Febe Coysman

Another Piece of My Heart

In the sunny months of summer, cinemas around Europe move outdoors, organizing open-air screenings and often giving a dusting to old classics in the fresh air. Once Upon a Time by Febe Coysman shows that not only screens can move outdoors, but their plots and props too can step out of screens. A street in Oostende is transformed into a theater stage with a car as its centerpiece. And so a Tarantino-inspired Thelma and Louise go on a fearful trip full of loathing, all the while centering female friendship.

Ugnė Noreikė

review 09.08.2023