‘Every non-European is supposedly a potential migrant’

Art knows no borders, but artists all the more so. Physical territories, nationalities, laws, rules: they are increasingly restraining the cultural mobility of non-European artists wishing to travel to the Schengen Area. Why is it that visa procedures have become so complex, burdensome and uncertain? And how does this undermine the much-needed international exchanges on our stages? Charlotte De Somviele raised these questions with Iranian-Belgian choreographer Ehsan Hemat and artistic director of laGeste Hildegard De Vuyst, who as a dramaturge has been working closely with theatre-makers from Congo and Palestine for twenty years.

Charlotte De Somviele

essay 05.02.2024

Elektra Unbound – Luanda Casella & NTGent

A (self) portrait of an artist

In her new tragicomedy Elektra Unbound, Luanda Casella creates an alter ego to test how far an artistic vision can be brought to fruition on stage. Irreverent, awfully intelligent, and horrifically funny, the new adaptation of Electra overturns our conventional sympathies with the victim to reflect on our cultural and digital consumption of suffering.

Caroline Lee-Jeong

review 23.01.2024

Shelly Shonk Fiffit – Benjamin Abel Meirhaeghe / Toneelhuis

Space folk

There are many beautiful things in the universe. Some are majestic and grand, making us think outwards, others are humbling and small, drawing us inwards. In his new show, Benjamin Abel Meirhaeghe is combining both, once again bridging different genres, ideas and themes.

Ugnė Noreikė

review 23.01.2024

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