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De Storm (the Tempest) 2004

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In this story, the magical powers of Prospero have the effect that people are confronted with their own limitations, their own illusions. The Prince, Prospero, whose power has been tricky affected. doesn't manipulate to take revenge. He only wants reconciliation and a chance for love and reason. Prospero is an artist who lets us take a look at ourselves and our world. Men try to survive this life and tries to acquire power, but the ultimate 'nothing' will always be stronger. In the end, the value of 'being human' is in the fact of simply 'being human'.

This life may start with Peacock behaviors and frontmen, the last one closes the door, life ends in stillnes. A performance in which language of movement had an important place and the public is been involved in a special and inescapable kind of way.

timeline

‘De Storm’ had 8 performances on special locations in Breda (The Netherlands) and Merksplas.

credits

Spelers

 Actors:

Martine Derey

Guy Dirken

Kathleen Frison

Jan Goris

Paul Mertens

Nadine Van Miert

Gert Wellens

press

BN De Stem – 25/11/04 2004

In the opening scene we see a long table with 12 people, a reference to the Last Supper. The table turns into a ship that is shipwrecked, a wreckage upon which people try to climb up, after which they again disappear into the waves. What is striking and beautiful in this version of The Tempest is that the opening scene does not stand apart from the rest of the piece, but passes almost imperceptibly into the next series of images. The wreckage becomes a symbol of life, also something to which people try to cling to spasmodically.

‘De Storm’ is in the first place a sensory exciting experience. Auditory, by the drums, and visually, by the actors, much is demanded from the spectators. At certain moments you believe yourself to be in some kind of Dadaistic performance in which emotions, without any apparent reason, rise to a boiling point.

Also striking are the naïve texts, uttered at certain moments. Through repetition they seem to steer the performance, for instance, after the shipwreck, the imperative: ‘We’ll never go to sea anymore!’

The actors of Het Slot and Theater Stap from Turnhout are a beautiful cast, a strong team.

This performance, with its brittle scenery, played in De Grote Kerk (a very fine location, by the way), impresses very much. It’s a way of enjoying oneself you’re not used to.