International Festival of Contemporary Theatre
Programme
We Don't Speak to Be Understood
5, 6 September 19:00, Museum stage of New Riga Theatre | 15 and 10* eur
“I maintain that the theatre of the absurd is not about absurdity but about making life meaningful given our absurd situation”, Michael Bennett
Pieter Ampe and Benjamin Verdonck are two of the most unconventional Flemish theatre makers. Both use a raw and highly physical visual vocabulary, and the two share a love of slapstick. In their first collaboration Ampe and Verdonck drew on Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. On stage the seasons file past, but not always as one would expect. What sort of impact do these ever-changing circumstances have on them? Will they stand their ground amidst that change, or will they always be the plaything of the increasing chaos? We Don’t Speak to Be Understood is a disconcerting concentrate of The Four Seasons with a marvellous, unending epilogue which leaves the audience feeling abandoned and helpless.
About artist
Born in Burundi and raised in Ghent choregrapher and performer Pieter Ampe has studied in P.A.R.T.S. and other influential European dance centres. His most important work is created in collaboration with Portuguese artist Guilherme Garrido (Still Standing You) and his own brother Jakob (Jake and Pete’s Big Reconciliation Attempt For The Disputes From The Past). Since 2009 Ampe is artist in residence at CAMPO.
There are few artists who are as versatile as theatre maker, writer and visual artist Benjamin Verdonck. He has performed as a stage actor, once hung in a self-built bird’s nest high up on the façade of an office building, and has produced work that has been displayed in various art galleries. His work is poetic and communicative opening a new perspective on everyday reality.
Credits
By and with: Benjamin Verdonck, Pieter Ampe, Iwan Van Vlierberghe, Korneel Coessens, Louise Crabbé, Peter Seynaeve
Production: Toneelhuis KVS CAMPO
Executive producer: CAMPO
Co-production: BIT Teatergarasjen, La Bâtie, Festival de Genève
Premiere in Ghent, 2015
5, 6
September
19:00
15 and 10*
Eur
Language
No text
Duration
1h
Address
Website
* Reduced price for pupils, students, seniors and people with disabilities