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Theatre

Venus in Libra

Toneelhuis, Jaouad Alloul

In the nightclub ‘The Last Mermaid’, the creatures of the night let their true selves come out. But the many bells and whistles hide a deep malaise. A dangerously swinging theatrical experience, a chaotic punk queer concert.
Who are you when you are tipsy?
Who are you when no one is watching?
Who do you see when you look yourself in the eye?
Who do you lose when you let yourself go?
Are you wearing a mask or is the mask wearing you?

 
When night falls, our bestial nature comes out. The meeting place is The Last Mermaid, a nightclub where Coco rules over the dance floor as Queen of the Night. With a mix of music, spoken word and dance, the creatures of the night indulge in being their true selves. The roaring twenties in full orgiastic swing. No vice or virtue is forgotten, no intoxicant left untouched. But the many bells and whistles hide a deep malaise. Coco confronts, balances, holds up a mirror in which society shows its true face – and it’s anything but a pretty sight. Like no other, she dares to ask: Who will be the last one standing?

For Jaouad Alloul, the provocation for this performance was the moment when a member of the European Parliament with an anti-LGBTQIA+ agenda was caught – mid-lockdown – at a sex party for gay men. It uncovered a level of hypocrisy and power abuse that needs to end urgently.

Venus In Libra is a manifesto, a dialogue, a radical act of resistance against everything conservative. Venus In Libra searches for balance in a world that does not learn from its mistakes. There is a need for transparency, softening, feminization. For radical love and sex with consent. Individual expression and collective awareness. Hospitable encounters and heartfelt embraces.
 
Who represents the status quo, and which side of the (r)evolution are you on?

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concept, text

  • Jaouad Alloul
  • Jeroen Vanluyten

research

  • Jeroen Vanluyten

director

  • Jaouad Alloul

dramaturgy

  • Jeroen Vanluyten

composition

  • Jaouad Alloul
  • Jan D’Haene

composition electronic music

  • Hanne Torfs

musicians

  • Jan D’Haene
  • Dirk Fryns
  • Juno Kerstens
  • Hanne Torfs

choreography by Jaouad Alloul and Hendrik Lebon

  • Jonas Vandekerckhove

Choreography of the creatures of the night

  • Sagì Amir Gross

light design

  • Tim Clement

costume design

  • Mario Leko

scenography

  • Daphne Okon

Creatures of the night

  • Mick Galliot
  • Naomi Celis
  • Elaine Hakkaart
  • Saloua Hassani
  • Joep Lange
  • Klaas Mertens
  • Faisal Muhammadu
  • Helder Onkelinx
  • Lieke Oolders
  • Lilith Pas
  • Dane Schippers
  • Flora Van Canneyt

dance, performance

  • Hendrik Lebon

production

  • Toneelhuis

with the support of

  • de Tax Shelter van de Belgische federale overheid
  • Casa Kafka Pictures Tax Shelter

thanks to

  • Markus Weis
  • Paulo Henrique Lustosa
  • Johan Petit
  • Céline Buren

All data

There are no upcoming activities for this event.

  1. Thursday 15 December 2022 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  2. Friday 16 December 2022 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  3. Saturday 17 December 2022 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  4. Sunday 18 December 2022 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  5. Tuesday 20 December 2022 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  6. Wednesday 21 December 2022 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  7. Thursday 22 December 2022 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  8. Friday 23 December 2022 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  9. Friday 13 January 2023 — 20h00 — CC De Werf, Aalst
  10. Tuesday 17 January 2023 — 20h00 — NTGent/Minard, Gent
  11. Wednesday 18 January 2023 — 20h00 — NTGent/Minard, Gent
  12. Thursday 2 February 2023 — 20h00 — KVS - BOL, Brussel
  13. Friday 3 February 2023 — 20h00 — KVS - BOL, Brussel
  14. Wednesday 8 February 2023 — 20h00 — CCHA, Hasselt
  15. Thursday 23 February 2023 — 20h00 — 30CC/Schouwburg, Leuven

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