Perzen. Triomf van Empathie
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One of the spearheads of theatre company Action Zoo Humain, artist in residence at NTGent, is to confront Western cultural heritage with the reality of a multi-voiced world. Led by Chokri Ben Chikha, the performers look at the long-standing conflict between Israel and Palestine through the lens of the oldest tragedy in the theatrical canon: Aeschylus' The Persians.
Did Aeschylus, who himself fought against the Persians, write about them with genuine empathy or did his tragedy instead affirm the superiority of the Greeks? What parallels can we draw between past and present?
(read more below the quote)
"A deliberate punch in the stomach (...) Theatre cannot stop the killing but it does have the power to look the other person in the eye as a human being in the midst of the chaos"De Standaard (BE) ****
Persians. Triumph of Empathy thus balances between art and reality, opportunism and empathy. In the multidisciplinary theatre performance, Ben Chikha challenges the young generation to sharpen their personal, political and artistic visions on the two main elements of tragedy: empathy and pride. The ordeal is made all the more acute by a polyphonic chorus of Palestinians and Israelis who were interviewed by Ben Chikha when he was in the region in January 2024.
credits
with & by
Hellen Boyko, Liah Frank, Marah Haj Hussein, Mareille Labohm, Leblalta Abdennacer (Iskara_Alonzo), Rateb Syassiconcept, direction & choreography
Chokri Ben Chikhadramaturgy
Sietske de Vriestext
Erik-Ward Geerlings with the perfomersmovement coach
Izah Hankammer, Daisy Phillipsfilm (camera & edit)
Jan Beddegenoodtsvideo
Wim Piqueurmusic
Jo Thilemanslight design
Dennis Dielsset design
Karolien De Scheppercostume design
Chloé Wasselin-Dandreproduction manager
Irina Leskovskayatechnical production management
Patrick Martensstagemanagement
Bennert Vancottemtechnique
Geert De Rodder , Jo Thielemans, Wim Piqueursurtitles
Liesbeth Standaertproduction assistant
Clara Françoisproject team
Irina Leskovskaya, Leen Van Welden (project management), Maarten Degezelle (public relations), Loubna Boukaroua, Oya Ben Chikha (communication), Jo De Visscher (costume studio coordination), Joris Soenen (decoration studio coordination), Carl Vermeersch (artistic planning)set, props and costumes
NTGentproduction
NTGent, Action Zoo Humaincoproduction
Theater Rotterdamwith the support of
The Belgian Tax Shelterspecial thanks to
Ludo De Brabander , Esmeralda Schütz, Eitan Bronstein Aparicio, Ludo Abicht, Isabelle Grynberg, Charles-Daniel Schreiber, Zouzou Ben Chikha, Jawad Musleh, Angela Godfrey, Robi Damelin, Roni Zeidan, Dani Brodsky, Moshe Zimmermann, Yael Ayalon, Amer Badan, Freddy Rokem, Munther Isaac, Rashed Khudairy, An Verelst, Sophie Samyn- 26 Jun 24 — De Standaard **** - "Een riskante maar noodzakelijke dans van empathie" - (recensie)
- 12 Feb 24 — De Morgen (BE) - "Als je samenleving gebaseerd is op wraak, verlaag je je als mens" (Perzen, Chokri Ben Chikha en Action Zoo Humain, van 20 tot 22 juni in NTGent)
- 18 Jan 24 — De Morgen (BE) - "Op de planken is de oudheid actuelere dan ooit" - (over Elektra, Medea, Perzen én ALL GREEKS)
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