“No road network is as extensive as that of the imagination. And whoever travels through it may certainly crash, but they will never harm another.”
— Xavier de Maistre (1763-1852)
Zwerm & Bad van Marie are creating an urban trail blurring the lines between fiction and reality. It’s a surreal journey that takes participants past places where the city’s tumult, the ringing of a bicycle bell, or the starting of a motor transform into a film soundtrack…
Colorful signage guides groups of up to 15 people through a specific city district. Through musical and theatrical interventions, the spectator’s gaze is directed. Everyday urban situations thus acquire a touch of magic, sometimes subtly, other times bombastically and dramatically. It promises a surprising visual and auditory experience suitable for all ages.
More LessWhen we look, what do we see? When we listen, what do we hear? Our environment, memories, and expectations define the playground of our interpretation. Often, it takes very little to alter this playground. Sometimes, the images are more complex, and we must aid the observer within ourselves by isolating a scene or a sound from its surroundings—or even manipulating it.
‘This seems a bit like a cactus’ is a journey designed to train both the audience and ourselves to look beyond initial impressions, seek associations, and be enchanted by minimal events in unexpected places. Through music and theater, we redefine a piece of reality at various locations along a route through an everyday city neighborhood. We play with sightlines or freeze a situation. We guide the spectator’s gaze through music or through small interventions that blur the line between accidental and theatrical.
Credits:
‘This seems a bit like a cactus’ is a production by Zwerm, Bad van Marie, and music theater WALPURGIS. Co-produced with DE SINGEL and supported by the Flemish Government.”
concept | Peter Boelens, Toon Callier & Matthias Meersman |
music | Zwerm |
dramaturgy | Bad van Marie |
production | Zwerm & Bad van Marie |
coproducer | DE SINGEL, WALPURGIS |
performance | Peter & Annelies Boelens, Toon Callier, Kobe van Cauwenberghe, Matthias Meersman, Bruno Nelissen, Johannes Westendorp, Karen Willems, jazz & popkoor academie Hoboken |
picture | Peter Boelens |
recording engineer | Joris Caluwaerts |
production assisitant | Serena Ciavarella |
scenography | Stef Depover |
technique | Guy Van den Bril |
with the support of | Flemish Government, Ostbelgien |
Peter Boelens, Toon Callier & Matthias Meersman
Zwerm
Bad van Marie
Zwerm & Bad van Marie
DE SINGEL, WALPURGIS
Peter & Annelies Boelens, Toon Callier, Kobe van Cauwenberghe, Matthias Meersman, Bruno Nelissen, Johannes Westendorp, Karen Willems, jazz & popkoor academie Hoboken
Peter Boelens
Joris Caluwaerts
Serena Ciavarella
Stef Depover
Guy Van den Bril
Flemish Government, Ostbelgien
https://www.concertnews.be/recensietonen.php?id=5532&kop=Dit%20lijkt%20een%20beetje%20op%20een%20cactus%20★★★★1/2&waar=Stuivenbergwijk