Veerle Baetens and Bo Spaenc: Here, I as Empress

On stage: a woman and a man. An actress and a musician. Music, body, and words together tell the story of one figure, who is so colorful that several characters seem to be on stage. Veerle and Bo throw themselves into the interaction with each other and the audience. In full surrender to the storytelling, they dare to float, sweat, yield, and sometimes succumb. The tension on stage – sometimes harmonious, sometimes rebellious – contrasts with the isolated bubble in which the main character has retreated. Outside was too fast, too loud, too demanding, too many roles... Indoors, there is routine to fill the emptiness: hey Google, YouTube, chat GPT... Inside, she is free, the Empress in her realm: superwoman, unapproachable, enfant terrible. Then her door opens a crack... She, disconnected and replaceable, will she face the confrontation? Inspired by the hikikomori phenomenon, where people rarely leave their house or room anymore. Inspired by the loneliness economy that offers simple alternatives to the complex efforts that human relationships require. Inspired by a world whose pace we cannot follow, and yet we miss something. Inspired by the desire to be rid of that tiring world. VEERLE BAETENS is an actress, director, screenwriter, and singer. In 2012, she made her international breakthrough with her lead role in the film The Broken Circle Breakdown, for which she won several awards. Since then, she has mainly focused on film and television projects. She made her directorial debut with the film Het smelt, based on the novel by Lize Spit. Now she is accepting Bo’s invitation to be on the boards again with Hier, ik als Keizerin. From the very beginning, she gives direction to this performance in terms of content and form, by addressing a theme that is close to her heart and offers opportunities to weave words with physical play and music. BO SPAENC responds with both grotesque circus sounds and an honest sound of vocals, Indian organ, organic percussion, and toy piano. As artistic director of Muziektheater De Kolonie – and later as a freelancer – Bo made music theater with strong storytellers like Lucas van den Eynde, Peter De Graef, Tania Van der Sanden, Bart Hollanders, Warre Borgmans, Vic De Wachter, Stefaan Degand, and Bruno Vanden Broecke, opposite his ‘live’ music. These productions were invariably extensively featured in the CCs. Met Hier, ik als Keizerin, Bo and Veerle make music theater in which words, vocals, and instruments surprise each other and go their own way in a contrary manner. Acting: Veerle Baetens Live music: Bo Spaenc Script: based on an idea by Veerle Baetens & Kiana Porte, written by Veerle Baetens & Yoline Denys Composition: Bo Spaenc Coaching: Jan Bijvoet (OV) Costumes: Manu Verschuren Set, light and sound design: Dries Bellinkx Producer: PER PODIUM & BO SPAENC BV Co-production: CC ASSE & CC HERENT With thanks to centre culturel de Beauchevain & Theater Vooruit Boechout With the support of the Belgische Tax Shelter measure of the Federale Overheid