Veerle Baetens & Bo Spaenc

Tickets for sale from Thursday, February 12 at 10 am. 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 multiple 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, then again rebellious – stands in contrast to 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 void: 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, does she face the confrontation? Inspired by the hikikomori phenomenon, where people rarely leave their house or room. 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 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 broke through internationally with her lead role in the film The Broken Circle Breakdown for which she won multiple 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 accepts Bo’s invitation to be on the boards again with Hier, ik als Keizerin. From the start, 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 acting and music. BO SPAENC gives a reply with both grotesque circus sounds and an honest sound of vocals, Indian organ, organic percussion, and children's 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 Livemuziek: Bo Spaenc Script: based on an idea by Veerle Baetens & Kiana Porte, written by Veerle Baetens & Yoline Denys Compositie: Bo Spaenc Coaching: Jan Bijvoet (OV) Costumes: Manu Verschuren Set, light and sound design: Dries Bellinkx Producent: PER PODIUM & BO SPAENC BV Co-production: CC ASSE & CC HERENT Photo: Lennert Madou Met thanks to centre culturel de Beauchevain & Theater Vooruit Boechout Met the support of the Belgische Tax Shelter measure of the Federale Overheid