Here, I as Keizerin Molenstraat 103/bus 5, Veerle Baetens & Bo Spaenc

Minnie Maes is the smallest, grayest gray mouse. She leaves no traces — that's how minimal Minnie is. In a world that is becoming increasingly harder and uglier — or as she says: hardlier — Minnie retreats. In Molenstraat 103 bus 5 she is Empress and she wields the scepter. Here she burns her mousiness and her mood rules. And otherwise: off with her head. But is she allowed to spit fire in a world that is already burning? Or does she then become what she loathes: a hunter, a chaser, a colonist? Does she become that man on an imperialistic victory march, with only scorched earth in his wake? And who heals the wounds then? Veerle Baetens and Bo Spaenc search for a possible answer. Veerle embodies Minnie. She gives her a voice. Bo’s music weaves through her words and forms a second voice in Minnie’s universe. Here, I as Empress is a musical monologue about loneliness, power, and doubt. About how loud it can be in a head that feels too much. About the terrifying and liberating act of taking up space. And about what happens when the world unexpectedly stands at your door again. 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 stage 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 interweave words with physical acting and music. BO SPAENC provides a response 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, against his ‘live’ music. These productions were invariably featured extensively 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.