The Years, Theater Malpertuis

‘Everyone thought they were alone. Suddenly they were a crowd.’ (Paul Eluard) In the book ‘De Jaren’ (2008) by Nobelprijswinnares Annie Ernaux, which is buried under superlatives, the author surveys her life between 1941 and 2006. Sketched against the canvas of a changing zeitgeist, this provides not only an impressive portrait of a woman but also an extremely recognizable image of post-war Western history. ‘Finding a form for my future absence,’ is what Annie Ernaux already called it when she wrote her book at the age of 65. ‘Because memory could well become cloudy.’ She wanted to get a grip on her passage on earth, on the time that has passed through her, and realized that she was not alone in that. Her highly personal life resembles that of all of us. Regisseur Piet Arfeuille and his vital choir use the multi-perspective of the theater to deepen Ernaux’s image of the times even further. The performance makes the power to rise above your own experience palpable. (Wouter Hillaert – De Standaard). Naast Dottermans and De Muynck play the young Kiana Porte and Carine van Bruggen. History flows through these four female bodies; the actresses make the text sparkle. (Natalie Gielen – etcetera). production Theater Malpertuis - based on ‘Les Années’ by Annie Ernaux © Gallimard - Dutch translation Rokus Hofstede published by publishing house De Arbeiderspers - theater adaptation and direction Piet Arfeuille - cast Viviane De Muynck, Els Dottermans, Carine van Bruggen, Kiana Porte, Nicolas Anné - composition Hendrik Lasure - dramaturgy Koen Tachelet - scenography space travelers - lighting design Jan Maertens - sound Jannes Dierynck - costumes Lieve Pynoo - with the support of the Vlaamse Gemeenschap and the Tax Shelter of the Belgian federal government via Flanders Tax Shelter - © photo Nick Hannes