Here, I as empress, 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: hard-lier — Minnie withdraws. In Molenstraat 103 bus 5 is where she is Empress and wields the scepter. Here she burns her mousiness and her mood reigns. And otherwise: off with their heads. But is she allowed to spit fire in a world that is already burning? Or does she then become what she detests: a hunter, a chaser, a colonizer? 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.