Battlefield of Dreams
Whether you are dealing with this subject in your twenties, thirties or forties, or look back on it later in life, this question affects us all: what does it mean to want or have a child – or not?
This is an issue that goes beyond just a personal consideration and involves diverse emotions and ethical dilemmas. Battlefield of Dreams is about (un)desired childlessness, fertility processes and abortions, about new forms of parenthood and reproductive justice.
Festival Lieve Stad, 750
Run time 120 minutes
Genre Theatre
Language Dutch with English surtitles
Please note: This performance uses stage blood.
Battlefield of Dreams
Battlefield of Dreams is a unique fusion of physical theatre, intimate documentary, live music and a talk show with doctors and scientists in which fiction and reality intermingle. Through the eyes of women, men and (gender)queers, Battlefield of Dreams is a confrontational and moving experience about reproduction and the power of creation, and at the same time dissects the extent to which we are the creators of our own lives.
Reviews
de Volkskrant
The sensitive and unique “Battlefield of Dreams” captures the shared experience of having — or not having — children.
NRC
“Battlefield of Dreams” offers a welcome opportunity to talk about the taboos surrounding parenthood.
Theaterkrant (Critic's choice)
'Powerful, immersive production about the desire for children opens hearts and minds.'
Floor Houwink ten Cate about Battlefield of Dreams
"These stories are present everywhere, but we hardly talk about them. In this performance, we show the often invisible and unheard stories that we carry within ourselves all of our lives, with a large group of performers, musicians and experts. It is an attempt to open up the conversation, to understand each other better and defend the right to self-determination - especially now that it is once again threatened."
Credits
Concept/Regie/Documentaire/Libretto Floor Houwink ten Cate
Cast Suzan Boogaerdt, Princess Isatu Hassan Bangura, Nastaran Razawi Khorasani, Lisa Verbelen
Live Music Annelinde Bruijs & KARA Music: Jessie Lee (percussie), Celeste Mercedes Engel/Wies Pijnenburg (viool), Nia Ralinova (cello)
Expert: dr. Bahareh Goodarzi e.a.
Documentaire Nina van den Berg, Marlies Heuer, Joep Hufman, Petra van der Meulen, Rachelle Mol, Nina Gallardo Schipper, Joris Smit, Quirine Tordoir, Joy Wielkens, Storm Vogel, Otto Calmeijer Meijburg
Composer/Libretto Annelinde Bruijs
Music Director Celeste Mercedes Engel (KARA Music)
Movement Director Suzan Boogaerdt
Scenografie Studio Dennis Vanderbroeck
Licht- en video-ontwerp Sander Loonen
Kostuumontwerp Rebekka Wörmann
Assistentie kostuumontwerp Jelena Bondt
Geluidsontwerp Jeroen Hoekstra
Dramaturgie Renée Copraij
Research Brecht de Backer
Regieassistent (stage) Pip Greenaway
D.O.P./Licht/Geluid (Documentaire) Niels van Koevorden
Camera Assistent (Documentaire) Niels Lokhorst, Max van de Pol
Set (Documentaire) Hanna van der Haar
Montage (Documentaire) Lot Rossmark, Rens Christiaansen
Programmamaker De Balie & Theater Utrecht
Coproducent Boogaerdt/VanderSchoot
With thanks to Frascati Producties, Marije Ligthart en Machteld Vinkenborg (Brainwash Festival), Charlie Chan Dagelet, Serin Utlu, Ayla Çekin Satijn, Varja Klosse, Evgenia Brendes, Lola Smit, Abke Haring, Berthe Spoelstra, Akelei Loos.
Made possible by Fonds 21, VSB Fonds, Stichting Melanie en Helmut D. Lethe jr.
About Lieve Stad, 750
This performance is part of Lieve Stad, 750, a joint theater festival of Internationaal Theater Amsterdam and Meervaart. In honor of 750 years of Amsterdam, we are celebrating an extra-large edition in May with more than 50 performances in 13 theaters throughout the city. The festival brings everything together: the artists, the stages, the stories and the audience. We honor the city's rich traditions, but also give space to new voices and perspectives. Together we make Amsterdam - and we celebrate it.
Celebrate the art. Celebrate the city. Celebrate it together.
Lieve Stad, 750 is made possible by