Evil Evil Evil
Evil, evil, evil is a confrontational combo performance by theater group DeltaDua in which colonial “heroes” JP Coen and Captain Westerling come face to face with the horrific reality of their actions. With daring, historical stratification and sharp actuality, DeltaDua sheds new light on a fraught past that continues to resonate in the present.
Festival Lieve Stad, 750
Run time 90 minutes
Genre Theatre
Language Dutch
After talk with The Need for Legacy in The Bookshop
Evil, evil, evil
In the shadows of Dutch colonial history, figures such as Jan Pieterszoon Coen and Captain Westerling are often portrayed as “heroes,” but their actions evoke much resistance. These men, who served the VOC (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie), are also responsible for the oppression and genocide of indigenous people in the archipelago called Indonesia.
Imagine both gentlemen suddenly appearing on the scene. Deliberately brought together by theater group DeltaDua. What will happen when they are in one space? The clash between their glorious stories and the gruesome reality of colonialism is sure to cause much discussion. All this forms the basis for theater group DeltaDua's combo performance titled Evil, evil, evil that is a compilation of the recent performances JP Coen... Basta! and Operasi Batavia: Westerling.
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The connection between cities such as Amsterdam, Hoorn and Middelburg is deeply rooted from the colonial past. These port cities were the base of the VOC, where wealth was amassed at the expense of the indigenous population. Now these “heroes” are often seen as symbols of a dark past, forcing us to look critically at our history.
It is time to revisit the stories and let the voices of the oppressed be heard. History is complex and not black and white; it is a web of choices that continues to affect us. Evil, Evil, Evil invites us to explore these important questions and reflect on the mental state of our city in which the moral ambiguity of the past is reflected. What does it mean to honor and condemn, and how do we use our history to shape the future? It is a diabolical dilemma.
After talk with The Need for Legacy
The performance Evil Evil Evil will be followed by a stimulating after talk discussion at The Bookshop with DeltaDua and The Need for Legacy, led by moderator Rochelle van Maanen. On display in the space are special photographs, selected in consultation with Jean van Lingen, which together offer a visual context to the past of this production. The Need for Legacy talks about the design process and the significance of these stories in the present. What kind of audience did this performance attract at the time? How did funding applications go at the time? And how do we ensure that this heritage remains visible in the future? After the talk, visitors are invited to view the photo exhibition, while researchers gather input for further documentation through 360 interviews.
Director
Anis de Jong about Evil, evil, evil
'Evil, evil, evil is about confrontation, dialogue, power, injustice, glorification of colonial heroes, protest and vindication. How can we acknowledge the legacy of colonialism while allowing the voices of those hurt by that past to be heard? It forces me to think more deeply about the complexity of our history. Is history a closed book or can stories unfold again and again?'
Credits
director Anis de Jong
artistic direction Anis de Jong
staging Anis de Jong
text contribution Anis de Jong
text editing Paulette Smit
lighting design Steve Inoeng
general engineering coordination Sem Usmany, Jaimy Tetelepta
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sound design Dominic Pical
design and costumes Silvana Nicoletta
public relations Anais Nin de Jong, Jacqueline Vorst
business advice Rein Sohilait
cast Karim El Guennouni, Nel Lekatompessy, Roger Goudsmit, Germ Bot, Margriet Dantuma, Noa Telussa, François Pical, Gijs Jan Stam, Jos Kamp, Rob Pical, Dominic Pical, Raymond Pical
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.
