Gardenia - 10 years later
'A richly layered portrait of gender fluidity and the joys of ageing' - The Times ★★★★
25 June 2010. The curtain of the Ghent city theatre NTGent opens, and Gardenia premiers. Inspired by the penetrating film Yo soy asi (by Sonia Herman Dolz), in which the closing of a transvestite cabaret in Barcelona becomes the framework for a glimpse into the private lives of a memorable group of old artists, actress Vanessa Van Durme collected a number of transgender and transvestite friends in order to win over directors Alain Platel and Frank Van Laecke and composer Steven Prengels for a project that can be called unique in every respect.
Starting time: 08:00 pm
Duration 1 hour 40 minutes, no intermission
Location Grote Zaal
Language show Dutch with French and English fragments
Somewhere over the rainbow
Gardenia dives deep into the turbulent lives of nine remarkable people. It is an intimate story about hope and cherished or lost illusions.
The world embraced the production. The next two years, Gardenia played over 200 nights in cities including Avignon, Paris, Vienna, Berlin, Antwerp, London, Amsterdam, Belgrade, Barcelona, Lisbon, Oslo, Quebec and Montreal, Adelaide, and Taipei, and there was a Russian tour. In 2012, Gardenia was nominated for the prestigious British Olivier Awards. Afterwards, the lives of the cast were beautifully portrayed in the acclaimed documentary Before the last curtain falls.
Ten years later, the cast comes together once again. Unfortunately, not all are there. Andrea has left us for good. And with her, Tina Turner. The group continues along with eight. Eight extraordinary individuals to want to get to know. To want to embrace.
What binds them are the marks scored deep on their souls.
What drives them is the unimaginable will to survive.
In the hope they will succeed. Through transformation. Or not.
In the knowledge that the price is incredibly high. Even today.
Ready to take the stage by storm.
To move and surprise.
To laugh and keep silent.
To sparkle and shine, one more time, somewhere over the rainbow.
In the press
'A richly layered portrait of gender fluidity and the joys of ageing' - The Times ★★★★
'A piece like a luxuriously blooming peony about eight men who may or may not be very passionate about flirting with the woman inside them and with the young, virile dancer on stage.' - Focus Knack
'Ten years later: the bodies are a bit more rigid, but the spirit remains intact. Frank Van Laecke and Alain Platel resume their beautiful tribute to the transvestite culture. Initiator Vanessa van Durme still leads the dance with as much commitment.' - Pzazz
'Gardenia is a delight for the eye and the ear. It is an ode to the life you should live in the body in which you can blossom like a peony. And it is also a blessing for a melancholic heart.' - Focus Knack
Credits
director Frank Van Laecke, Alain Platel
music Steven Prengels
created and performed by Vanessa Van Durme, Griet Debacker, Andrea De Laet (†), Richard 'Tootsie' Dierick, Danilo Povolo, Gerrit Becker, Hendrik Lebon, Dirk Van Vaerenbergh, Rudy Suwyns
set design Paul Gallis
costume design by Marie 'costume' Lauwers, Dorine Demuynck, Lutje Tamsin.
light Kurt Lefevre (design), Jan Mergaert, Bennert Vancottem
sound Sam Serruys (design), Brecht Beuselinck, Jo Thielemans
stage manager Wim Piqueur, Luc Laroy
costumes realized by NTGent workshop, by An De Mol
coiffures Claudine Grinwis Plaat Stultjes, Dian Vandecruys
set realized by NTGent workshop
photography Luk Monsaert
production manager Valerie Desmet
tour manager Katrien Van Gysegem
set transport Maurice van de Velde
trainee Jesse Vandamme
production NTGent & les ballets C de la B
co-production Le Volcan Scène nationale du Havre
original co-producers (2010) NTGent, La rose des vents (Villeneuve d'Ascq), TorinoDanza, Biennale de la danse de Lyon, Tanz im August (Berlin), Théâtre National de Chaillot (Paris), Brighton festival, Centro Cultural Vila Flor Guimarães, La Bâtie-Festival de Genève, Festival d'Avignon
with thanks to Yan Tax, Kryolan
supported by Flemish Government, City of Ghent, Tax Shelter measure of the Belgian federal government