ITA–Ensemble

Judas

Judas
10 Jan '24 to 20 Jan '24
ITA-ensemble / Robert Icke

'There is phenomenal acting by the whole ensemble, and especially by Hans Kesting'. – Theaterkrant

The name Judas is familiar to many of us. The traitor. The scorned man. A man condemned century after century for his cunning cowardice and who to this day deserves no pardon - or - is that perhaps half a story?

Run time 130 minutes
Genre theatre
Language Dutch
Surtitles Thu January 11 & 18

In Gesprek Fri January 12 & 19

Judas


When you hear the name Judas, you think of betrayal. He is the man who agreed to hand over Jesus in exchange for 30 silver coins. That is the official version. However, in the Gospel of Judas, Jesus asks Judas to betray him, which means he did it because Jesus himself had asked him to. And that is strange, because Judas’ deed leads to the crucifixion of Jesus.

Robert Icke became fascinated by this other version of the story: Judas as the true, perfect disciple of Jesus. A play about the positive side of betrayal.
-|-
Previously, Robert Icke created an acclaimed contemporary version of Oedipus and The Doctor at ITA. He created a sequel to Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, called Children of Nora.

Robert Icke, director of Judas, photographed by Jan Versweyveld voor ITA (Internationaal Theater Amsterdam).

Robert Icke on Judas

‘The story of Jesus is perhaps the most famous story ever told. Yet Judas' story, though famous, has a very different colour and weight. Nobody praises his name, which has become an insult, a condemnation. Yet an ancient text, which resurfaced in the 1970s, the Gospel of Judas, offers a glimpse of another version: a story which offers us a different understanding of Jesus' most notorious disciple. This new re-telling of the final days of Jesus' life, will think about betrayal and loyalty, about sacrifice and service, and about what it means to know that something is about to end.’

CAST

Language NP Language no problem Hans Kesting Hans Kesting
Language NP Language no problem Chris Nietvelt Chris Nietvelt
Language NP Language no problem Jesse Mensah Jesse Mensah
Language NP Language no problem Hugo Koolschijn Hugo Koolschijn
Language NP Language no problem Janni Goslinga Janni Goslinga
Language NP Language no problem Maria Kraakman Maria Kraakman
Language NP Language no problem Achraf Koutet Achraf Koutet
Language NP Language no problem Sabine van Kuipers Sabine van Kuipers

de Volkskrant

'Chris Nietvelt and Hans Kesting make a heartbreakingly destroyed couple, and Judas' power struggle with Jesse Mensah's enigmatic Jesus produces beautiful rhetorical fireworks'.

NRC

'Actor Hans Kesting is an unparalleled Judas. Big, muscular, tormented. His play is worth a reservation at the theatre. (...) Jesus is beautifully and elusively portrayed by Jesse Mensah: mystical and human by turns, broad-minded and rigid.'

Theaterkrant

'There is phenomenal playing by the whole ensemble, and especially by Hans Kesting'.

Scènes

'I have seen Hans Kesting play many times, but I am always impressed by this Monumental Actor'.

Judas, directed by Robert Icke, with Hans Kesting, Jesse Mensah, Ilke Paddenburg, Janni Goslinga and more.

PROGRAM BROCHURE

Read more about the production's direction, author, scenography and music in our digital brochure.

Go to the brochure

BEHIND THE SCENES

Go backstage at the rehearsal process of Judasand find out how the show is made.

Robert Icke
Director
Robert Icke

Robert Icke decided to become a playwright and director after he had been torn away from his PlayStation by his father as a teenager and saw a performance of Richard III, with Kenneth Branagh in the title role. He is regarded as a great young talent in British theatre. From 2013 until 2019 he was an associate director at the Almeida in London, the famous theatre that used to be led by Pierre Audi before he came to Amsterdam. From 2019 till 2022 Robert Icke was committed to Internationaal Theater Amsterdam as Ibsen Artist in Residence. This new form of support was created by the Philip Loubser Foundation.

In season 23|24 his directions of The Doctor and Judas will be reprised.

View Profile

CREDITS


text and direction Robert Icke
translation Aus Greidanus jr.
dramaturgy Maria Luttikhuis
scenography Hildegard Bechtler
costumes Wojciech Dziedzic
lighting design Natasha Chivers
sound design Tom Gibbons

private producer Gabriella de Rooij and Hendrik Jan ten Have
-|-
assistant director Maria Luttikhuis, Margus Spekkers, Cecilia Thoden van Velzen (intern)
scenographic technical producer Ramon Huijbrechts
assistant scenography Django Walon
assistant costumes Leanne van den Bussche
assistant dramaturgy Ties Jansen (intern)

head of technical staff Reyer Meeter
head artistic bureau Ulrike Bürger-Bruijs
casting advice Hans Kemna
production Edith den Hamer (head), Eva Sol, Mita Medri (intern)
technical department Lennart Bakker, Pepijn van Beek, Rinse de Jong, Hero Kaspers, Stijn van der Leeuw, Paul Meijer, Wouter Pieters, Arist Richartz
costume department Farida Bouhbouh, Suzanne Kollen, Wim van Vliet (head)
hair & make-up Mirjam Venema
set construction Kloosterboer, Levtec
photography Dim Balsem, Fabian Calis
graphic design Sara Fortuin, Serena Kloet
communication Iris Istha
with special thanks to Anna Sijbrands

MORE ITA-ENSEMBLE

Language NP Language no problem penthesileaITA–EnsembleTheater penthesilea
Close penthesilea ITA-ensemble / Eline Arbo
15 Jun '23 to 25 Jun '23
In this searing drama about a fatal love, a blistering passion churns unstoppably to the surface.
Language NP Language no problem who killed my father
on Tour
ITA-ensemble / deSingel / Ivo van Hove Theater who killed my father
Close who killed my father ITA-ensemble / deSingel / Ivo van Hove
13 Jul '23 to 15 Jul '23
Ivo van Hove adapted Who killed my father by internationally acclaimed writer Édouard Louis. Van Hove turned the very outspoken book into a monologue, especially for Hans Kesting.
Language NP Language no problem penthesileaITA–EnsembleTheater penthesilea
Close penthesilea ITA-ensemble / Eline Arbo
24 Aug '23 to 02 Sep '23
In this searing drama about a fatal love, a blistering passion churns unstoppably to the surface.
Language NP Language no problem Lehman Trilogy
ITA–EnsembleTheater Lehman Trilogy
Close Lehman Trilogy ITA-ensemble / Guy Cassiers
07 Sep '23 to 18 Oct '23
Slavery and industrialisation, war and new technological developments: no matter what is happening in America and even worldwide, the Lehmans always know how to make good money from it.
Language NP Language no problem My Heavenly Favourite
on Tour
ITA–EnsembleTheater My Heavenly Favourite
Close My Heavenly Favourite ITA-ensemble / Ivo van Hove
14 Sep '23 to 17 Sep '23
Ivo van Hove is the first director to adapt this heartbreaking and at the same time terrifying novel for the stage.
Language NP Language no problem the damned
on Tour
ITA–EnsembleTheater the damned
Close the damned ITA–Ensemble
29 Sep '23 to 02 Oct '23
This theatrical adaptation, based on a film script by Italian film director Luchino Visconti, shows how a family of rich German industrialists is fatally corrupted in its collaboration with the Nazi party that has come to power.
Language NP Language no problem Blood WeddingITA–EnsembleTheater Blood Wedding
Close Blood Wedding ITA-ensemble / Wim Vandekeybus
27 Oct '23 to 05 Nov '23
Driven by an indestructible love, the bride and her lover run off during the party. A savage manhunt is launched. The outcome is fatal.
Language NP Language no problem The Hours
ITA–EnsembleTheater The Hours
Close The Hours ITA-ensemble / Eline Arbo
02 Nov '23 to 12 Nov '23
Eline Arbo brings De uren (The hours), the novel by Michael Cunningham, to the stage.
Language NP Language no problem Prima Facie
on Tour
ITA–EnsembleTheater Prima Facie
Close Prima Facie ITA-ensemble / Eline Arbo
28 Nov '23 to 13 Apr '24
Prima Facie is a cutting monologue that caused a stir on West End and Broadway, and has been broadcast worldwide in cinemas by National Theatre Live.
Language NP Language no problem My Heavenly Favourite
ITA–EnsembleTheater My Heavenly Favourite
Close My Heavenly Favourite ITA-ensemble / Ivo van Hove
30 Nov '23 to 17 Dec '23
Ivo van Hove is the first director to adapt this heartbreaking and at the same time terrifying novel for the stage.
Language NP Language no problem Primeval and Other TimesITA–EnsembleTheater Primeval and Other Times
Close Primeval and Other Times ITA-ensemble / Hotel Modern / Guy Cassiers
06 Dec '23 to 18 Apr '24
Guy Cassiers, together with Hotel Modern and 11 actors from the ensemble, creates the world of Primeval and Other Times.