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kings of war

ITA-ensemble / Ivo van Hove

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kings of war
ITA-ensemble / Ivo van Hove

In Kings of War Ivo van Hove merges William Shakespeare's plays Henry V, Henry VI and Richard III into one explosive performance about leadership. For his performance of Richard III Hans Kesting received the Louis d'Or in 2016.

Run time 270 minutes, incl. intermission
Genre Theater
Language Dutch

Surtitles Fri April 28 and Fri May 5

Kings of war


In Kings of War, director Ivo van Hove focuses on political leadership. The original texts were retranslated by Rob Klinkenberg and then thoroughly adapted: the Hundred Years' War between England and France, and the Rose Wars between the houses of Lancaster and York for the English throne, which are emphatically present as a historical context in the original pieces, were referred to the background in the adaptation in order to accommodate a varied portrait of successive kings.

As leaders in times of political instability and war, they show remarkable affinities with world leaders today. Kings of War is not a historical reconstruction, but a performance about power, ambition, leadership and responsibility; a performance in which leaders are confronted with the ultimate decision about the life and death of thousands of citizens and in which they rule from a sense of empathy and justice or are led by an unbridled lust for power.

CAST

Language NP Language no problem Gijs Scholten van Aschat Gijs Scholten van Aschat
Language NP Language no problem Hélène Devos Hélène Devos
Language NP Language no problem Janni Goslinga Janni Goslinga
Language NP Language no problem Aus Greidanus jr. Aus Greidanus jr.
Language NP Language no problem Hans Kesting Hans Kesting
Language NP Language no problem Daniël Kolf Daniël Kolf
Language NP Language no problem Minne Koole Minne Koole
Language NP Language no problem Hugo Koolschijn Hugo Koolschijn
Language NP Language no problem Bart Bijnens Bart Bijnens
Language NP Language no problem Ramsey Nasr Ramsey Nasr
Language NP Language no problem Chris Nietvelt Chris Nietvelt
Language NP Language no problem Celia Nufaar Celia Nufaar
Language NP Language no problem Bart Slegers Bart Slegers
Language NP Language no problem Eelco Smits Eelco Smits
Henry V, Richmond
Grey, Henry VI
Richard III
Charles VI, Warwick, Stanley
Gloucester, Buckingham
Exeter, Prince of Wales
Chief-staf, York, Edward IV
Montjoy, Leonora, Elizabeth
Cardinal, Rivers
Williams, Prince Edward, Prince of York
Katharina, Lady Anne
Duchess of York
Dauphin, Suffolk, Clarence
Margareta

REVIEWS

The Guardian

'Epic reimagining of Henry V, Henry VI and Richard III makes for an explosive examination of political leadership and present-day power'

New York Times

'In this cold-eyed, hot-blooded work, political cynicism moves with the heady rush of sexual passion. Settle in for a long session of shivers, gasps and, despite yourself, satisfied smiles. Kings of War takes the home-viewing pleasures associated with serial television portraits of cutthroat schemers, like those in House of Cards and The Sopranos, and magnifies them to the proportions of grand opera'

The New Yorker

‘the first great theatrical work of the Trump era’

What's on

‘brilliance and beauty’

DIGITAL BROCHURE

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

TO THE BROCHURE
Ivo van Hove
Director
Ivo van Hove

Ivo van Hove was director of Internationaal Theater Amsterdam from 2001 till 2023.

In season 23|24, his directing of The Damned, My Heavenly Favourite and Who Killed My Father will be reprised.

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CREDITS


by William Shakespeare
direction Ivo van Hove
translation Rob Klinkenberg
adaptation Bart Van den Eynde, Peter Van Kraaij
dramaturgy Peter Van Kraaij
scenography and light Jan Versweyveld
composition Eric Sleichim
costumes An D'Huys
video design Tal Yarden

private producers Harry en Marijke van den Bergh

co-commissioners barbican (london), théâtre national de chaillot (paris), wiener festwochen
co-production bl!ndman, holland festival, muziektheater transparent
supported by rabobank amsterdam

-|-

cast Gijs Scholten van Aschat, Hélène Devos, Janni Goslinga, Aus Greidanus jr., Hans Kesting, Daniël Kolf, Minne Koole, Hugo Koolschijn, Bart Bijnens, Ramsey Nasr, Chris Nietvelt, Celia Nufaar, Bart Slegers, Eelco Smits
musicians  steve dugardin (contratenor), bl!ndman [brass]: charlotte van passen, daniel quiles cascant, koen kaptijn, viktor belmonte albert, adam crighton

assistant director Olivier diepenhorst, Nina de la Parra
assistant dramaturgy Thomas Lamers
assistant scenography Pascal leboucq, Bart Van Merode
assistant composition Finn Kruyning
assistant video Rodrik Biersteker
head of technical department Reyer Meeter
production leader Michiel van Schijndel, Kiki Meijerhoven
technical staff Stijn van der Leeuw (first stage manager), Yannick Bruine de Bruin, Kevin Cuyvers, Zinzi Kemper, David Logger, Nelis Meijer, Stephan Pot, Pieter Roodbeen, Dennis van Scheppingen, Michel Smouter, Erwin Sterk, Mark Thewessen, Jip van ’t Veer
costume department Farida Bouhbouh, Carlijn Veurink (dressing), Wim van vliet (head), Ton Joling (execution crown)
hair & makeup David Verswijveren
set construction Eddy van gelder, Kloosterboer decor bv, Levtec
casting advice Hans Kemna
photography Jan Versweyveld


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