Lichter dan ik
'The sadness and pain are palpably portrayed. All this in the knowledge that this history is the history of so many, if not all, Dutch East Indies people.' - Moesson
From the woman's perspective, Lichter dan ik (Lighter than me) offers a look at the struggle many Indonesian women have fought during colonial rule.
Festival Nederlands Theater Festival
Run time 120 minutes
Genre Theatre
Language Dutch
Lichter dan ik
Lichter dan ik is the moving story of a young woman who wants to escape the class society of Indonesia and chooses her own path. When she then gives birth to a daughter as a njai, or housekeeper and mistress of a Dutchman, it turns out that the father is unwilling to acknowledge their relationship or the daughter. She is forced to give up her motherly role in order to offer a better future to her daughter, who, because of her mixed blood and therefore lighter skin colour, has the chance to acquire more status. This involuntary, radical choice will haunt her for the rest of her life.
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The makers of the successful performance De tolk van Java (The Interpreter from Java, 2019) bring another performance in which the underexposed side of Dutch colonial rule is central. Together with director Olivier Diepenhorst, actress Esther Scheldwacht adapted the book of the same name by Dido Michielsen into a gripping theatre performance about a colonial family drama.
From the jury report
'Lichter dan ik tells the story of a Javanese njai. In a beautiful way, the makers show how women in the class society of that time with that system of oppression have maintained themselves. With great respect and attention, the makers have highlighted customs from other cultures. Lichter dan ik is a story that gives space to the perspective of women that has been lacking in our colonial past for too long.'
Reviews
Theaterparadijs
'At the same time, the play stands like an imposing house, thanks to the strong acting performances of the entire cast. It is an impressive whole that never becomes too heavy, but will not let you forget the pain of these women.'
De Volkskrant
'The excellent acting women (...) show and feel what it is like to be a plaything in a patriarchal society, whether it is Javanese or Dutch.'
Theaterkrant
'At the same time, the play stands like an imposing house, thanks to the strong acting performances of the entire cast. It is an impressive whole that never becomes too heavy, but will not let you forget the pain of these women.'
Credits
novel Dido Michielsen
adaptation Esther Scheldwacht
directed by Olivier Diepenhorst
with Esther Scheldwacht, Kees Hulst, Denise Aznam, Thomas Cammaert and Tara Hetharia
set design Lidwien van Kempen
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costumes Guave
lighting design Yuri Schreuders
music and sound design Mark van Bruggen
production manager Pitt de Grooth
About the NTF
The Netherlands Theatre Festival bursts into life again this autumn! After modest years, we open the doors wide with the best performances of the past theatre season. Discover a range of stories on stage, across generations and theatre genres, from the many corners of the Netherlands and Flanders. In addition to the ever-puzzling selections by the Netherlands Theatre Jury, The Flanders Theatre Festival and the BNG Bank Theatre Prize Jury, this year the nominees for the VSCD Mime Prize will also take the stage.