Slachthuis Vijf

Theater Rotterdam / Erik Whien

'A brilliant stage performance.' - NRC ★★★★★

Slachthuis vijf (Slaughterhouse-five) is often described as an anti-war book, but it is everything mixed up: existential, hilarious, exciting, science fiction and philosophical. Erik Whien brings Kurt Vonnegut's anti-war book to the stage.

Festival Nederlands Theater Festival

Run time 90 minutes
Genre Theatre
Language Dutch

Slachthuis vijf

Billy Pilgrim is detached from time. The American soldier can step through a door in 1945 and come out somewhere in 1965. Thus, at the end of the Second World War, he relives the horrific bombing of Dresden and, at the same time, he is abducted by aliens and put on display on their planet Tralfamadore. It is there that Billy learns that things cannot happen other than they do. And that all things happen at the same time.

In Slachthuis vijf we see Billy shoot through the past, present and future, through conversations with his daughter Barbara and son Robert. The reality around him slowly falls apart and traumatic events in Billy's life get a new place and meaning.
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Director Erik Whien brings Kurt Vonnegut's remarkable masterpiece to the main stage at Theater Rotterdam, with actors Bram Suijker, Hannah Hoekstra and Jip van den Dool. In recent years, Whien has proven that he can bring a book to the stage in an unparalleled way. He has previously made lauded adaptations of Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates and Grief is the thing with feathers by Max Porter.

From the jury report

'With Slachthuis vijf director Erik Whien brings an overwhelming war story to the stage in Theater Rotterdam. With his clear directing choices and perfectly dosed actor's direction, Whien again proves to be one of the greatest directors of our time. Thanks to the experienced acting, the characters mercilessly claw their way into your mind. The performance oscillates between small-scale drama and grand gesture, shamelessly breaking through the fourth wall and firing miraculous stage images at the spectator that will remain etched on the retina for a long time.'

De Volkskrant

'The opening image is breathtaking.'

De Telegraaf

'Very clever how Bram Suijker switches seemingly effortlessly between the role of the narrator and that of Billy.'

Nederlands Dagblad

'Absurd, utterly original, blackly comic at times, and very effective.'

Theaterkrant

'Bram Suijker plays Billy Pilgrim in a phenomenal balancing act in which a daring, almost clownish nimbleness betrays a deep tragedy.'

ITALive

On Sunday September 4, the performance will be streamed live from ITA. Ticket buyers will receive an email two hours before the start with the link and a personal password.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to watch the livestream at another time. We play the performance live on the ITA stage and the livestream is a direct connection so that you can watch what is happening in ITA at home.

The ITALive of Slachthuis vijf will not be subtitled.

Credits

based on the book by Kurt Vonnegut

adapted by Koen Tachelet
direction Erik Whien
cast Bram Suijker, Hannah Hoekstra and Jip van den Dool
scenography Marloes and Wikke scenografie, Marija Prosheva
lighting design Julian Maiwald
costume design Rebekka Wörmann
assistant costume design Pleun Verheus
songs & other music Roald van Oosten (Billy Pilgrim was the star Roald van Oosten and Alvin van Veen)
dramaturgy Anoek Nuyens
translation Else Hoog
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director's assistant Kyra Mol
propsumer Noa Müller
campaign image Annaleen Louwe
digital campaign image Studio Lotte
technical producer John Thijssen
1st inspector Sidney van Geest
technique Arjen Fortuin, Axel Dikkers, Carola van Vliet and Diaz van Heijst (trainee)
production manager Andrea van Bussel
tour manager Gioya van Rees
marketing Sofie de Leede, Robin Laurens and Kirsten Lipman
with thanks to Toneelgroep Oostpool, Internationaal Theater Amsterdam and Marc Warning (design baby 2002)

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.

Read more about the NTF