The Almighty Sometimes

“The opening immediately hits the mark. In a cinematic montage, The Almighty Sometimes is made inescapably personal. First by the projected dedication to director Daria Bukvić's mother, and then by the main character, played by Selin Akkulak, breaking through the fourth wall. She looks the audience straight in the eye and will share with us her quest for the rest of the evening.

It is the spiritual vulnerability of this main character that you come to know, and which you come to understand is an intangible force that has a great effect on her and her loved ones.

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The editing is fast and stylized, with clever use of light and scenery. A style that works well for the young audience that Theater Oostpool appeals to par excellence. The acting style is realistic, with slightly alienating effects that add lightness to the spirited story. Ultimately, everything has to add up to the inevitable moment of psychosis - and it does. You can feel it approaching, and as you sit on the edge of your seat, a mesmerizing set choreography kicks in. The world revolves around Selin Akkulak like a movie, while we crawl inside her head in the process.

Mika de Pee, the love interest, empathically plays how his character shifts between love and self-preservation. The mother, played by Maartje Remmers, sharply shows how to keep moving between maternal love and exhaustion - forever if necessary. Renée Soutendijk skillfully balances on the line of professional detachment and deep warmth.”

text Kendall Feaver
director Daria Bukvić
performers Selin Akkulak, Maartje Remmers, Renée Soutendijk, Mika de Pee
translation Bregje Hofstede
dramaturgy Fanne Boland
set and video concept Marloes en Wikke
costume design Dymph Boss
lightning design Yuri Schreuders
sound design Wilko Sterke
mixer Ralph Verdult
singer Michael Muller
drums Viktor van Woudenberg
bass Jan Teertstra
guitar Frank van Kasteren
cello Mascha van Nieuwkerk
violin Julia Philippens
video design Daniël Steenhoff
assistant director Seppe Salomé
lightning programmer Wout Panis
costume assistant Leila El Alaoui
internship scenography Menno Meijners
costume atelier Femke van Neerven
decor Quirijn Smits
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casting Emilie Pos
production Ilze Versloot
technical team Hergen Verheul, Han Verweijen, Pieter de Jonge, Denson Batteké, Toon de Vries
marketing Daniel Jaspers, Femke Krijntjes, Luca Renting
context programmingSara Bouman, Noa van Schie
intimacy coordination Markoesa Hamer
fight coordination Erwin Dörr
campaign image Elza Jo
portret photography Anne van Zantwijk
scene photography Juliette de Groot
graphic design Isabelle Vaverka
teaser DEEP Amsterdam
with thanks to Ralph Kupka, Nadya van der Sluis, Vinny Tailor, Jasmijn van Wijnen