the damned
In the summer of 2022, the ITA ensemble will perform a major production in open air for the first time in its history. Under the green canopy of the Amsterdamse Bostheater, we will perform the Dutch version of Les Damnés. Ivo van Hove previously directed this play with France's most famous company, the Comédie-Française.
Location: Amsterdam Bostheater
Duration: ntb
Language: Dutch
Les Damnés had its world premiere in 2016 as the opening performance of the Festival d'Avignon in the majestic setting of the Cour d'Honneur in the former Pope's castle. In this theatre adaptation of a film script by Italian cinematographer Luchino Visconti, we see a family of rich German industrialists become fatally corrupted through their collaboration with the Nazi party that has come to power.
Les Damnés was received with raving superlatives and after it had finished in Paris, continued on to play in London, Antwerp, and New York. The Guardian called it an “eerily prophetic masterstroke”. The New York Times spoke of “a rich and merciless production”.
Ivo van Hove on The Damned
‘It tells the story of the venomous alliance between politicians at the highest level and a family running the allmighty steel industry. Visconti situates his story at a pivotal moment in our European history: the rise of fascism in Germany. I think we should look very closely at these mechanisms, because they could be relevant for how we deal with major issues these days. In big, lavish scenes, The Damned gives us a look into the abyss of what humans are capable of and how easy this family solidifies with an extreme right wing regime just for financial gain. The Damned shows the rise and fall of an influential greedy family and an immoral political system. Or is it most of all a story that makes us think about the world we live in today?’
Johannes Vermeer Award
The damned was created with the support of the Johannes Vermeer Award.
Credits
direction Ivo van Hove
by Luchino Visconti, Nicola Badalucco and Enrico Medioli
dramaturgy Bart Van den Eynde
scenography and lighting Jan Versweyveld
costumes An D’Huys
music Eric Sleichim
video Tal Yarden
assistant director Olivier Diepenhorst
co-producer Comedie Française
with Majd Mardo, Marieke Heebink, Steven Van Watermeulen, Hans Kesting, Aus Greidanus jr., Hugo Koolschijn, Maarten Heijmans, Janni Goslinga, Achraf Koutet, Ilke Paddenburg, Bart Slegers, Maria Kraakman, Chris Nietvelt, Bart Bijnens, and others