The Grief of Red Granny

Close

The Grief of Red Granny

Toneelhuis / LOD muziektheater / Gorges Ocloo

Shows

Sorry, there are currently no available shows.
The Grief of Red Granny
Toneelhuis / LOD muziektheater / Gorges Ocloo

The Grief of Red Granny is a poignant and musical theatre performance in which South African artists reinterpret the classic Stabat Mater in a quirky and personal way. This timeless piece of music about grief and solace takes on new layers through today's powerful voices and stories. An enchanting encounter between age-old music and contemporary theatricality that touches, confronts and connects.

Run time 105 minutes
Genre Theatre
Language English, French, German and Dutch (performance) & Latin, Xhosa, Zulu (vocals)
Surtitles Dutch & English

The Grief of Red Granny

17 February 1934. King Albert climbs the cliffs of Rocher du Bon Dieu in Marche-les-Dames and falls to his death. Reportedly, two million Belgians attended the funeral procession, yet according to protocol, Queen Elisabeth was not even allowed to be present at her husband's funeral. This event is a model for the grief of thousands who cannot grieve the way they want to.

The Grief of Red Granny is the first part of a AfrOpera diptych about individual and collective grief. In this first part, we take an emotional journey through one woman's heart, loosely inspired by Queen Elizabeth and Gorges' grandmother (two Red Grannies) and portrayed by actress Tine Joustra. She welcomes us into the ruins of her memories and takes us on the waves of her unprocessed grief.

In this ritualized AfrOpera, Gorges Ocloo gives room and voice to those who have not had a chance to say goodbye to their loved one individually: parents of missing children, victims of wars, pandemics, terrorist attacks, ...

-|-

Using his signature surreal imagery, Ocloo brings this enigmatic mourning process to life in the Garden of Eden. Six angels - three classical singers and three musicians, all from South Africa - make up the ensemble. The musical leitmotif is Pergolesi's Stabat Mater. “I will bring Pergolesi to my Voodoo church,” said Ocloo. In his radical adaptation of this famous composition, he draws inspiration from lush mourning and funeral rituals from around the world. A musical confrontation between cultures. A universal sound of sorrow and celebration at the same time

Reviews

Etcetera

‘The musical cross-pollinations result in an opera full of surprising twists, and with the kind of exuberant energy common in African church communities.’

De Tijd

'The grieving widow - handsome role by actress Tine Joustra - is constantly watched by six African angels, who perform the 12 movements of the “Stabat Mater”. The instrumentation is daring: drums, cello and guitar with soprano, mezzo-soprano and bass as voices.'

De Standaard

'An excellent Tine Joustra performs a monologue about love and loving, about pain, grief and letting go - effortlessly navigating between four languages. The text is thoughtful, with apt quotes and at times witty moments.'

Credits


concept, text, direction, composition, scenography Gorges Ocloo
actrice Tine Joustra
soprano Nobulumko Mngxekeza-Nziramasanga
mezzosoprano Nonkululeko Nkwinti
basso profondo Ntuthuko Ziqubu
guitars Charlton Daniels
cello Dane Coetzee
drums/percussion Carla Williams
dramaturgy Jana Beckmann and Josse De Pauw
sound design Victor Hidalgo
lightning design Lies Van Loock and Gorges Ocloo
costumes Tanya Maldonado and Esther Reijnen
stage design Senne Suls, Noah Dockx, Chris Reijnen and Niels Antonissen
production Toneelhuis and LOD muziektheater
-|-

in collaboration with Artscape Theatre Centre Cape Town (ZA)
with support of the Diplomatic Representation of Flanders in South Africa, the Tax Shelter of the Belgian Federal Government, Gallop Tax Shelter, Sabam for Culture

This performance is supported by

MORE THEATRE

Language NP Language no problem Time for Joy ITA Ensemble Theater Time for Joy
Close Time for Joy ITA Ensemble / Eline Arbo / Bianca van der Schoot
04 Jun '25 to 14 Jun '25
Time for Joy is a comedic, sometimes absurdist, yet deeply emotional play that gently compels us to reflect on who we are to one another, on loneliness, loss, and our relentless pursuit of happiness.
Language NP Language no problem Bérénice Romeo Castellucci, Isabelle Huppert Theater Bérénice
Close Bérénice Romeo Castellucci, Isabelle Huppert
13 Jun '25 to 15 Jun '25
Powerful, feverish and nerve-racking. Iconic actress Isabelle Huppert gives voice to intense feelings of despair, desire and sacrifice.
Language NP Language no problem Trilogia Cadela Força - Capítulo: The Brotherhood Carolina Bianchi y Cara de Cavalo Theater Trilogia Cadela Força - Capítulo: The Brotherhood
Close Trilogia Cadela Força - Capítulo: The Brotherhood Carolina Bianchi y Cara de Cavalo
18 Jun '25 to 20 Jun '25
Overwhelming second volume of Carolina Bianchi's theatrical trilogy explores “fraternity codes,” sexual violence and misogyny in uncompromising and confrontational ways.
Language NP Language no problem The Hours
on Tour
ITA Ensemble Theater The Hours
Close The Hours ITA Ensemble / Eline Arbo
20 Jun '25 to 22 Jun '25
The stage adaptation of Michael Cunningham's The Hours.
Language NP Language no problem ROHTKO Lukasz Twarkowski, Anka Herbut, Dailes Teatris Theater ROHTKO
Close ROHTKO Lukasz Twarkowski, Anka Herbut, Dailes Teatris
25 Jun '25 to 28 Jun '25
How does the value of originals differ from that of copies? Łukasz Twarkowski searches for answers in his performance full of rousing beats and video projections.
Language NP Language no problem The seasons Het Nationale Theater, Eric de Vroedt Theater The seasons
Close The seasons Het Nationale Theater, Eric de Vroedt
27 Jun '25 to 29 Jun '25
Where do you find hope in an upside-down world?
Language NP Language no problem The Years
on Tour
ITA Ensemble Theater The Years
Close The Years ITA Ensemble
13 Jul '25 to 14 Jul '25
“Nothing short of theatrical magic. [...] A celebratory explosion of language and acting.” – De Nederlandse Toneeljury. Due to its great success, The Years by Het Nationale Theater returns in 2024!
Language NP Language no problem DORIAN: portret van een onstilbare Club WILD Theater DORIAN: portret van een onstilbare
Close DORIAN: portret van een onstilbare Club WILD
28 Jul '25 to 29 Jul '25
DORIAN is a queer adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. The story explores the search for one's true self and the concealment of it, as well as themes of hedonism and beauty.
Language NP Language no problem Jongens Thor Braun Theater Jongens
Close Jongens Thor Braun
31 Jul '25 to 01 Aug '25
Jongens is a passionate immersion into the work of the controversial filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini. An extravagant yet intimate monologue about the longing for love and sexuality.
Language NP Language no problem The Wall ITA Ensemble Theater The Wall
Close The Wall ITA Ensemble
21 Aug '25 to 26 Apr '26
A middle-aged woman spends a few days at a friends' game lodge in the Alps.
Language NP Language no problem The End of Eddy
ITA Ensemble Theater The End of Eddy
Close The End of Eddy ITA Ensemble
25 Aug '25 to 06 Jun '26
Édouard Louis took the world by storm with his successful autobiographical novel The End of Eddy. Without much frills, the novel tells the life story of a homosexual boy growing up in a homophobic environment.
Language NP Language no problem Time for Joy ITA Ensemble Theater Time for Joy
Close Time for Joy ITA Ensemble / Eline Arbo / Bianca van der Schoot
11 Sep '25 to 28 Sep '25
Time for Joy is a comedic, sometimes absurdist, yet deeply emotional play that gently compels us to reflect on who we are to one another, on loneliness, loss, and our relentless pursuit of happiness.
Language NP Language no problem De seizoenen Het Nationale Theater / Eric de Vroedt Theater De seizoenen
Close De seizoenen Het Nationale Theater / Eric de Vroedt
03 Oct '25 to 05 Oct '25
Experience an all-inclusive theater journey that takes you through all four seasons over seven immersive hours. Enjoy seasonal side dishes and drinks, all included with your ticket.
Language NP Language no problem Minor Music at the End of the World by Saidiya Hartman Hartwig Art Foundation / Sarah Benson Theater Minor Music at the End of the World by Saidiya Hartman
Close Minor Music at the End of the World by Saidiya Hartman Hartwig Art Foundation / Sarah Benson
03 Oct '25 to 05 Oct '25
Minor Music at the End of the World is a performance in three movements based on Saidiya Hartman’s acclaimed essays, The End of White Supremacy: An American Romance and Litany for Grieving Sisters.
Language NP Language no problem The Laws ITA Ensemble Theater The Laws
Close The Laws ITA Ensemble
09 Oct '25 to 23 Nov '25
Who are you without someone else? In The Laws, based on the novel by Connie Palmen, director Eline Arbo takes you on the journey of a woman in search of herself.
Language NP Language no problem Phaedra in vlammen Het Nationale Theater / Ola Mafaalani Theater Phaedra in vlammen
Close Phaedra in vlammen Het Nationale Theater / Ola Mafaalani
11 Oct '25 to 12 Oct '25
Phaedra in vlammen is a modern take on the classic love tragedy Phaedra. How can a woman fight for her own freedom in a man's world?
Language NP Language no problem Kantjil en de Tijger (8+) Toneelmakerij / Oorkaan / Paul Knieriem theater-familie Kantjil en de Tijger (8+)
Close Kantjil en de Tijger (8+) Toneelmakerij / Oorkaan / Paul Knieriem
17 Oct '25 to 28 Dec '25
Musical youth performance about a hidden Indian family history
Language NP Language no problem Confrontaties (14+) Theater Utrecht / DOX / Casper Vandeputte Theater Confrontaties (14+)
Close Confrontaties (14+) Theater Utrecht / DOX / Casper Vandeputte
27 Oct '25 to 28 Oct '25
The musical, energetic, and heart-stealing theatre adaptation of the award-winning novel Confrontations by Simone Atangana Bekono (Best Book for Young Adults 2021).
Language NP Language no problem Prophet Song ITA Ensemble Theater Prophet Song
Close Prophet Song ITA Ensemble
12 Nov '25 to 22 Jan '26
Prophet Song unfolds in a chilling and not-so-distant future. When a right-wing, democratically elected regime rises to power, the rule of law begins to erode, and democracy slowly unravels. In the grip of a tightening reality, a mother fights desperately to protect her four children.
Language NP Language no problem Primeval and Other Times ITA Ensemble Theater Primeval and Other Times
Close Primeval and Other Times ITA Ensemble
05 Dec '25 to 21 Dec '25
Guy Cassiers, together with Hotel Modern and 11 actors from the ensemble, creates the world of Primeval and Other Times.
Language NP Language no problem Wie is er bang voor Sylvana Raymi Sambo Maakt Theater Wie is er bang voor Sylvana
Close Wie is er bang voor Sylvana Raymi Sambo Maakt
13 Dec '25 to 14 Dec '25
Wie is er bang voor Sylvana is a political thriller about courage, identity, and truth.
Language NP Language no problem HOPE NITE / Thalia Theater / Guy Weizman Theater HOPE
Close HOPE NITE / Thalia Theater / Guy Weizman
19 Dec '25 to 21 Dec '25
A play that focuses on the timeless struggle for justice and equality.
Language NP Language no problem Not Quichot Het Zuidelijk Toneel / Sarah Moeremans Theater Not Quichot
Close Not Quichot Het Zuidelijk Toneel / Sarah Moeremans
03 Jan '26
In Not Quichot, six storytellers remember their good friend Q, but who was Q's best friend? Through bold tales, they take you on their adventures with Q across Europe.
Language NP Language no problem Moeder van Europa Orkater Music Theater Moeder van Europa
Close Moeder van Europa Orkater
12 Feb '26 to 25 Mar '26
Mother of Europe is a story about the capriciousness of power. It is about the struggle to be part of the status quo and to make all voices heard in historical narratives.
Language NP Language no problem Giovanni's Room
ITA Ensemble Theater Giovanni's Room
Close Giovanni's Room ITA Ensemble / Eline Arbo
15 Feb '26 to 01 Mar '26
Director Eline Arbo adapts James Baldwin's timeless classic for the stage. A music filled performance about love, identity, and the fear of being oneself.
Language NP Language no problem Copenhagen Trilogy ITA Ensemble Theater Copenhagen Trilogy
Close Copenhagen Trilogy ITA Ensemble / Eline Arbo
04 Mar '26 to 22 Mar '26
A powerful portrait of a woman’s journey through class, identity, art, passion, love, and self-destruction.
Language NP Language no problem Giovanni's Room
on Tour
ITA Ensemble Theater Giovanni's Room
Close Giovanni's Room ITA Ensemble / Eline Arbo
06 Mar '26 to 08 Mar '26
Director Eline Arbo adapts James Baldwin's timeless classic for the stage. A music filled performance about love, identity, and the fear of being oneself.
Language NP Language no problem Gundhi De Warme Winkel Theater Gundhi
Close Gundhi De Warme Winkel
18 Mar '26 to 30 Apr '26
Theater that holds you hostage for hours with imagination and overwhelms you with violent text-based drama, only to leave you mentally liberated and physically purified, ready to face 21st-century life once again.