Lehman Trilogy
Lehman Trilogy has caused a furore on the West End and Broadway in recent years. Directed by Guy Cassiers, ITA is presenting this unparalleled 150-year story in the Dutch language for the first time.
Run time 3 hours 30 minutes, incl. intermission
Genre Theater
Language Dutch
Lehman Trilogy
In the mid-19th century, three Jewish brothers emigrate from Bavaria to America. In the deep South they start a small shop in fabrics. They become rich in the cotton trade. Their family business develops over the years into a dizzying financial empire that is passed on from generation to generation and keeps getting bigger and bigger. In 2008 it is partly responsible for the financial and banking crisis. This is how Lehman Brothers ruins itself.
-|-
In Lehman Trilogy, the Italian author Stefano Massini wrote not only the story of a family but also the history of ruthless American capitalism. Slavery and industrialisation, war and new technological developments: no matter what is happening in America and even worldwide, the Lehmans always know how to make good money from it. Everything they plan to do – including getting married and having children – is tested in advance against the question: what will it produce?
Guy Cassiers about The Lehman Trilogy
“We follow a family for one hundred and seventy-five years, from the moment the first Lehman arrives in New York with only a suitcase, while simultaneously following the history of banking. It is a fable about capitalism that shows in detail how money has always been a driving factor in how we have continued to develop. So we get not only the story of how the financial world has had an increasing impact on our daily existence, but also a family tragedy. It is about America then, but at the same time also about what America still means to us here in Europe. That's why it's so relevant.”
In the press
Trouw
'Lehman Trilogy' is a layered and successful epic about unbridled capitalism.'
Nederlands Dagblad
'Although the play is three hours long, Lehman Trilogy does not feel boring for a moment.'
De Standaard
'Besides the cleverly formulated stage text, the six actors, each playing multiple roles, are another trump card of the show.'
8weekly
'Cassiers grabs his audience by the throat from that first appearance of Nietvelt and doesn't let go for three parts in a performance that rolls on, exciting, witty, cynical - and from time to time pitiful.'
PROGRAM BROCHURE
Read more about the production's direction and scenography in our digital brochure.
GO BEHIND THE SCENES
Guy Cassiers (born in Antwerp, 1960) is considered one of Europe’s top theatre-makers. His idiosyncratic theatrical idiom in which he successfully marries visual technology with a passion for literature is highly esteemed within Belgium and throughout the world. He has been artistic director of Toneelhuis from 2006 - 2022.
In season 22|23 he will direct the ITA-ensemble in Lehman Trilogy. Previously he created The Kindly Ones, May we be forgiven and Hamlet vs Hamlet with our ensemble.
CREDITS
director Guy Cassiers
by Stefano Massini
translation Els van der Pluijm
dramaturgy Erwin Jans
scenography Guy Cassiers, Bram Delafonteyne
costume design Devastator
light design Frank Hardy
sound design Jeroen Kenes
video Bram Delafonteyne
co-producer More Theater Producties
private producer Esther Kwaks, Anna Wouters, Gabriella de Rooij and Hendrik Jan ten Have
supported by Ammodo, Brook Foundation
-|-assistant director Boris Kip
assistant scenography Zaza Dupont
assistant video Frederik Jassogne
assistant dramaturgy Olga van Bochove (intern)
head of technical staff Reyer Meeter
head artistic office Loesje Riethof
casting advice Hans Kemna
production leader Edith den Hamer
production assistant Eva Sol
scenographical technical producer Ramon Huijbrechts
technical staff Sebastiaan Kruijs (stage manager), Cedric van Daalen, Sander van Elteren, Danne Hekman, Lars Huijgen, Rinse de Jong, Daan Kapteijn, Zinzi Kemper, Nelis Meijer, Pieter Roodbeen, Tim Senden
costume department Farida Bouhbouh, Suzanne Kollen, Leanne Vandenbussche, Wim van Vliet (head)
hair & make-up David Verswijveren
set construction Kloosterboer
photography Fabian Calis
graphic design Serena Kloet
communication Iris Istha
with special thanks to Auteursrechtenbureau TDI Agency Holland Ernst M. van den Berg, Esmée Begemann, Mirjam van Dam, Hiske Krammer, Levtec, Johan Reyniers, Anna Sijbrands, Lena Vercauteren, Bart Wallet
The stage rights of the play LEHMAN TRILOGY/LEHMAN BROTHERS by Stefano Massini are represented by Zachar International, Milano, in collaboration with TDI-Agency Holland, Amsterdam
This performance is supported by
