The Promise (The Song Project)
After inspiring collaborations in her own country with, among others, Joost Zwagerman and Lucas Rijneveld, Wende was inspired by the age-old tradition and the great diversity that characterises the English writing landscape. In 2020, she started working with a group of up-and-coming British female writers. The result was a moving, modern song cycle about identity, origin and all shades of grey of being a woman in our time.
Run time 100 minutes
Genre music theatre
Language English and Dutch
The Promise (The Song Project)
Wende got to know The Royal Court Theatre through the well-known English writer Simon Stephens. For over 60 years, this London theatre has been the springboard for the careers of world-renowned playwrights such as John Osborne, Samuel Beckett, Sarah Kane, David Hare, Caryl Churchill and Mark Ravenhill.
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Wende: “This performance is a promise to myself. To be allowed to be who I am and to discover which roles I fulfil. What do femininity and motherhood look like? I have searched for this through the eyes of 5 crazy writers and The Promise is a performance that takes you along in the different directions and perspectives.”
Her first international theatre concert was praised by the international press and can now be seen again at Internationaal Theater Amsterdam.
REVIEWS
The Guardian
"I often wish I had been in Paris in the 50s when the great French singer-songwriter Barbara was performing. Now I feel better about the lack. I was at the Royal Court when Wende sang."
BROADWAY WORLD
"Something truly magical. Ninety minutes of Wende is not nearly enough. The Song Project feels like a one-woman musical with pop music. It’s Fleabag meets Lady Gaga."
WhatsOnStage
"Sensational. Memorable. Totally intoxicating, and absolutely of itself, directly to the heart. I can't recommend it enough."
CREDITS
concept by Wende and Chloe Lamford
created by Chloe Lamford, Wende, Isobel Waller-Bridge and Imogen Knight
words by E.V. Crowe, Sabrina Mahfouz, Somalia Nonyé Seaton, Stef Smith, Debris Stevenson
performed by Wende, Nils Davidse, Louise Anna Duggan and Midori Jaeger
electronic producer Jan van Eerd
additional arrangement Fiona Brice
assistant director Izzy Rabey
creative producer Wouter van Ransbeek
theatre producer/business management Ulrike Bürger-Bruijs
management Froukje Bouma
production manager Tim van der Does
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For the Royal Court Theatre Production:
original design Debbie Duru
original lighting design Lee Curran
For the Dutch Theatre Production:
lighting design Freek Ros
sound design Bob Willekens
The Song Project is a co-production of Stichting WENDE, the Royal Court Theatre London and Internationaal Theater Amsterdam
made possible in part by Fonds Podiumkunsten
photography Raymond van Olphen
