Theatre Kikker doesn't shy away from experimental programming, this time our theatre presents the performers in the middle of their progress. The performers will present their work in progress for one night only, feedback from the audience is a warm welcome. The audience meaning: you! An intimate and surprising night, and of course a look at what is cooking in the Kikker kitchen. What you can expect to see in this edition is: Observing and to be observed in two diverse ‘work in progress’-performances.
This edition shows:
Sunken works made by choreographer Ghalia Conroy, with a powerful duet between body and camera she explores themes of ‘observing and to be observed’.
Holding is Futile made by Jesse van Delft is a performance in print where you are invited to use the geriso-print book to become both the performer and the audience.
The language in this edition of Kikker Experimenteert is English
(performance in progress)
Under the title Sunken Works, Ghaliah Conroy is working on a series of works around the theme of the Human Zoo, the ‘exotic’ exhibitions that took place in Europe well into the 20th century, where people of colour were displayed behind a fence for public viewing. What effect does this history have on black women today?
After the dance film Sunken Works / DON'T BITE (a co-production between DansBrabant and the Nederlandse Dansdagen), Ghaliah takes an even deeper look at the theme of ‘looking and being looked at’. How do you relate to a gaze that reduces you to a stereotype? And how do you reclaim your autonomy?
Sunken Works / xx is an intimate live duet between a camera and a black body - at the same time, xx is a game between audience and performer. Who watches whom, who decides, who follows... Anger, incapacity and affection seem to stand side by side. Sunken Works / xx is at times uncomfortable, at all times thought-provoking and personal.
A performance in print
In Holding Clouds is Futile, Jesse investigates how a riso-printed booklet can invite one to be both a performer and a spectator. This way, you can experience a performance anywhere and at any time. In this first edition, one is invited to explore oneself as a cloud. The performance in print is inspired by the exploration of the ‘self’ through the lens of the Buddhist Middle Way tradition.
Kikker Experimenteert is the first presentation of the performance in print.
Sunken Works / who makes the rules - Ghaliah Conroy
Concept, choreography and performancve: Ghaliah Conroy, camera and performance: CJ Roxas, co-production: Ghaliah Conroy with DansBrabant. Thanks to: Makersfonds Tilburg, het Cultuurfonds Noord-Brabant.
Holding Clouds is Futile - Jesse van Delft
Concept and text: Jesse van Delft | Graphic design: Sam Velenne Reith. This ‘performance in print’ was created with the help of the ‘impuls subsidie’ from the Gemeente Amersfoort.
Ghaliah Conroy graduated from the dance and choreography department of Fontys in Tilburg. Originally, she has a background in theatre as an actress and singer. Since graduating, she has been looking for how to bring these different loves together in a meaningful way. In the past two years, she danced, among others, in HAMMAM an immersive performance by the Irish company ANU Productions, performed in the show The Pull of the Stars at The Gate Theatre Dublin and was part of Marian Quinn's film TWIG. At Makershuis Tilburg and in residence at DansBrabant, she worked out her plans for Sunken Works.Ghaliah prefers to work interdisciplinary. She has a fascination for images and likes to be inspired by photographers, videographers and visual artists. As a maker, she seeks her own theatrical language where body and image together tell the story.
Jesse van Delft (1995) graduated from the ArtEZ theatre teacher training programme in Arnhem in 2018. She was looking for space to deepen her research into the interfaces between Buddhism and theatre, which she had started at the time. She found that space in the dramaturgy program at Utrecht University, from which she graduated in 2021. She works as a maker, teacher and dramaturge within various projects in (youth) theater and (art) education.
