marx
Vilified and glorified
One of our greatest actors is playing one of the greatest philosophers: Johan Heldenbergh plays Karl Marx (whose 200th anniversary is in 2018). Has any other thinker left a greater mark on world history than the father of socialism and communism? Which philosopher has provoked more debate and disagreement? Depending on the interpretation of his words, Karl Marx is either reviled or worshipped, vilified or glorified. To some he is a god and liberator, but according to others he paved the road to hell. After all, millions of people died in the name of Marxist liberation.
After the successful Socrates (starring Bruno Vanden Broecke), Stefaan Van Brabandt is staging his second philosopher’s monologue. Johan-Heldenbergh-as-Marx reflects on an eventful life and body of work. What were his mistakes? And where has he been proved right? Can his philosophy still be relevant and liberating? In times of uncertainty and growing inequality, Marx aims to be a challenging, critical, and impassioned defence of freedom and human dignity.
“The philosophers only interpreted the world differently; the goal is to change it.”
tekst Stefaan Van Brabandt | spel Johan Heldenbergh | productie De Verwondering, Het Zuidelijk Toneel | coproductie Arenbergschouwburg Antwerpen | met de steun van het Vlaams Fonds voor de Letteren
Oorspronkelijk zou Jan Decleir de theatermonoloog MARX spelen, maar wegens artistieke meningsverschillen met Stefaan Van Brabandt eindigde hun samenwerking helaas nog voor ze goed en wel begon. We betreuren dit – maar zijn ook verheugd dat zwaargewicht Johan Heldenbergh de rol zal overnemen.