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Perzen. Triomf van Empathie
One of the focal points of Ben Chika's theatre company Action Zoo Humain is confronting Western cultural heritage with the reality of a pluralistic world. The performers look at the long-running struggle between Israel and Palestine through the lens of the oldest tragedy in the theatrical canon: The Persians by Aeschylus. Did Aeschylus, who himself fought against the Persians, write about the Persians with genuine empathy or did his tragedy actually affirm the superiority of the Greeks? What are the parallels that we can draw between that world and ours?
In this multidisciplinary theatre performance, Ben Chikha challenges the younger generation to sharpen their personal, political and artistic visions on the two main elements of tragedy, empathy and pride. This challenge is given added focus by a polyphonic chorus of Palestinians and Israelis who were interviewed by Ben Chikha when he was in that region in January 2024.
Perzen forms the second part of the triptych Trilogie van de Empathie. As in the acclaimed and much-discussed first part Flemish Primitives - performed at Kaaitheater in 2022 - the multilingual and interdisciplinary performance balances between art and reality, opportunism and empathy.
• Action Zoo Humain is an independent, dynamic and committed theatre company. It is focused on artistic development and produces performances. It examines the extent to which theatre can intervene directly in reality without losing sight of its poetic potential and self-criticism. It thus increases the playability of society. To this end, the organisation uses the historical concept of the 'zoo humain' as a (research) tool to interrogate ethnic, religious, political and economic zones of conflict. Action Zoo Humain works both locally and internationally, encouraging and developing collaborations with both autonomous artists and organisations.
Concept/ direction /choreography Chokri Ben Chikha | Featuring Hellen Boyko, Liah Frank, Marah Haj Hussein, Mareille Labohm, Leblalta Abdennacer (Iskara_Alonzo), Rateb Syassi | Text Erik-Ward Geerlings | Film Jan Beddegenoodts | Dramaturgy Sietske de Vries | Soundscape Jo Thieleman | Light Design Dennis Diels | Set design Karolien De Schepper | Costume Design Chloé Wasselin-Dandre | Artistic Partner Khaled Jarrar | Bewegingsregie Izah Hankammer, Daisy Phillips | Productie NTGent & Action Zoo Humain | CoproductionTheater Rotterdam | Partners Stad Gent and De Vlaamse Gemeenschap | With the support of De Taxshelter van de Belgische Federale Overheid
This performance includes physical and verbal violence, death and forced displacement.