HEIMWEE#FERNWEE
HEIMWEE#FERNWEE
tells the story of people who are separated from their roots and living in a foreign country. Three performers – themselves of German, English and Swedish origin – take Henry Purcell’s opera, ‘Dido and Aeneas’ as their starting-point for a show. However, this contemporary and ever-surprising version involves modern dance and poetry-slam as well as singing. Heimwee#Fernweh feels totally ‘at home’ in this new environment.
A house is not a home
Chased away from her own country, Dido tries to rebuild her life in a new land. She is determined to make the best of it, but integrating into a strange culture is hard work. She enters into a relationship with Aeneas in an attempt to put down roots. However, Aeneas abandons her rather than confront those working against him. Her homesickness becomes unbearable, but there is no way back.
All those who live outside their motherland feel Dido’s pain. The players in Heimwee#Fernweh also have their roots in other lands. Each isolated on their own island, struggling with cliché and prejudice. Even so the attraction of the unknown draws them into the world of others.
An opera-singer follows a dancer’s moves, an actress gets lost in the sound of the accordion, and an accordionist flirts with an African drum. For a moment they speak the same language, and as long as things go smoothly there’s peace and harmony, but when disagreements arise the ‘other’ culture always gets the blame. They become homesick and long for the familiarity of their own island.
Cast & Crew Kirsten Schötteldreier – Dido – a queen with a mission , Elise Lorraine – a manipulative spoil-sport, Monique Neefjes – an easily-influenced Dutch girl, Claudio Ritfeld – a proud man who choses flight over fight, Anna Rottier – a traveler who changes her mind, Members of Vocaal Ensemble Lochem – the people, opinionated but easily led original idea Kirsten Schötteldreier stage concept Anna Rottier & Kirsten Schötteldreier text Anna Rottier dance/percussion/urban poetry Claudio Ritfeld accordion accompaniment arranged and played by Elise Lorraine musical direction Kirsten Schötteldreier (KlangK) director Henk Zwart production Anna Rottier (Dame Jeanne) publicity/graphic design Jan Paul van der Wijk administrative Director Meeke Beumer (Alles voor de kunsten) dance advisor Susanne Marx costumes Elian Smits