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Theatre

April

Toneelhuis, De KOE, Guy Cassiers

Two people meet in a room and talk for two hours. After that talk, war breaks out.

In July 1990, April Glaspie, the American ambassador in Iraq, sat down with Saddam Hussein, president of Iraq. A few days later Iraq invaded Kuwait. The reaction was not long in coming: in the Spring of 1991, a coalition led by the US invaded Iraq. The first Gulf War was a fact.

Exactly thirty years later, playwright Willem de Wolf brings together three figures in April: April Glaspie, who all these years has remained silent about the substance of her conversation with Saddam Hussein; Tariq Aziz, Iraq’s Minister of Foreign Affairs who died in prison in 2015; and a news anchor who wants to know what really was said between April Glaspie and Saddam Hussein.


April mixes historical visual material from recent decades with a surprisingly personal and intimate perspective. The show raises burningly topical questions about the troubled relationship between the Western and Arab worlds, the role of the media, and the power (or lack of power) of diplomacy and political institutions. 

Katelijne Damen is in grand form as Glaspie, even speaking entire passages in Arabic. The verbal sparring match between the three characters is sometimes so fast and so full of food for thought that it makes you want to read the play after the show is over (which is possible, there’s a book for sale).

"Corona had almost made us forget what a class act Katelijne Damen is. In a setting decorated with stylish Scandinavian furniture, she brings Glaspie back to life with tremendous verve. Along with her, Sabri Saad El Hamus also impresses as the Iraqi Minister of Foreign Affairs."

Ewoud Ceulemans in De Morgen *** , 3 May 2021

"A clever period piece for reflecting on events that took place 30 years ago."

"Instead of having a title like ‘A Discussion about…’ this dialogue piece dealing with issues takes the main character’s first name as its title. ’ For underneath all the clever, rational, eloquent, sparkling repartee (what a script by Willem de Wolf!), there is the inner conflict of the protagonist. The character April is struggling with herself. As a diplomat, she has taken an oath of secrecy. She represents the United States, its president, its parties, its economic and political interests. Yet she may say nothing of substance about her diplomatic brief. In his play, De Wolf weaves April’s having to remain silent while simultaneously having to represent (= defend) the United States into a dramatic conflict that rages within her. These dilemmas are what turns April into a character from a Greek tragedy."

director

  • Guy Cassiers

text

  • Willem de Wolf

with

  • Katelijne Damen
  • Eelco Smits
  • Sabri Saad El Hamus

dramaturgy

  • Erwin Jans

light design

  • Fabiana Piccioli

musical design

  • Kris Defoort

production

  • Toneelhuis

coproduction

  • KVS
  • De KOE

with the support of

  • de Tax Shelter van de Belgische federale overheid
  • Casa Kafka Pictures Tax Shelter powered by Belfius

All data

There are no upcoming activities for this event.

  1. Saturday 1 May 2021 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  2. Cancelled: Sunday 2 May 2021 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  3. Monday 3 May 2021 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  4. Cancelled: Tuesday 4 May 2021 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  5. Wednesday 5 May 2021 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  6. Cancelled: Tuesday 11 May 2021 — CCHA, Hasselt
  7. Cancelled: Friday 14 May 2021 — 20h00 — Grote zaal ITA, Amsterdam
  8. Cancelled: Saturday 15 May 2021 — 20h00 — Grote zaal ITA, Amsterdam
  9. Cancelled: Sunday 16 May 2021 — 15h00 — Grote zaal ITA, Amsterdam
  10. Cancelled: Friday 28 May 2021 — 20h00 — NTGent/Schouwburg, Gent
  11. Cancelled: Friday 4 June 2021 — Kaaitheater, Brussel
  12. Cancelled: Saturday 5 June 2021 — Kaaitheater, Brussel
  13. Cancelled: Sunday 6 June 2021 — 15h00 — Kaaitheater, Brussel
  14. Wednesday 9 June 2021 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  15. Thursday 10 June 2021 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  16. Friday 11 June 2021 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  17. Saturday 12 June 2021 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  18. Sunday 13 June 2021 — 15h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  19. Tuesday 15 June 2021 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  20. Friday 28 January 2022 — La Comédie de Reims, Reims
  21. Saturday 29 January 2022 — La Comédie de Reims, Reims
  22. Cancelled: Tuesday 1 February 2022 — Grote zaal ITA, Amsterdam
  23. Cancelled: Wednesday 2 February 2022 — Grote zaal ITA, Amsterdam
  24. Cancelled: Tuesday 29 March 2022 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  25. Cancelled: Wednesday 30 March 2022 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  26. Cancelled: Thursday 31 March 2022 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  27. Cancelled: Friday 1 April 2022 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  28. Cancelled: Saturday 2 April 2022 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  29. Wednesday 11 May 2022 — 19h30 — ITA/Rabozaal, Amsterdam

News about ‘April’

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