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Theatre

Bezonken rood

Guy Cassiers, Toneelhuis, Theater Rotterdam / RO theater

“During these exceptional moments, these ecstatic moments, we are reminded of theatre’s greatness, of its irreplacable humanity.” - Philippe Chevilley in Les Échos, 7th December 2015

One of the most moving mourning poems in Dutch literature by writer Jeroen Brouwers, staged by Guy Cassiers and brought to life on stage by a phenomenal Dirk Roofthooft. Sunken Red is a prayer, litany, elegy, farewell letter, ode, curse, cry of despair, self-pitying lament … all these things in one moving, harsh and poetical narration.

Jeroen Brouwers wrote Bezonken rood (1981) in the weeks following his mother’s death. In 1943, three-year-old Jeroen Brouwers was imprisoned in the women’s Tjideng Camp (now Jakarta) with his sister, his mother and his grandmother. The writer talks about how the camp did permanent damage to his relationship with his mother and how every new love affair breaks down under the weight of that experience. 

Rojo Reposado, Sunken Red, Rouge décanté: since its première in 2004 Bezonken rood has pretty well travelled the world. Dirk Roofthooft has performed the monologue in Dutch, French, English and Spanish and in Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, France, Canada, the United States of America, Poland, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Luxembourg, Germany, the Czech Republic and Taiwan.

Sunken Red is remarkable in every respect. Here Guy Cassiers employs all of the magic of his multi-media, multi-sensory theatre. And then there’s Dirk Roofthooft’s performance, he is an extraordinary actor who descends to the heart of human darkness. Deeply moving."- Fabienne Darge in Le Monde, 4th December 2015

« An incontestably great moment, one to revisit, rediscover and share." - Armelle Hélio in Figaro Scope, 2nd December 2015

Theatre can be hallucinatory, like a trip, a dream that lifts you out of your seat. Though that happens only rarely, Guy Cassiers and Dirk Roofthooft managed it in Sunken Red. (…) Roofthooft is a phenomenal actor, but he is not on his own. Aided by sound technology which goes beyond perfection, every breath, every change in his voice is audible. The result is unprecedented subtlety. Even in a large auditorium, you feel the story is being told to you alone.

Marian Buijs in De Volkskrant , 1 January 2004

"Sunken Red is an ode to virtuosity. It is an evening that wreaks havoc on you. May Dirk Roofthooft continue to perform this play to the end of his life!"

Ruth Joos in De Standaard , 7 June 2010

"A fantastic performance! This is one of the rare theatre productions where the filmed image does not illustrate, does not distract and does not make the actor disappear either: in fact, the image enhances him and merges with him."

Javier Vallejo in El Pais , 4 October 2009

"The director Guy Cassiers and the actor Dirk Roofthooft, both Belgians, adapted the text along with Corien Baart. The result is an extraordinary response to the eternal question of how to deal with the subject of violence in theatre. Without howling or Kalashnikovs, they show a destroyed life by the voice of an actor who is all by himself on the stage. Dirk Roofthooft is powerful, solid, calm and captivating. He simply tells his story, taking his time to pronounce the words, filled with tiredness. Nothing is played, nothing is illustrated. There are only a few video cameras that the actor speaks to, projecting the image of a broken man onto a wall of blinds behind his back, like the face that the personage recognises less and less in the bathroom mirror."

Maïa Bouteillet in Libération , 22 July 2006

director

  • Guy Cassiers

dramaturgy

  • Corien Baart
  • Erwin Jans

adaptation

  • Corien Baart
  • Dirk Roofthooft
  • Guy Cassiers

after the novel by

  • Jeroen Brouwers

performance

  • Dirk Roofthooft

set, video, light design

  • Peter Missotten

video

  • Arjen Klerkx

sound design

  • Diederik De Cock

costume design

  • Katelijne Damen

coproduction

  • Toneelhuis
  • Theater Rotterdam / RO theater

production

  • Toneelhuis
  • Theater Rotterdam / RO theater

All data

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  1. Saturday 16 October 2004 — Theater Rotterdam, Rotterdam
  2. Monday 18 October 2004 — Theater Rotterdam, Rotterdam
  3. Tuesday 19 October 2004 — Theater Rotterdam, Rotterdam
  4. Thursday 21 October 2004 — Theater Rotterdam, Rotterdam
  5. Sunday 24 October 2004 — Theater Rotterdam, Rotterdam
  6. Tuesday 26 October 2004 — Theater Rotterdam, Rotterdam
  7. Wednesday 27 October 2004 — Theater Rotterdam, Rotterdam
  8. Thursday 28 October 2004 — Theater Rotterdam, Rotterdam
  9. Friday 29 October 2004 — Theater Rotterdam, Rotterdam
  10. Saturday 30 October 2004 — Theater Rotterdam, Rotterdam
  11. Sunday 31 October 2004 — Theater Rotterdam, Rotterdam
  12. Friday 19 August 2005 — Zürcher Theaterspektakel, Zurich - Wunseradiel
  13. Saturday 20 August 2005 — Zürcher Theaterspektakel, Zurich - Wunseradiel
  14. Sunday 21 August 2005 — Zürcher Theaterspektakel, Zurich - Wunseradiel
  15. Thursday 25 August 2005 — Kaaitheater, Brussel
  16. Friday 26 August 2005 — Kaaitheater, Brussel
  17. Saturday 27 August 2005 — Kaaitheater, Brussel
  18. Tuesday 6 September 2005 — Grote zaal ITA, Amsterdam
  19. Wednesday 16 November 2005 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  20. Thursday 17 November 2005 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  21. Friday 18 November 2005 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  22. Saturday 19 November 2005 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  23. Tuesday 22 November 2005 — SPOT Groningen, Groningen
  24. Saturday 26 November 2005 — NTGent/Schouwburg, Gent
  25. Sunday 27 November 2005 — NTGent/Schouwburg, Gent
  26. Tuesday 29 November 2005 — HNT/Koninklijke Schouwburg, Den Haag
  27. Wednesday 7 December 2005 — CCHA, Hasselt
  28. Friday 9 December 2005 — 30CC/Schouwburg, Leuven
  29. Monday 12 December 2005 — Theaters, Tilburg
  30. Monday 19 December 2005 — CC Brugge/Stadsschouwburg, Brugge
  31. Tuesday 20 December 2005 — CC Brugge/Stadsschouwburg, Brugge
  32. Friday 23 December 2005 — Parktheater, Eindhoven
  33. Wednesday 21 March 2007 — Le Volcan, Le Havre
  34. Thursday 22 March 2007 — Le Volcan, Le Havre
  35. Thursday 24 May 2007 — Festival Transamériques - Montréal, Canada, Montréal
  36. Friday 25 May 2007 — Festival Transamériques - Montréal, Canada, Montréal
  37. Saturday 26 May 2007 — Festival Transamériques - Montréal, Canada, Montréal
  38. Tuesday 8 April 2008 — Kaaitheater, Halles van Schaerbeek, Brussel
  39. Wednesday 9 April 2008 — Kaaitheater, Halles van Schaerbeek, Brussel
  40. Friday 11 April 2008 — Kaaitheater, Halles van Schaerbeek, Brussel
  41. Saturday 12 April 2008 — Kaaitheater, Halles van Schaerbeek, Brussel
  42. Tuesday 15 April 2008 — Theater De Spiegel, Zwolle
  43. Wednesday 23 April 2008 — Les Ecuries, Charleroi
  44. Thursday 24 April 2008 — Les Ecuries, Charleroi
  45. Saturday 26 April 2008 — HNT/Koninklijke Schouwburg, Den Haag
  46. Sunday 27 April 2008 — HNT/Koninklijke Schouwburg, Den Haag
  47. Wednesday 30 April 2008 — Le Fanal, Saint-Nazaire
  48. Tuesday 6 May 2008 — Le lieu Unique, Nantes
  49. Wednesday 7 May 2008 — Le lieu Unique, Nantes
  50. Monday 12 May 2008 — L'Espal, Le Mans
  51. Thursday 15 May 2008 — Le bateau feu, Dunkerque
  52. Friday 16 May 2008 — Le bateau feu, Dunkerque
  53. Wednesday 4 June 2008 — 21h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  54. Thursday 5 June 2008 — 21h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  55. Friday 6 June 2008 — 21h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  56. Saturday 7 June 2008 — 21h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  57. Tuesday 7 October 2008 — BAM - Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York, New York
  58. Thursday 9 October 2008 — BAM - Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York, New York
  59. Friday 10 October 2008 — BAM - Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York, New York
  60. Saturday 11 October 2008 — BAM - Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York, New York
  61. Friday 3 April 2009 — Europe Theatre Prize, Wroclaw
  62. Saturday 4 April 2009 — Europe Theatre Prize, Wroclaw
  63. Friday 4 September 2009 — La Bâtie, festival de Genève, Genève
  64. Saturday 5 September 2009 — La Bâtie, festival de Genève, Genève
  65. Thursday 1 October 2009 — Centro Dramático Nacional, Madrid
  66. Friday 2 October 2009 — Centro Dramático Nacional, Madrid
  67. Saturday 3 October 2009 — Centro Dramático Nacional, Madrid
  68. Sunday 4 October 2009 — Centro Dramático Nacional, Madrid
  69. Friday 27 November 2009 — Scène Nationale de Martigues, Martigues
  70. Tuesday 12 January 2010 — Bonlieu - Scène Nationale, Annecy, Annecy
  71. Wednesday 13 January 2010 — Bonlieu - Scène Nationale, Annecy, Annecy
  72. Thursday 28 January 2010 — Maison de la Culture, Amiens
  73. Tuesday 2 February 2010 — Le Préau, Vire
  74. Friday 5 February 2010 — L'Apostrophe, Cergy-Pontoise
  75. Wednesday 7 April 2010 — TNT Toulouse, Toulouse
  76. Thursday 8 April 2010 — TNT Toulouse, Toulouse
  77. Tuesday 4 May 2010 — Theater na de Dam, Amsterdam
  78. Tuesday 18 May 2010 — 21h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  79. Wednesday 19 May 2010 — 21h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  80. Wednesday 9 June 2010 — International Istanbul Theatre Festival, Istanbul
  81. Thursday 10 June 2010 — International Istanbul Theatre Festival, Istanbul
  82. Tuesday 12 October 2010 — Le Parvis, Tarbes
  83. Friday 19 November 2010 — Temporada Alta, Girona
  84. Friday 26 November 2010 — Romaeuropa, Rome
  85. Saturday 27 November 2010 — Romaeuropa, Rome
  86. Friday 3 December 2010 — Teatro Cánovas, Málaga
  87. Saturday 4 December 2010 — Teatro Cánovas, Málaga
  88. Saturday 11 December 2010 — Teatro Alhambra, Granada
  89. Sunday 12 December 2010 — Teatro Alhambra, Granada
  90. Friday 17 December 2010 — Teatro Central, Sevilla
  91. Saturday 18 December 2010 — Teatro Central, Sevilla
  92. Friday 21 January 2011 — Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg, Luxemburg
  93. Saturday 22 January 2011 — Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg, Luxemburg
  94. Friday 25 February 2011 — CC Zwaneberg, Heist-Op-Den-Berg
  95. Tuesday 5 April 2011 — Scène Nationale de Petit-Quevilly, Le Petit-Quevilly
  96. Friday 8 April 2011 — sortieOuest, Béziers
  97. Wednesday 13 April 2011 — La Passerelle, Saint-Brieuc
  98. Thursday 5 May 2011 — 21h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  99. Friday 6 May 2011 — 21h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  100. Saturday 7 May 2011 — 21h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  101. Friday 13 May 2011 — Théatre National de Nice, Nice
  102. Saturday 14 May 2011 — Théatre National de Nice, Nice
  103. Monday 31 October 2011 — Teatro Carignano, Torino
  104. Thursday 3 November 2011 — Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus, Düsseldorf
  105. Friday 4 November 2011 — Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus, Düsseldorf
  106. Tuesday 12 June 2012 — Printemps des Comédiens, Montpellier
  107. Friday 14 September 2012 — International Theatre Festival, Pilsen
  108. Wednesday 16 January 2013 — National Arts Centre - Centre National des Arts, Ottawa
  109. Thursday 17 January 2013 — National Arts Centre - Centre National des Arts, Ottawa
  110. Friday 18 January 2013 — National Arts Centre - Centre National des Arts, Ottawa
  111. Saturday 19 January 2013 — National Arts Centre - Centre National des Arts, Ottawa
  112. Wednesday 30 January 2013 — Usine C, Montréal
  113. Thursday 31 January 2013 — Usine C, Montréal
  114. Friday 1 February 2013 — Usine C, Montréal
  115. Wednesday 6 February 2013 — Theatre Junction Grand, Calgary
  116. Thursday 7 February 2013 — Theatre Junction Grand, Calgary
  117. Friday 8 February 2013 — Theatre Junction Grand, Calgary
  118. Saturday 9 February 2013 — Theatre Junction Grand, Calgary
  119. Saturday 3 August 2013 — Biennale Theatre Festival, Venetië
  120. Thursday 26 September 2013 — National Chiang Kai-Shek Cultural Center, Taipei
  121. Friday 27 September 2013 — National Chiang Kai-Shek Cultural Center, Taipei
  122. Saturday 28 September 2013 — National Chiang Kai-Shek Cultural Center, Taipei
  123. Tuesday 20 May 2014 — 21h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  124. Wednesday 21 May 2014 — 21h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  125. Wednesday 5 November 2014 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  126. Thursday 6 November 2014 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  127. Friday 7 November 2014 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  128. Saturday 8 November 2014 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  129. Thursday 29 January 2015 — Théâtre Joliette Minoterie, Marseille
  130. Friday 30 January 2015 — Théâtre Joliette Minoterie, Marseille
  131. Saturday 31 January 2015 — Théâtre Joliette Minoterie, Marseille
  132. Friday 27 November 2015 — Parktheater, Eindhoven
  133. Wednesday 2 December 2015 — Théâtre de la Bastille, Parijs
  134. Thursday 3 December 2015 — Théâtre de la Bastille, Parijs
  135. Friday 4 December 2015 — Théâtre de la Bastille, Parijs
  136. Saturday 5 December 2015 — Théâtre de la Bastille, Parijs
  137. Sunday 6 December 2015 — Théâtre de la Bastille, Parijs
  138. Tuesday 8 December 2015 — Théâtre de la Bastille, Parijs
  139. Wednesday 9 December 2015 — Théâtre de la Bastille, Parijs
  140. Thursday 10 December 2015 — Théâtre de la Bastille, Parijs
  141. Friday 11 December 2015 — Théâtre de la Bastille, Parijs
  142. Saturday 12 December 2015 — Théâtre de la Bastille, Parijs
  143. Monday 14 December 2015 — Théâtre de la Bastille, Parijs
  144. Tuesday 15 December 2015 — Théâtre de la Bastille, Parijs
  145. Wednesday 16 December 2015 — Théâtre de la Bastille, Parijs
  146. Thursday 17 December 2015 — Théâtre de la Bastille, Parijs
  147. Friday 18 December 2015 — Théâtre de la Bastille, Parijs
  148. Wednesday 6 January 2016 — CC Kortrijk, Kortrijk
  149. Tuesday 19 January 2016 — 30CC/Schouwburg, Leuven
  150. Tuesday 26 January 2016 — CC Sint-Niklaas, Sint-Niklaas
  151. Tuesday 2 February 2016 — CC Maasmechelen, Maasmechelen
  152. Tuesday 14 June 2016 — HNT/Koninklijke Schouwburg, Den Haag
  153. Wednesday 5 October 2016 — Théâtre National, Brussel
  154. Thursday 6 October 2016 — Théâtre National, Brussel
  155. Friday 7 October 2016 — Théâtre National, Brussel
  156. Friday 14 October 2016 — La Halle aux Grains, Toulouse
  157. Tuesday 18 October 2016 — Espaces Pluriels, Pau
  158. Wednesday 19 October 2016 — Espaces Pluriels, Pau
  159. Tuesday 29 November 2016 — Les Théâtrales Charles-Dublin, Orly
  160. Tuesday 13 December 2016 — Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne, Lausanne
  161. Wednesday 14 December 2016 — Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne, Lausanne
  162. Thursday 15 December 2016 — Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne, Lausanne
  163. Tuesday 10 January 2017 — NTGent/Minnemeers, Gent
  164. Wednesday 11 January 2017 — NTGent/Minnemeers, Gent
  165. Thursday 12 January 2017 — NTGent/Minnemeers, Gent
  166. Saturday 21 January 2017 — Verkadefabriek, Den Bosch
  167. Wednesday 1 February 2017 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  168. Friday 3 February 2017 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  169. Saturday 4 February 2017 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  170. Tuesday 14 March 2017 — TnBA - Théâtre National de Bordeaux en Aquitaine, Bordeaux
  171. Wednesday 15 March 2017 — TnBA - Théâtre National de Bordeaux en Aquitaine, Bordeaux
  172. Thursday 16 March 2017 — TnBA - Théâtre National de Bordeaux en Aquitaine, Bordeaux
  173. Friday 17 March 2017 — TnBA - Théâtre National de Bordeaux en Aquitaine, Bordeaux
  174. Saturday 18 March 2017 — TnBA - Théâtre National de Bordeaux en Aquitaine, Bordeaux
  175. Thursday 4 May 2017 — SPOT Groningen, Groningen
  176. Wednesday 3 January 2018 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  177. Friday 5 January 2018 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  178. Saturday 6 January 2018 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  179. Sunday 7 January 2018 — 15h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  180. Tuesday 8 May 2018 — Théâtre de Namur, Namen
  181. Wednesday 9 May 2018 — Théâtre de Namur, Namen

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