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Theatre

De welwillenden

Guy Cassiers, Toneelhuis, Toneelgroep Amsterdam

Guy Cassiers tackles Jonathan Littell’s almost one-thousand-page novel The Kindly Ones about the destruction of Jews during the Second World War. When it was published in 2006, the book provoked heated reactions, both positive and negative.

Littell makes us realize that the Third Reich was not unduly populated by monsters or perverts but by ordinary citizens who collectively moved toward total madness under and because of Nazi socialism. Littell takes the readers with him into the head of the perpetrator, thereby placing them in the uncomfortable position of identifying with him.

In De welwillenden Guy Cassiers confronts the darkest side of human behaviour: the Nazi ideology and the destruction of the Jews. What happened in order to make this catastrophe in the heart of Europe possible? What political, ideological, psychological and social transformations brought about this violence and let it take its course? Europe’s current shaky political foundations and the rise of far-right, xenophobic and anti-European parties give this project a special urgency.

The Toneelhuis ensemble is joined by five actors from Toneelgroep Amsterdam and together they set in motion a carousel of characters around Max Aue (performed by Hans Kesting).

De welwillenden is part of The Littell Project, with the support of the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.

Dans le rôle de Max Aue, Hans Kesting nous fascine pendant trois heures. (…) Cette exploration subtile du cerveau du coupable colle à la peau. Et Kesting vous poursuit jusque dans vos rêves.

Herien Wensink in NRC Handelsblad , 11 March 2016

director

  • Guy Cassiers

dramaturgy

  • Erwin Jans

text

  • Jonathan Littell

adaptation

  • Guy Cassiers

script based on the translation by

  • Jeanne Holierhoek
  • Janneke van der Meulen

with

  • Abke Haring
  • Vincent van Sande
  • Jip van den Dool
  • Hans Kesting
  • Johan Van Assche
  • Kevin Janssens
  • Aus Greidanus jr.
  • Bart Slegers
  • Alwin Pulinckx
  • Fred Goessens
  • Katelijne Damen

video design

  • Frederik Jassogne

sound design

  • Diederik De Cock

light consultant

  • Bas Devos

costume and set design

  • Tim Van Steenbergen

publisher

  • De Arbeiderspers

production

  • Toneelhuis
  • Toneelgroep Amsterdam

coproduction

  • DE SINGEL

with the support of

  • Cultuur Programma van de Europese Unie

in collaboration with

  • Istanbul Theatre Festival
  • Maison de la Culture d'Amiens
  • Le Phénix, Scène nationale de Valenciennes
  • Festival Temporada Alta
  • Romaeuropa Festival

All data

There are no upcoming activities for this event.

  1. Thursday 10 March 2016 — 19h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  2. Saturday 12 March 2016 — 19h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  3. Sunday 13 March 2016 — 15h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  4. Tuesday 15 March 2016 — 19h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  5. Wednesday 16 March 2016 — 19h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  6. Thursday 17 March 2016 — 19h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  7. Friday 18 March 2016 — 19h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  8. Saturday 19 March 2016 — 19h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  9. Wednesday 23 March 2016 — Le Phénix, Valenciennes
  10. Thursday 24 March 2016 — Le Phénix, Valenciennes
  11. Friday 25 March 2016 — Le Phénix, Valenciennes
  12. Wednesday 30 March 2016 — VIERNULVIER/Theaterzaal, Gent
  13. Thursday 31 March 2016 — VIERNULVIER/Theaterzaal, Gent
  14. Saturday 2 April 2016 — CCHA, Hasselt
  15. Wednesday 6 April 2016 — Grote zaal ITA, Amsterdam
  16. Thursday 7 April 2016 — Grote zaal ITA, Amsterdam
  17. Friday 8 April 2016 — Grote zaal ITA, Amsterdam
  18. Saturday 9 April 2016 — Grote zaal ITA, Amsterdam
  19. Tuesday 12 April 2016 — Grote zaal ITA, Amsterdam
  20. Wednesday 13 April 2016 — Grote zaal ITA, Amsterdam
  21. Thursday 14 April 2016 — Grote zaal ITA, Amsterdam
  22. Friday 15 April 2016 — Grote zaal ITA, Amsterdam
  23. Saturday 16 April 2016 — Grote zaal ITA, Amsterdam
  24. Friday 6 May 2016 — International Istanbul Theatre Festival, Istanbul
  25. Saturday 7 May 2016 — International Istanbul Theatre Festival, Istanbul
  26. Sunday 8 May 2016 — International Istanbul Theatre Festival, Istanbul
  27. Wednesday 18 May 2016 — Grote zaal ITA, Amsterdam
  28. Thursday 19 May 2016 — Grote zaal ITA, Amsterdam
  29. Friday 20 May 2016 — Grote zaal ITA, Amsterdam
  30. Saturday 21 May 2016 — Grote zaal ITA, Amsterdam
  31. Tuesday 24 May 2016 — Grote zaal ITA, Amsterdam
  32. Wednesday 25 May 2016 — Grote zaal ITA, Amsterdam
  33. Thursday 26 May 2016 — Grote zaal ITA, Amsterdam
  34. Friday 27 May 2016 — Grote zaal ITA, Amsterdam
  35. Saturday 28 May 2016 — Grote zaal ITA, Amsterdam
  36. Thursday 2 June 2016 — Kaaitheater, Brussel
  37. Friday 3 June 2016 — Kaaitheater, Brussel
  38. Saturday 4 June 2016 — Kaaitheater, Brussel
  39. Tuesday 7 June 2016 — 20h30 — SPOT Groningen, Groningen
  40. Friday 10 June 2016 — Stadsschouwburg Utrecht, Utrecht
  41. Saturday 11 June 2016 — Stadsschouwburg Utrecht, Utrecht
  42. Tuesday 14 June 2016 — Parkstad Limburg Theaters, Heerlen
  43. Thursday 16 June 2016 — Theater Rotterdam, Rotterdam
  44. Friday 17 June 2016 — Theater Rotterdam, Rotterdam
  45. Wednesday 22 June 2016 — Chassé Theater, Breda
  46. Saturday 8 October 2016 — Romaeuropa, Rome
  47. Sunday 9 October 2016 — Romaeuropa, Rome
  48. Thursday 13 October 2016 — MC93, Bobigny
  49. Friday 14 October 2016 — MC93, Bobigny
  50. Saturday 15 October 2016 — MC93, Bobigny
  51. Sunday 16 October 2016 — MC93, Bobigny
  52. Saturday 19 November 2016 — Temporada Alta, Girona
  53. Sunday 20 November 2016 — Temporada Alta, Girona
  54. Friday 27 January 2017 — Maison de la Culture, Amiens
  55. Saturday 28 January 2017 — Maison de la Culture, Amiens

News about ‘De welwillenden’

Guy Cassiers over De welwillenden Watch • 17 June 2015

Guy Cassiers over De welwillenden

For Le Phénix Scène Nationale de Valenciennes’ presentation of its programme for the new season, Guy Cassiers recorded this video message for the audience in Valenciennes.

Also interesting productions

The Littell Project Project 5 January 2015 until 28 February 2017

The Littell Project

Toneelhuis / Toneelgroep Amsterdam / Romaeuropa Festival / Istanbul Theatre Festival