The starting point is De Meeuw (The Seagull) by Anton Chekhov, one of the greatest and tenderest plays in the world repertoire: a classic from 1896 about young people wanting to explore new ideas and an older generation that feels threatened by this. A narrative about the longing for the past and the longing for a free life, told from the perspective of three different generations. Love and desire as the devastating driving force during a family reunion. A comedy in four acts, as the Russian playwright himself called it.
[meeuw] above all aims at being an encounter with the Flemish deaf community, a collaboration of artists with different backgrounds: professional actors and amateur performers whose mother tongue is Flemish Sign Language. A theatrical encounter between artists from the same community, living close together and yet separated by a language barrier.
“I’ve gone past your house so many times, but I couldn’t bring myself to come in. Come, let’s sit down.” – Nina Mikhailovna Zarechnaya
This project was made possible thanks to the support of players from the National Lottery and the King Baudouin Foundation. This performance was realised in collaboration with KU Leuven, Faculty of Arts - Antwerp, and the Flemish Sign Language Group of the Applied Linguistics programme.
after
- De Meeuw van Tsjechov
director
- Stijn Van Opstal
adaptation
- Stijn Van Opstal
- Scarlet Tummers
- Tom Dewispelaere
- Francis Geeraert
- (met dank aan Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer)
translation into Flemish Sign Language
- Diane Boonen
- Sam Verstraete
- Hilde Verhelst
- e.a.
performance
- Yousra Boukantar
- Sofie Decleir
- Tom Dewispelaere
- Lobke Leirens
- Lut Reysen
- Willy Thomas
- Serge Vlerick
- Yana Wuytjens
dramaturgy
- Scarlet Tummers
set
- Damiaan De Schrijver
- Stijn Van Opstal
light design
- Frank Hardy
costume design
- Monique Van Hassel
production
- Toneelhuis
- Olympique Dramatique
coproduction
- theater arsenaal
with the support of
- Silence Radio
- Doof Vlaanderen
- doof&events
- Vlaams GebarentaalCentrum (VGTC)
- KU Leuven Campus Antwerpen (Toegepaste Taalkunde)
- Nationale Loterij
- Literatuur Vlaanderen
- Koning Boudewijnstichting
- Tax Shelter maatregel v/d Belgische federale overheid via LOOK@LEO