" Europe, here I am. See me, hear me, love me! Ask me: “Who are you?”And I will answer: “I am you. I am Europe, I am your new face.”
Mokhallad Rasem had already worked with Sabri Saad El Hamus of the Amsterdam company DNA, namely directing actors Sabri and Thomas Janssens in Closed Curtains (2014). That collaboration led to Mokhallad being asked if he would direct a new production entitled PAX Europa, which DNA and t,arsenaal mechelen were planning to mount. Responsible for the script of PAX Europa is none other than Fikry El Azzouzi, the Flemish-Moroccan author considered by Tom Lanoye to be one of the great new talents. Fikry El Azzouzi has since been awarded the 65th Arkprijs van het Vrije Woord (The Ark Prize of the Free Word).
PAX Europa brings various guests together in a fascinating talk show. They engage in conversation, confront one another with questions about the Europe of the past, present and not least the future. How should this continent continue when it is in such danger of being torn apart? How can we find a way of cohabiting when the backgrounds of those who live here differ so much?
PAX Europa reveals the friction, the discussion and problems of present-day Europe, but the makers contrast all that with the attitude which also prevails, the longing for reconciliation and unity; the desire to find pax, peace. Everyone enters fully into this complex and ever-more urgent question.
PAX Europa is a unique cooperation project between young and established theatre-makers, the majority of whom have a migrant background themselves. The result is an exciting confrontation between different cultures and generations who, however different they may be, at the end of the day all have one thing in common: being European.
PAX Europa brings various guests together in a fascinating talk show. They engage in conversation, confront one another with questions about the Europe of the past, present and not least the future. How should this continent continue when it is in such danger of being torn apart? How can we find a way of cohabiting when the backgrounds of those who live here differ so much?
PAX Europa reveals the friction, the discussion and problems of present-day Europe, but the makers contrast all that with the attitude which also prevails, the longing for reconciliation and unity; the desire to find pax, peace. Everyone enters fully into this complex and ever-more urgent question.
PAX Europa is a unique cooperation project between young and established theatre-makers, the majority of whom have a migrant background themselves. The result is an exciting confrontation between different cultures and generations who, however different they may be, at the end of the day all have one thing in common: being European.
director
- Mokhallad Rasem
concept
- Michael De Cock
- Sabri Saad El Hamus
author
- Kristin Rogghe
text
- Fikry El Azzouzi
with
- Enkidu Khaled
- Anna Schoen
- Sabri Saad El Hamus
- Julia Ghysels
- Junior Mthombeni
light design
- Gé Wegman
accompaniment
- Gerardjan Rijnders
costume design
- Aziz Bekkaoui
production
- De Nieuw Amsterdam
coproduction
- t,arsenaal
- Toneelhuis
