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Theatre

Werken en dagen

Toneelhuis, FC Bergman

In 700 BC, the Greek poet Hesiodos wrote down a series of suggestions about the art of agriculture for his brother. This letter, titled ‘Works and Days’ (Werken en dagen), became a Farmer’s Almanac in verse form that combines agricultural advice with a guide to life in general.
FC Bergman is adopting Hesiodos’ title for its own reflection on living on (and with) the land. A life lived according to the rhythm of the seasons, the laws of the earth and the customs of the community that cultivates it. A new age, however, with new possibilities and desires, is making its way in this fragile marriage between humans and the earth.

Whereas FC Bergman’s production The Sheep Song (2021) was a paean to the freedom of the individual and the manipulability of life, Werken en dagen is a veritable ode to the unstoppable power of the group and the boundless power of nature. Although in a way it also – and inevitably – becomes an elegy. 

With Werken en dagen, FC Bergman once again pushes back frontiers. Their superb swansong for collective farming is already the ecological wake-up call of the season. (...) You see the paintings of Bruegel and Permeke, of Claus and Millet, but especially of FC Bergman. As such, Werken en dagen is a classic example of imaginative representation.

"With Werken en dagen , theatre company FC Bergman reflects on the loss of the farming way of life and the need for connection. The wordless performance brims with clever theatrical images that also often hurt. (...) FC Bergman dishes up artfully constructed painterly scenes, but their intent is far from casual. With every scene, you ponder its meaning."

Koen Van Boxem in De Tijd , 27 September 2024

"FC Bergman once again provides spectacle with exciting images about the relation between people and farming (...) The seasons follow one another, and the rites of passage of human beings also come into focus. Birth, growing up, living together, death. All of this is inventively portrayed, with references to iconic paintings and sculptures.… The images are often pregnant with meaning, technically surprising and ingenious."

"Over the years, FC Bergman has perfected the art of representation. Visuals, lighting and music are employed with breathtaking effectiveness (and the requisite humour) (...) Werken en dagen is a magnificently designed warning about the loss of community."

Evelyne Coussens in De Morgen , 30 September 2024

"I’m mesmerised, there are so many dimensions to this community and I’m engaged every time we go deeper into their workings. They do horrible and beautiful acts with equal measure, they’re focused and determined because of an implicit awareness of something greater than themselves."

Ugnė Jurelevičiūtė in Etcetera , 7 October 2024

direction, scenario, scenography

  • Stef Aerts
  • Joé Agemans
  • Thomas Verstraeten
  • Marie Vinck

performers

  • Stef Aerts
  • Joé Agemans
  • Maryam Sserwamukoko
  • Thomas Verstraeten/Yorrith De Bakker
  • Marie Vinck
  • Fumiyo Ikeda/Sigrid Vinks
  • Geert Goossens
  • Roos Janssens/Susan De Ceuster/Bonnie Elias

musical composition and live performance

  • Joachim Badenhorst
  • Sean Carpio

costume design

  • An D'Huys

light design

  • Stef Aerts
  • Joé Agemans
  • Ken Hioco

production

  • Toneelhuis
  • FC Bergman

coproduction

  • Piccolo Teatro di Milano - Teatro d'Europa
  • Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg

with the support of

  • de Tax Shelter maatregel v/d Belgische federale overheid via Gallop Tax Shelter

All data

  1. Wednesday 9 October 2024 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen Introduction at 7.15 PM at De Verdieping
  2. Thursday 10 October 2024 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen Introduction at 7.15 PM at De Verdieping
  3. Friday 11 October 2024 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen Introduction at 7.15 PM at De Verdieping with interpreter Flemish Sign Language
  4. Saturday 12 October 2024 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  5. Tuesday 15 October 2024 — 20h00 — NTGent/Schouwburg, Gent
  6. Wednesday 16 October 2024 — 20h00 — NTGent/Schouwburg, Gent
  7. Saturday 19 October 2024 — 20h00 — CC De Spil, Roeselare
  8. Tuesday 22 October 2024 — 20h00 — 30CC/Schouwburg, Leuven
  9. Wednesday 23 October 2024 — 20h00 — 30CC/Schouwburg, Leuven
  10. Saturday 26 October 2024 — 19h30 — Grote zaal ITA, Amsterdam
  11. Sunday 27 October 2024 — 15h00 — Grote zaal ITA, Amsterdam
  12. Thursday 31 October 2024 — 20h00 — CC De Werf, Aalst
  13. Tuesday 5 November 2024 — 20h00 — De Grote Post, Oostende
  14. Friday 8 November 2024 — 20h15 — C-mine/Grote zaal, Genk
  15. Thursday 9 January 2025 — 20h15 — Warande/Schouwburg, Turnhout
  16. Friday 10 January 2025 — 20h15 — Warande/Schouwburg, Turnhout
  17. Friday 24 January 2025 — 20h00 — CC De Factorij, Zaventem
  18. Saturday 25 January 2025 — 20h00 — CC De Factorij, Zaventem
  19. Wednesday 29 January 2025 — 20h00 — Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg, Luxemburg
  20. Thursday 30 January 2025 — 20h00 — Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg, Luxemburg
  21. Friday 14 February 2025 — 20h30 — Teatro Central, Sevilla
  22. Saturday 15 February 2025 — 20h30 — Teatro Central, Sevilla
  23. Wednesday 28 May 2025 — 20h30 — Piccolo Teatro di Milano – Teatro d’Europa / Teatro Strehler, Milaan
  24. Thursday 29 May 2025 — 19h30 — Piccolo Teatro di Milano – Teatro d’Europa / Teatro Strehler, Milaan
  25. Friday 30 May 2025 — 20h30 — Piccolo Teatro di Milano – Teatro d’Europa / Teatro Strehler, Milaan
  26. Tuesday 3 June 2025 — 20h00 — Teatro Stabile / Fonderie Limone, Torino
  27. Wednesday 4 June 2025 — 20h00 — Teatro Stabile / Fonderie Limone, Torino
  1. Thursday 26 September 2024 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  2. Saturday 28 September 2024 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  3. Sunday 29 September 2024 — 15h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  4. Tuesday 1 October 2024 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  5. Wednesday 2 October 2024 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  6. Thursday 3 October 2024 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  7. Friday 4 October 2024 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  8. Saturday 5 October 2024 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  9. Tuesday 8 October 2024 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen

Makers

News about ‘Werken en dagen’

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