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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. 

It’s thrilling to encounter a piece so brilliant and striking that as soon as it ends, you’re desperate to watch it all over again. This is one of those rare pieces.

Audacious and surprising at every turn, Works and Days is a real treat for theatre lovers. FC Bergman’s daring creativity is endlessly fascinating and what I’d give to be a fly on the wall in their rehearsal room, to witness the journey from concept to creation.

Yes, it’s true that in this production you’ll ruminate on humankind’s relationship to land, and the unfolding of industry. It’s also true that presenting works that reflecting our understanding of the climate crisis is important. But so too is the opportunity to experience total, unadulterated theatrical joy.

Emma Hay, curator in Edinburgh International Festival , 2 June 2025

"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."

Wouter Hillaert in De Standaard **** , 30 September 2024

"It is an alarming and at the same time extraordinarily beautiful image of humanity gone astray: people will never make it on their own, but as a group they become overconfident, lose sight of nature, and therefore go down just the same. Left or right, it is bad news for that splendidly ploughing, planting, plodding human being."

"‘Werken en dagen’ is sublime in the way it uses the craft of theatre very carefully and sparingly to show what we as human beings have lost forever by not treating the natural environment sparingly and carefully. (...) ' Werken en dagen' is a theatre show that’s like a painting by Permeke: raw, striking and ravishingly composed."

Els Van Steenberghe in Knack Focus **** , 21 October 2024

"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

"FC Bergman have developed a brilliant way of letting a story unfold before an audience in both a workaday but fast-paced way. (...) The performers move with precision and a synchronicity that isn’t obvious. They are a delight to watch. From building a barn and treading the wood with their feet in a Haka-like dance, to the near pornographic way in which their naked bodies wrap around the steam engine, seduced by its power."

"Imágenes maravillosas que van de Millet –fantástica Fumiyu Ikedo tratando de arrastrar el arado empapada por la lluvia- a Sorolla con sus cuerpos brillantes y desnudos, para terminar con un cuadro futurista con robot y explosión de piñas tropicales. Toda la pieza, además, está maravillosamente armonizada con los instrumentos y las voces de Badenhorst y Carpio, músicos tan excepcionales como los ocho actores –niña incluida- que la hacen posible."

"Una maestosa allegoria che diventa un'invocazione a ripensare i nostri ecosistemi per coltivare tempi e spazi che ci riconnettano alla Madre Terra."

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/Gudrun Ghesquiere
  • Fumiyo Ikeda/Sigrid Vinks
  • Geert Goossens/Paul Schrijvers
  • 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. Thursday 7 August 2025 — 20h00 — Edinburgh International Festival/The Lyceum, Edinburgh
  2. Friday 8 August 2025 — 20h00 — Edinburgh International Festival/The Lyceum, Edinburgh
  3. Saturday 9 August 2025 — 20h00 — Edinburgh International Festival/The Lyceum, Edinburgh
  4. Sunday 10 August 2025 — 15h00 — Edinburgh International Festival/The Lyceum, Edinburgh
  5. Tuesday 9 December 2025 — 20h00 — CC Brugge/Stadsschouwburg, Brugge
  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
  10. Wednesday 9 October 2024 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  11. Thursday 10 October 2024 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  12. Friday 11 October 2024 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  13. Saturday 12 October 2024 — 20h00 — Bourlaschouwburg, Antwerpen
  14. Tuesday 15 October 2024 — 20h00 — NTGent/Schouwburg, Gent
  15. Wednesday 16 October 2024 — 20h00 — NTGent/Schouwburg, Gent
  16. Saturday 19 October 2024 — 20h00 — CC De Spil, Roeselare
  17. Tuesday 22 October 2024 — 20h00 — 30CC/Schouwburg, Leuven
  18. Wednesday 23 October 2024 — 20h00 — 30CC/Schouwburg, Leuven
  19. Saturday 26 October 2024 — 19h30 — Grote zaal ITA, Amsterdam
  20. Sunday 27 October 2024 — 15h00 — Grote zaal ITA, Amsterdam
  21. Thursday 31 October 2024 — 20h00 — Cultuurhuis De Werf, Aalst
  22. Tuesday 5 November 2024 — 20h00 — De Grote Post, Oostende
  23. Friday 8 November 2024 — 19h30 — C-mine/Grote zaal, Genk
  24. Thursday 9 January 2025 — 20h15 — Warande/Schouwburg, Turnhout
  25. Friday 10 January 2025 — 20h15 — Warande/Schouwburg, Turnhout
  26. Saturday 11 January 2025 — 20h15 — Warande/Schouwburg, Turnhout
  27. Saturday 18 January 2025 — 20h00 — Thalia Theater, Hamburg
  28. Sunday 19 January 2025 — 19h00 — Thalia Theater, Hamburg
  29. Friday 24 January 2025 — 20h00 — CC De Factorij, Zaventem
  30. Saturday 25 January 2025 — 20h00 — CC De Factorij, Zaventem
  31. Wednesday 29 January 2025 — 20h00 — Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg, Luxemburg
  32. Thursday 30 January 2025 — 20h00 — Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg, Luxemburg
  33. Friday 14 February 2025 — 20h30 — Teatro Central, Sevilla
  34. Saturday 15 February 2025 — 20h30 — Teatro Central, Sevilla
  35. Wednesday 28 May 2025 — 20h30 — Piccolo Teatro di Milano – Teatro d’Europa / Teatro Strehler, Milaan
  36. Thursday 29 May 2025 — 19h30 — Piccolo Teatro di Milano – Teatro d’Europa / Teatro Strehler, Milaan
  37. Friday 30 May 2025 — 20h30 — Piccolo Teatro di Milano – Teatro d’Europa / Teatro Strehler, Milaan
  38. Tuesday 3 June 2025 — 20h45 — Teatro Stabile / Fonderie Limone, Torino
  39. Wednesday 4 June 2025 — 20h45 — Teatro Stabile / Fonderie Limone, Torino
  40. Saturday 21 June 2025 — 21h00 — Campania Teatro Festival/Teatro Verdi, Salerno
  41. Sunday 22 June 2025 — 19h00 — Campania Teatro Festival/Teatro Verdi, Salerno

Makers

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