MONSTER

MONSTER
Hendrik De Smedt

Agenda

27.01.19

Westrand

Dilbeek

15.03.16 17.03.16
11.02.16 14.02.16
31.05.14 15.06.14
21.05.14 14.09.14
27.03.14 12.04.14
13.03.14 23.03.14
18.12.12 21.12.12
23.06.11 26.06.11
26.02.11 27.02.11

Kaaitheater

Brussels

10.11.10 12.11.10

Vooruit

Ghent

10.09.10 12.09.10
14.07.10 17.07.10
  • “While taking the key from his pocket outside his room, he is startled by a sound coming from within. A peculiar rattling sound, very lively but very regular. Since Blumfeld has just been thinking of dogs, it reminds him of the sounds produced by paws pattering one after the other over a floor. […] he quickly unlocks the door and switches on the light. He is not prepared for what he sees. For this is magic, two small white celluloid balls with blue stripes jumping up and down side by side on the parquet; when one of them touches the floor the other is in the air, a game they continue ceaselessly to play. […] He tries to catch one but they retreat before him, thus luring him on to follow them through the room. It’s really too silly, he thinks, running after balls like this, he stands still and realizes that the moment he abandones the pursuit, they too remain on the same spot. I will try to catch them all the same, he thinks again, and hurries towards them. They immediately run away…”
    From: ‘Blumfeld, an Elderly Bachelor’ - Franz Kafka

    MONSTER

    MONSTER

    The spectators enter a space in which an elongated, fenced in box stands. The floor is covered with white textile. A series of lights hangs very low above this white surface, like in a brooding box for chickens. In the box lie 300 little toy dogs. These are stuffed animals with an optic eye in the middle of their foreheads. When this eye senses a change in light (and this happens every time a movement takes place within their sight) the dogs roll over; their tales make a circular movement and they produce sounds that could be described as ‘barking laughs’. The reaction of one dog sets a second dog in motion; these two dogs then set another couple of dogs in motion, etcetera. A group of rolling, laughing dogs has originated in the box; an uncontrollable mass that cannot be silenced nor stopped.

    MONSTER is also part of the 'circuit performance' K, a Society (2010).

    MONSTER
    Luc Schaltin

Credits

CREDITS MONSTER (VERSION 2014)
Concept & direction
: Kris Verdonck
Dramaturgy: Marianne Van Kerkhoven (Kaaitheater)
Technical coordinator: Jan Van Gijsel
Construction
: Sylvain Spinoit
Production: A Two Dogs Company
Production manager: Hendrik De Smedt
Production assistent: Karolien De Bleser
Administrator: Han De Meulemeester
Co-prodution version 2014: MAC Créteil (FR), Le Manège - Maubeuge (FR), Lille3000 (FR)
Co-production
: Theater der Welt 2010 (DE), Transdigital (Interreg), Kunstencentrum Vooruit (BE), Productiehuis Rotterdam / Rotterdamse Schouwburg (NL), Kaaitheater (BE)
In partnership with: Schauspiel Essen (DE), Le manège.mons (BE) and Technocité (BE) in the frame of Transdigital
With the support of: the Flemish Authorities, the Flemish Community Commission (VGC), the Brussels Capital Region