Dignity

Action Zoo Humain Chokri Ben Chikha

performance

In July 2023, the European Union concluded a much-discussed migration deal with Tunisia. The agreement was presented as a win-win for both parties. But is that really true? Critics of the agreement view it as a continuation of colonial deals from the past. They argue that Europe is causing the suffering and death of thousands of refugees. Criticism of the agreement is virtually impossible in Tunisia; critical voices are silenced.

Proponents call the deal a courageous response to what they see as the greatest societal challenge in Europe. Migration is portrayed by them as an existential threat that will lead to the “erasure of European civilization,” as Donald Trump put it. What is the truth? Or is dignity a better aspiration?

In Dignity, director Chokri Ben Chikha establishes a Tunisian dignity commission in exile. The performance forms the third part of his Truth Commission Trilogy, following PART I – the Belgian Senate (2018) and PART II – the Dutch Senate (2024). It arose from an artistic research project that Ben Chikha / Action Zoo Humain conducted together with L'Art Rue into the consequences of the migration deal on Tunisian society. In it, artists, scientists, and citizens reclaim their truth about migration and human rights.

Dignity is inspired by the South African Truth Commission, which, under the chairmanship of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, strove to listen to all involved parties in the aftermath of apartheid in order to live together better in one society. Here, too, the stage becomes a place where witnesses and commission members share their stories, doubts, and truths through words, images, and song. Led by Mpho Tutu van Furth, daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the commission poses the question: Whose dignity is at stake when making migration deals? And who bears the brunt of the humiliation?

• Chokri Ben Chikha (1969) is a director, performer, artistic researcher, and author. He has directed numerous productions for arts institutions and organizations, domestically and internationally. Several of his artistic projects have received awards for their social relevance and artistic innovation. Currently, he is particularly focused on productions with his company

• Action Zoo Humain. This company explores the extent to which theatre can directly intervene in reality without losing sight of its poetic potential and self-criticism. To this end, it uses the historical concept of the ‘human zoo’ as a research tool to question ethnic, religious, political, and economic conflict zones. Ben Chikha also coaches numerous young and emerging theatre makers and/or performers, and is a lecturer at both KASK/School of Arts/HoGent and the University of Antwerp. Additionally, he gives lectures and performances at educational institutions, domestically and internationally.

concept/director Chokri Ben Chikha ⎪ with and by Yasmine Akrimi, Nedia Bel Hadj Bettaieb, Oumaima Ben Ammar, Wael Garnaoui, Moussa Ndiaye, Nadia Tlich, Mpho Tutu van Furth, Hajer Zaidi Dramaturgy: Jozefien Muylle, Sietske De Vries, Zouzou Ben Chikha ⎪ text Erwin Jans, Marwa Manaï ⎪ video Raâfet Abdelli ⎪ production Action Zoo Humain ⎪coproduction Perpodium, L’Art Rue, Theater Rotterdam ⎪ with the support of Stad Gent, the Flemish Government and the Belgian Federal Government's tax shelter via Cronos Invest