The Deer House
A surreal and absurd fable
A family of deer breeders is faced with the consequences of the Yugoslavian civil war when a war photographer is forced to execute their daughter. A group of theatre-makers on tour is confronted with the harsh reality of the world they are touring. Jan Lauwers mixes these two storylines, thereby creating a surreal and absurd fable.
• The Deer House is the concluding part of the Sad Face / Happy Face trilogy, comprising three stories about human nature. Isabella’s Room (2004) was a reflection on the past. The Lobster Shop (2006) dealt with the future and The Deer House (2008) is about the present. Music and group singing by the actors play an important role in the trilogy. ‘I want the ritual of theatre to become something like people coming together to sing,’ says Lauwers.
Press quotes on The Deer House
‘Good laughs, awful truths’ – The Bulletin
‘A deeply moving performance’ – Der Standard (Vienne)
Matinee Kadee on Sunday, November 21st
Matinee Kadee are 5 fun children’s workshops during 5 Sunday matinees for parents: while you enjoy the performance in the theatre, the children take over the rest of the Kaaitheater building. The 4 to 12s let down their hair in workshops that are both challenging and fun; younger brothers or sisters are looked after in a cosy room.
The workshops are free; you only have to buy a ticket for the performance. As there is only a limited number of places for the workshops it is necessary to book in advance! Call 02 201 59 59 or send an e-mail to tickets@kaaitheater.be.
On Sunday, November 21st, we organize a drawing workshop: the children use their imaginations to the full and draw the craziest things: do you enjoy drawing moving figures or would you prefer to do a chocolate painting?
Full programme on www.kaaitheater.be/matineekadee
text, directing, set design Jan Lauwers | music Hans Petter Dahl, Maarten Seghers, except Song for The Deer House by Jan Lauwers | with Grace Ellen Barkey, Anneke Bonnema, Hans Petter Dahl, Viviane De Muynck Misha Downey, Julien Faure, Yumiko Funaya, Benoît Gob, Eléonore Valère, Maarten Seghers, Inge Van Bruystegem | choreography the company | costumes Lot Lemm | lighting Ken Hioco, Koen Raes | sound design Dré Schneider | production manager Luc Galle | assistant to the director, surtitles Elke Janssens | technicians Luc Galle, Ken Hioco | assistant technicians Elke Van Der Kelen, Lise Lendais | costume assistant Lieve Meeussen, Lise Lendais Ears Denise Castermans | production Needcompany and Salzburger Festspiele | co-production Schauspielhaus Zurich, PACT, Zollverein (Essen) | collaboration deSingel (Antwerp), Kaaitheater (Brussels) | support Flemish authorities
