Theatre
En avant, marche!
Frank Van Laecke, Alain Platel, Steven Prengels
Wim Opbrouck in “En avant, marche!” © Phile Deprez
A trombone player, no longer able to play his instrument due to his age and demoted to play the cymbals, is the protagonist of “En avant, marche!” Together with director Frank von Laecke and composer Steven Prengels, choreographer Alain Platel looks at brass bands as microcosms of society. Flouting all genre-boundaries, this tragicomic performance celebrates life and art and depicts a communal struggle against death and ephemerality. The evening’s centerpiece is the fiery musicality of Zentralkapelle Berlin, who are on stage together with seven further musicians and four actors (from Gent National Theatre, among others) and whose particular sound turns familiar classics of the likes of Mahler, Verdi and Strauß into a completely new listening experience.
Created and performed by
Chris Thys, Griet Debacker, Hendrik Lebon, Wim Opbrouck, Gregory Van Seghbroeck bass tuba
Jan D’Haene, Jonas Van Hoeydonck trumpet
Lies Vandeburie bugle
Niels Van Heertum euphonium
Simon Hueting horn
Witse Lemmens drums
Steven Prengels conductor
and the Zentralkapelle Berlin
Directors Frank Van Laecke, Alain Platel
Composition and musical direction Steven Prengels
Dramaturgy Koen Haagdorens
Soundscape executed by KMV De Leiezonen directed by Diederik De Roeck
Direction assistant Steve De Schepper, Katelijne Laevens
Lighting design Carlo Bourguignon
Sound design Bartold Uyttersprot
Set design Luc Goedertier
Costume design Marie ‘Costume’ Lauwers
Costumes and set realized by atelier NTGent
Stage manager Wim Van de Cappelle
Production manager Marieke Cardinaels, Valerie Desmet
Tour manager Steve De Schepper
Artistic director Zentralkapelle Berlin Juliana Kohl
Orchestra management Zentralkapelle Berlin Boris Janowski
Many thanks to all the staff of NTGent and les ballets C de la B, Etienne Soens, Linda Bonte, Annelies Desendere, Jan Czajkowski, Bart De Lausnay, Isnelle da Silveira, Bérengère Bodin, VLAMO, Huis van Alijn, Hilde Van Wesepoel, Griet Van Landeghem, Wim Hees, Jozef Lust, Anette De Wilde, Schoenfabriek Van Beers
Production: NTGent and les ballets C de la B in collaboration with VLAMO
Co-production: La Rose Des Vents (Villeneuve d’Ascq, FR), TorinoDanza (IT), Théâtre National de Chaillot (Paris, FR), Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg (LU), Festspielhaus St. Pölten (AU), Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspiele (DE), Festival Printemps des Comédiens Montpellier (FR), Maillon, Théâtre de Strasbourg-scène européenne (FR), GREC-Festival de Barcelona (ES), KVS Brussel (BE), Brisbane Festival (AUS), Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne(CH)
Distribution: Frans Brood Productions
With the support of City of Ghent, Province East Flanders, the Flemish authorities and Port of Ghent
The opening ceremony is funded by the General Representation of the Government of Flanders (Embassy of Belgium).