A mental and physical trip through the darkness of optimism about the economy of war that dominates our lives.
In November of 2011, General Van Uhm, commander in chief of the Dutch armed forces, gave a lecture at the Amsterdam City Theatre, in which he argued that weapons help us to maintain peace. This soldier in a theatre inspired Robbrecht to write a dizzying piece of propaganda that challenges the audience to look at the phenomenon of war from different points of view. The Great Warmachine is a thrilling exchange of thoughts about war and its meaning to our daily lives. In the debates, performers embody the likes of game designers, engineers, inventors, dreamers and trendwatchers. The Great Warmachine was selected for the Flemish Theatre Festival.
"Seldomly, a performance has discussed the worst and most serious news of the world in such a fresh and tongue-in-cheek manner. Precisely its incomprehensible drive is astounding, and it draws the audience into the play more and more, physically." - Flemish Theatre Festival Jury
"Robbrecht's script is funny, smart and fast. At moments, its words will take the audience with them to the scary depths of war rhetoric." - Theaterkrant
"Robbrecht's ritualistic performance works uniquely infecting. What matters here is whether you have let it touch you." - De Volkskrant
Joachim Robbrecht is one of the most talked about contemporary writers and directors of the low countries' theatrical world. In his work, he combines textual satire and the sensuality of the human body. As a writer he worked for Oostpool, Moeremans & Sons and Dood Paard. Robbrecht won the Charlotte Köhler award in 2011 and his play Crashtest Ibsen Volksvijand was nominated for the Taalunie Theatre Script prize in 2014.
Script, director: Joachim Robbrecht
Performers: Aitana Cordero, Tashi Iwaoka, Louis van der Waal
Dramaturgy: Nina Aalders
Advice: Bruno Listopad
Stage design: Jan Brokof
Costumes: Rebekka Wörmann
Lighting: André Goos
Music: Steve Martin Snider
Special thanks to: The city of Rotterdam, Amsterdam Culture Fund, Fonds 21, Ammodo Foundation, Fonds Podiumkunsten, Prins Bernhard Culture Fund and the Van Lange Fund.
Inspiration night
S.A. Proto choose this performance as their inspiration night. All members have free acces! Don't forget to bring your member card and to make sure you have a ticket: make your reservation with the board!