‘Thanks for Being Here’ - Projects

‘Thanks for Being Here’ Press

Thanks for Being Here is an ode to the audience. Because without an audience, there is no theatre. The fact that you are now reading this text, perhaps buying a ticket (or already have!), and will soon spend an hour in a room full of strangers, not knowing what’s to come – we find that deeply hopeful. And that is worth celebrating.

On stage: us. In the audience: you. We will watch. Ourselves, but especially each other, as a group. We’ll switch roles. Maybe you’ll see yourself, as part of the audience, or even as a character. Without you, there would be no performance. So thank you for being here.

In a game of video and perspective, Thanks for Being Here constantly puts you off balance. But don’t worry — you don’t have to do anything. Because Ontroerend Goed has been making interactive theatre for over 20 years for people who don’t particularly like interactive theatre. And we’ll take your expectations into account. Both before and after. Promise.

'Radically hopeful' - De Morgen ****

CALENDAR

CREDITS

directed by
Alexander Devriendt

with
Charlotte De Bruyne, Karolien De Bleser, Patricia Kargbo & Leonore Spee

costumes Fauve Ryckebusch

assistant-director Anne Meffert

technical Elias Beaudouin, Nick De Keyser & Matthias Tuinstra

AV consulting Maxime Lahousse & Vidiots

scenography light Scott Jun

sound editing Anne Meffert, Leonore Spee & David Sanders

technical production manager Jitske Vandenbussche

production assistant Lynn Van den Bergh

production
Ontroerend Goed

coproduction
Perpodium

in cooperation with
NTGent

with the support of
the Flemish Community & the city of Ghent
The Tax Shelter of the Belgian Federal government & uFund

…This is a loving, extremely well-crafted piece that shows how people are, above all, loving and good.

Knack Focus - Els Van Steenberghe ****

…How we take our 'outside' with us 'inside', how we prepare ourselves for the transition from reality to imagination, how that transition phase shimmers with utopian potential - that is beautiful. That is what this 'thank you' to the audience is ultimately about: the recognition of the political potential of a theater hall. (...) But it is certain that our collective presence there, in all its diversity of perspectives, is a source of change. And this realization is radically hopeful.

De Morgen - Evelyne Coussens ****

…Thanks for Being Here is the type of performance that you should actually attend with as little prior knowledge as possible, so that what is unexpected can remain unexpected, and the whole thing can slowly come together.

NRC - Amber Wiznitzer ****

…Ingenious in its simplicity.A smash hit

De Standaard ****

…Radicalement optimiste

De Morgen - Evelyne Coussens ****