{"id":13636,"date":"2025-10-15T10:27:39","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T08:27:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/explorethenorth.nl\/?post_type=event&p=13636"},"modified":"2025-12-12T16:22:20","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T15:22:20","slug":"shift-louis-janssens-family","status":"publish","type":"event","link":"https:\/\/explorethenorth.nl\/en\/event\/shift-louis-janssens-family\/","title":{"rendered":"SHIFT: Louis Janssens – Family"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Language: Dutch<\/strong>
Duration: 60 min<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the performance Family<\/em>, theatre maker Louis Janssens has invited four performers from different generations to join him on stage. They share stories, ask questions, and seek comfort, support, and recognition in one another. The piece explores how family ties connect us and how they inevitably shape our lives\u2014about blood relatives and chosen family. About parents, children, growing up, and the fear of being left behind. The performers appear on stage as themselves, but as the performance unfolds, they gradually seem to become each other\u2019s family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Family<\/em> is a poetic and relatable text-based performance about the universal concept of family. Starting from a queer perspective, they tell a broader human story about having and searching for family. Not everyone has children, but in the end, we are all someone\u2019s child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In recent years, Louis Janssens created the solo performance Serenade<\/em> (#nieuwjong Het TheaterFestival 2021), the duet Analoog<\/em> with Willem de Wolf (Het TheaterFestival and Nederlands Theater Festival 2023), and Desire<\/em> (Het TheaterFestival 2024), which was previously presented at Explore the North Festival. He now presents Family<\/em>, together with an intergenerational queer cast including Peter Seynaeve (NTGent, Het Zuidelijk Toneel), Maureen Teeuwen (Maatschappij Discordia, mugmetdegoudentand), Mourad Baaiz (Artemis\/hetpaleis\/Het Zuidelijk Toneel, Schauspielhaus Bochum), and Francis Geeraert (Compagnie Barbarie).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This performance is part of SHIFT, an initiative by Explore the North and Stadsschouwburg De Harmonie. SHIFT presents raw, honest, current, and disruptive performing arts. You come to SHIFT to understand what\u2019s happening\u2014in your head, in the world, with others, and within yourself, on both a grand and intimate scale. For curious thinkers and critical dreamers. All year round, SHIFT brings must-see performances to unexpected venues\u2014off the beaten theater track. From spoken word to postmodern dance. From theatrical manifestos to poetic requiems. These performances by both emerging and established makers reflect on the present and the future.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credits<\/strong>
Direction:<\/strong> Louis Janssens & Peter Seynaeve
Text & performance:<\/strong> Louis Janssens, Peter Seynaeve, Maureen Teeuwen, Mourad Baaiz & Francis Geeraert
Lighting design:<\/strong> Shane Van Laer
Technical support:<\/strong> Fee Van Herck
Production management:<\/strong> Lori Tuerlinckx
Intern (observation):<\/strong> Emma Claessens
Production:<\/strong> vzw Louis
Co-production:<\/strong> Perpodium
With support from:<\/strong> Monty, CAMPO, c o r s o, kunstencentrum nona, De Grote Post, Het Nationale Theater, Theaterfestival Boulevard, De Brakke Grond, deAuteurs & The Flemish Government
Special thanks to:<\/strong> Leonore Spee, Sara De Roo, Willemijn Zevenhuizen, Eva Dermul, Lies Van Loock, Simon Baetens, Elsemieke Scholte, Willem de Wolf & Tim Taveirne<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the support of the Belgian Federal Government’s tax shelter via Cronos Invest<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Met de steun van de taxshelter van de Belgische Federale Overheid via Cronos Invest<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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