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Photo / Foto; Sanne Peper

COMPAGNIE DAKAR Compagnie Dakar was established in 2001 by Guido Kleene. He is looking for connections with artists who substantially tell something about the world we live in. Inspiring creators. The performances by Compagnie Dakar are explicit in their thematic subjects, theatrical communication and refinement. They speak of a world which is largerthan the Netherlands and smallerthan ourselves. Often acting upon documentary material and for audiences that are not usually confronted with this kind of theatre. GUIDO KLEENE ABOUT COMPAGNIE DAKAR 'I was born in Dakar, the capital of Senegal. Africa is a continent in change. Africa is also a mirror - in which you can freely project your fears and desires. Africa is a source of inspiration and of reference. To me it's the place where I was born - white and rich - and where a part of my family resides. It's a place representing a different reality. Sometimes horrid, often inspiring, cheerful, confusing and incomprehensible. This astonishment is a source to create theatre, i think it's important to look far away, because the further you look, the clearer you can see that your own view deprives your sight. That what you see far away is often horrible and incomprehensible. Once you step closer you might understand better, but might lose comprehension of yourself, compagnie dakartries to gain insight. Plays in a polarizing and globalising world. And foremost -1 have the opportunity to put words and images to universal dilemmas' BRAAKLAND compagnie dakar in collaboration with Lotte van den Berg Braakland ( Wasteland) tells in sober, penetrating images, of nine figures wandering about forgotten land. They surrender to the laws of living and dying, without defense. Is this what they have chosen or have they merely failed to escape? Lotte van den Berg was inspired by the novels of John Coetzee. Without words she makes you feel the violence, the desolation and the poetry of his work. With a cinematographic eye, she creates a line drawing in a landscape full of cruelties, without cause and effect. Tortuously long lines leading nowhere. The performance of the actors of Dakar is full of dedication and meticulous. This performance, in spite of all the destruction, is one you have to embrace. Director Lotte van den Berg received the'Erik Vos'-and the'Charlotte Köhler' award for her work and presently works at'HetToneelhuis'in Antwerp. The European Tour in the summer of 2006 is realised with the support of'HetToneelhuis'in Antwerp. LOTTE VAN DEN BERG ABOUT BRAAKLAND "... in Braakland we show people living without resistance. People who just drop down when their time has come. People who stopped fighting. People who do not defend the value of life any longer, it hurts. Maybe our greatest fear isn't the fear of death, but the fear of the worthlessness of life. In Braakland we make the fear palpable, not to offend orto disdain, but to give comfort. The way you feel, I feel it too. The way you live, so do I. The way you die, so shall I. We are trapped in paradox.To venture to live we will have to face our own fear of death straight into the eyes."