Theatre

The power of words links two hit shows from Belgium’s SKaGeN company, performed by the astonishing Valentijn Dhaenens.

BigMouth is a crash-course in the art of rhetoric, interweaving fragments of speeches by famous figures from ancient Greeks to Hitler, from the Grand Inquisitor to Martin Luther King, Osama Bin Laden, Mohammad Ali and George W. Bush, into one frightening whole. Dhaenens employs not just his voice but his entire body to show the good, bad, and downright ugly sides of mankind through the ages, revealing the magic of oratory as an irresistible force of persuasion. Songs by Nirvana and others tell their own stories as BigMouth examines justice, war, racism and retribution in a monodrama where past and present are in a constant dialogue.

Where SmallWaR is about men standing on big platforms giving speeches while other people go to flight wars for them, Dhaenens’ second show turns to those sent to fight. Set in 1914 in a WorldWar I field dressing station behind the lines, SmallWaR tells its stories in the words of ordinary citizens and soldiers who were there, and loved ones left behind. Using ingenious digital technology, the cast of haracters and personas played by Dhaenens are able to interact on stage, heightening our understanding of the frightening inevitability of war and its disastrous effects. In this second theatrical tour de force, Dhaenens proves himself once again an electrifying performer, perfectly in tune with his unforgettable text.

Already sold out and acclaimed in Europe, America and Australia – come see both profound and superbly staged performances.