What is the role of silence in times of war and recovery? What does war sound like? And what could not be spoken of before and after the war?
In the performance Stil Leven, young people from Amsterdam, under the guidance of theatre makers Elsbeth Hoefkens and Hannah Vrijenhoek, explored the history of the city during World War II. They spoke with older generations about what it was like to be young during the war. These personal stories and memories, supplemented with other historical source materials, form the foundation of the performance. In a quiet ritual, the performers reveal what lies beneath the silence.
Stil Leven was part of the thirteenth edition of Theater Na de Dam, where nearly 400 young people took part in 38 projects across the Netherlands, working to give additional meaning to 4th May. For a moment, the voices of the past can be heard again, from Sittard to Groningen and from Leiden to Enschede.
Direction: Elsbeth Hoefkens and Hannah Vrijenhoek
Text: PACT year 1 performers, Elsbeth Hoefkens, and Hannah Vrijenhoek
Performance: PACT year 1 performers
Production: Alejandra Zabala
Co-producers: CC Amstel and Theater PACT
