This is not the start of the story, we haven’t started yet.
This is not the beginning.
What do you need to know? Before we start?
We don’t know why.
We can guess, but we don’t know. We never will.
We can choose. And be satisfied with an answer. But we never know.
The elusive Why.
Before the Story Starts is an experimental, immersive, one man theatre performance that takes place in the liminal moment before a (or THE) story begins.
Inspired by The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy, Being John Malkovich, The Matrix and Alan Watts, masterstoryteller Thomas Dudkiewicz travels through the subconscious of the universe, in pursuit of answers.
This story that is not yet a story has a surreal structure filled with cryptic hosts, erratic guides, and philosophical dead-ends.
As he meets his alter ego(s) he unravels the story of why, why is it that he tells stories? How is meaning built? And what happens when we confront the terrifying possibility that there may never be a final answer?
Dates:
Frascati. Amsterdam: 22 – 23 September; 8.30pm (try-outs)
Frascati. Amsterdam: 24 September; 8.30pm (Première)
Theater de Maagd. Bergen op Zoom: 28 September; 8pm
Lindenberg Cultuurhuis. Nijmegen: 2 October; 8pm
Grand Theatre, Groningen: 6 October; 8pm
Pand P, Eindhoven: 9 October; 8.30pm
Verkadefabriek. s-Hertogenbosch: 13 October; 8pm
HNT / Theater aan het Spui. Den Haag: 14 October; 8pm
Schouwburg Amstelveen. Amstelveen: 15 October; 8pm
MIMIK. Deventer: 16 October; 8pm
Schouwburg Kunstmin, Dordrecht: 17 October; 8pm
De Nieuwe Vorst. Tilburg: 21 October 8.30pm
Schuur, Haarlem: 22 October; 8pm
Theater Kikker, Utrecht: 27 and 28 October; 8pm
Theater aan de Rijn. Arnhem: 29 October; 8.30pm
Theater Rotterdam. Rotterdam: 30 and 31 October; 8pm
Organizer
URLAND is a performance collective. URLAND works autonomously. URLAND wants Gesamtkunst. URLAND has no method. URLAND practices the non-I. URLAND appropriates, quotes and samples. URLAND strives for the Universal. URLAND believes in live art in digital times.
Venue
The Nieuwe Vorst is a creative and vibrant meeting place in the heart of Tilburg, where art, culture and tastes awaken, stories come to life and the senses are stimulated. We are a home for subcultures in the contrarian Tilburg. We stretch the concept of theatre. Expect experiment, confusion and chance of art in all corners and gaps of our historic villa, theatre halls and beautiful courtyard.
The Nieuwe Vorst is a multidisciplinary stage for the presentation and realization of performing arts in the broadest sense. We stretch the concept of theatre, but in our choices always start from the power of live and together in the here and now. We present a multiform stage program and support theatre makers and programme makers and facility substantive and facility.
We believe that art can touch by confusing, by offering recognition, by showing new realities. This collectively to experience in the here and now creates a connection with each other and more empathy in the other. We find this essential in a changing and increasingly grim and individualistic world through war, climate change and the power of social media.
