The Underground

#multidisciplinary #theater #dance #songs #beatmusic

THE UNDERGROUND is a multidisciplinary work created by NITE (Noord Nederlands Toneel + Club Guy & Roni + Asko|Schönberg + Slagwerk Den Haag) and directed by Guy Weizman.  The piece is inspired by Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Notes from the Underground, a monologue about failure, invisibility, unimportance, and futility.

I worked on the team as composer and songwriter, writing for an exceptionally versatile group of performers: an actor doubling as a lead-singer, a percussionist doubling as another lead-singer, a clown playing trumpet, a string quartet playing metal beats and Haydn, a dancing trombonist, and a synth-improv drummer.

The work premiered and did 15 performances at the old Sluisfabriek in Drachten, in a mini-festival atmosphere complete with local opening bands and food trucks.  In August and September The Underground performed 10 times in Amsterdam at the Amsterdamse Bostheater.

Check the events page for the latest dates.

Director: Guy Weizman | Choreography: Roni Haver | Writer: Rik van den Bos | Composer: Brendan Faegre | Set Designer: Ascon de Nijs | Costumes: Maison the Faux | Cast: Sanne den Hartogh, Camilo Chapela, Tatiana Matveeva, Bram de Laere, Nathalie Alexandra Torres Kinard aka “Strange”, Michael Ques Zaalman | Musicians: Niels Meliefste, Dirge Seçil Kuran, Joost Geevers, Berber Heerema, Isa Goldschmeding, Noa Eyl, Yanna Pelser | Sound Designer: Peter Zwart | Musical dramaturg: David Dramm

One of the Top 5 classical performances of 2022
– Het Parool

“★★★★”
…
“Drama, poetry, live music, song, dance and acrobatics interweave into a raw, cynical, energetic, but above all humorous performance.”
– Leeuwarder Courant

“a compelling insight into the brooding brain of a social loser”
…
“a stirring song…all elements of the multidisciplinary ensemble come together as seamlessly as a collective cry against imposed collectivity”
– NRC

See The Underground news item for more reviews.

Behind-the-scenes music clips from our first rehearsals:

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