Teaser The Place to Be

The gym is one of the few places in the city were people from different backgrounds cross each other’s path in such an intimate way; as diverse as their lives and backgrounds might be, they all want the same thing: to see another version of themselves in the mirror. Fit, stronger, good looking, healthier, more masculine and generally better. Yes, we can! Can’t we?

Since the autumn of 2018, Dominique Willaert (BEL) and Maiada Aboud (PSE) have been going to work out at Fit Out in Destelbergen at least twice a week with a large, super-diverse group of players. They have tested the special dynamics between people who work out, machines and mirrors. They tried to understand the order and the unwritten codes of the mini-societies that gyms are and put it up for questioning. And they consciously pushed their own physical and mental limits, in order to learn more about the relationship they have with their bodies and with movement. Out of these experiments they will create a theater performance on location.

About the actors
In October 2018, Victoria Deluxe, in collaboration with Fit Out, recruited about twenty actors through open auditions. Some of them have theater experience, others have never been on stage before. Some have already been bitten by the fitness microbe for a long time, others are very new to the game.

About the makers
Maiada Aboud is a Palestinian performance artist. Born in the Palestine (Arab with an Israeli passport) in the city of Haifa. she obtained her PhD in Performance Art in the UK and lives and works alternately in London (UK), Europe and Palestine/Israel.

Dominique Willaert is a theater maker who is associated with Victoria Deluxe as an artistic director since 2002. In recent years he has made theater performances at various locations.

About Victoria Deluxe
Victoria Deluxe wants to tell those stories that are not or not enough heard and acknowledged in our society. Every year we set up theatre, film and other projects in which citizens create and present together with artists, for a diverse audience. Our field of activity is not limited to our own city, we also investigate the impact of geopolitical transformations on our urban environment. With our artistic work we want to inspire and prefigure new, more just and hopeful ways of living together.

THE PLACE TO BE is a project by Victoria Deluxe and Fit Out with the support of the City of Ghent, the province of East Flanders and the Flemish government. Thanks to City Sounds.

Concept en regie: Dominique Willaert, Maiada Aboud Geluid: Ruben Nachtergaele Video: Brecht Vanhoenacker Regie-assistentie: Babette Vergauwen (stage) Spel: Taj Abla, Mustafa al Omran, Emma Boeyaert, Aroa Canay, Mo Chen, Steff Coppieters, Emma Gheeraert, Ivan Gordillo, Ebenezer Ankrah, Sieber Marly, Maryssa Merchiers, Alpaslan Mercimek, Ben Aziz Ouedraogo, Tylyn Overmeire, Isabelle Rey, Marcos Rey, Charlotte Roels, Liselotte Slosse, Isabelle Step, Sam Van Eyken, Eric Vanhaeken, Jan Verstraeten Procesbegeleiding: Liselotte Slosse (stage), Emma Gheeraert Techniek: Gerold Van Thieghem, Ferre Carron Productieleiding Liesbeth Maene Productieassistentie Marieke Vanassche (stage), Leen De Boeck (stage) Fotograaf: freddy Willems Vorm: Agnes De Maeseneir