Vice versa

Flemish youth theatre takes New York by storm

Ontroerend goed - Pubers

New York theatre lovers had until 17 January to see the teenage theatre group 'Ontroerend Goed' (Touchingly Good) from Ghent stage two performances daily of their show 'Once and for All, We're Gonna Tell You Who We Are So Shut up and Listen' at the Duke Theatre on Times Square. The troupe will probably perform to a full theatre each time, as they have been receiving rave reviews, the newspaper De Morgen reports.

Next week is already sold out and the success has been so overwhelming that they've been asked to put in extra performances. New York is the second last stop on their international tour. "We should actually have made it our first stop", said Alexander Devriendt, director and co-author of the piece. "Our performances in New York have been acclaimed to such an extent that offers are streaming in", he added.

The New York press has been unanimous in their praise, with the New York Times devoting as many as three articles to the piece. It seems to have enthralled a wide audience because of its authenticity, portraying puberty "in the true sense, especially in respect of those aspects which parents prefer to ignore", writes Jason Zinoman in the New York Times.

Devriendt gave his young actors carte blanche with the production. His input (and that of co-author Joeri Smet and dramaturgist Mieke Versyp of co-producing youth theatre house 'De Kopergietery' in Ghent) was merely in the role of gardener, pruning and clipping to ensure a subtle order to an impenetrable jungle. According to Mark Russell, the director of Under the Radar Festival, who brought the piece to New York, this is the youth theatre of the future. In May, 'Ontroerend Goed' will premiere their new piece, 'Teenage Riot'.

Meanwhile Devriendt is hard at work in Australia on a project commissioned by the artistic directors of the Sydney Theater Company, actress Cate Blanchett and her husband, Andrew Upton.

Source: Flanders Today - 01/11/10

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