The Quest

At the juncture of stand-up, the absurd and existential drama, Cédric Eeckhout obsessively singles out the similarities that unite his fate with that of the entire continent, politically and economically; he joins the great historical currents with the footnotes. According to him, the important dates in his life correspond oddly with important episodes in the history of United Europe. Even his initials play the game: CE!

On one hand we have his story, a forty year old actor looking for eternal love, marked from a young age by the separation of his Walloon mother and his Flemish father. And on the other hand, the European Union whose foundations could crack, threatened by the rise of nationalism.

During his monologue he dwells on Europe’s fragmentation and questions the ambivalent effects of Neoliberalism. He touches on his origins: he is the result of a union between someone from the north and someone from the south of Belgium, which after 18 years resulted in a divorce. Will the European Union suffer a better fate? Presenting himself as a 21^st century knight errant clad in protective armor, he is accompanied in his quest by his mom and his cat named Jesus.

Together they went to the Netherlands, Sweden and Hungary, but also Flanders and Wallonia, sharing his reflections on family and Europe. They interviewed key people in the future of Europe, intellectuals, politicians, artists and also regular citizens and even members of his own family.

Conversation / EUROPE ?
Redéfinir la promesse européenne
25.05.2022, à l'issue de la représentation

Europe today looks very different from Europe ten years ago. In light of past and ongoing crises, be they economic, financial, political, social or health-related, one cannot help but wonder : how will Europe look like ten years from now? What kind of future can be envisaged for Europe and what are the possible scenarios for 2030 ?

In partnership with Institut d’Etudes Européennes, Université Libre de Bruxelles.