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Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles

Les bas-fonds / Nachtasiel

The Lower Depths
Maxime Gorki, Raven Ruëll / Theater Antigone

20 > 25.11.2018
Theatre

“We do what we can with what we have… that is to say, not much!”
Nachtasiel – in English The Lower Depths – is the first and best known play by Maxim Gorky. The Russian writer creates a gallery of portraits of the marginalized in pre revolutionary Russia. Lame, broken, wounded and brought together in a night shelter at the mercy of a couple of slum landlords, they try to survive. Until the arrival of a tramp who fills them, at least maybe, with hope.

Fourteen Dutch speaking and French speaking actors play these abandoned members of society. Playwright Tom Dupont has adapted the text after lengthy research at a homeless shelter: Nachtasiel baldly describes their lot and brutally asks the question: how can we tolerate such poverty?

In exposing the situation that these people find themselves in as an accusation to the rest of us Raven Ruëll demonstrates the cruel truth; and it is impossible this time to ignore that in our cities, misery devours so many lives on our watch.

Calendar

  • - 20:15

    Introduction - 19:45

  • - 19:30
  • - 20:15
  • - 20:15
  • - 20:15
  • - 15:00

Information

Language

FR, NL — Surtitles FR, NL

Venue

Grande salle

Surrounding the show

introduction 20.11.2018 - 19:45 (15')

Sound level

category 2

Kids

16+

Cast

From
Maxime Gorki

Direction
Raven Ruëll

Dramaturgie
Tom Dupont

With
David Dermez, Jos Verbist, Peter Monsaert, Soufiane Chilah, Benjamin Op de Beeck, Sophie Warnant, Eléna Doratiotto, Laura Sépul, Anthony Foladore, Hannes Reckelbus, Valentina Toth, Samuel Van Der Zwalmen & Fiona Willemaers

Image
Peter Monsaert

Scenography
Giovani Vanhoenacker

Sound design
Niels Vanherpe

Producer
Theater Antigone & Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles

As part of the cultural cooperation agreement between the Flemish and the French Community (www.cultuurculture.be

© Kurt Van der Elst
Le Rideau de saison, Maak & Transmettre · photo : Lucile Dizier, 2024