A Javanese L’Histoire du Soldat

Première: Thursday 16 March 2017 – 28 April 2017

NTR Radio Interview Een Javaanse L’Histoire du Soldat
Couplet du Diable uit Een Javaanse L’Histoire du Soldat 2017
Gerard Mosterd over Een Javaanse L’Histoire du Soldat
Korte Impressie Koninklijke Schouwburg Den Haag Een Javaanse L’Histoire du Soldat
Wieteke van Dort en Gerard Mosterd over ‘L’Histoire du Soldat’

Information

Een nieuwe, grensoverschrijdende versie van een historisch meesterwerk
Duur: circa 70 minuten zonder pauze

New European Ensemble
Muziek Igor Stravinsky (1918)
Libretto Ferdinand Ramuz (1918)
Nieuwe tekst Goenawan Mohamad (2012)
Regie-choreografie-licht-kostuum Gerard Mosterd
Vertaling uit het Indonesisch Monique Soesman
Nieuwe bewerking en dramaturgische adviezen Bo Tarenskeen
Dramaturgisch adviseur Marijn Lems

Verteller Wieteke van Dort
Dans en spel Rury Avianti, Siko Setyanto, Hendro Yuliyanto
Muziek en spel New European Ensemble
Lichttechniek Roland van Meel
Productie Kees Kaya
Producent New European Ensemble i.s.m.
Kantor Pos – Music Stage Theatre Management,
Teater Salihara Jakarta
Voor- of nagesprek Frans Leidelmeijer

Ondersteuning Indonesische Ambassade Den Haag en Garuda Airlines
Indonesische maaltijden geserveerd door lokale catering gecoördineerd door Tino Pattipilohy

About The Show

Gerard Mosterd and New European Ensemble present a Javanese version of Igor Stravinsky’s L’Histoire du Soldat. Almost precisely one century after its premiere during the global crisis following the ending of WW1. Gerard Mosterd transforms this timeless classic into a fresh, new theatre piece. Merging humor, dance, mime, slapstick and music. Dutch actress Wieteke van Dort makes her comeback on stage. She narrates a present-day libretto, specifically written for this production by Indonesian playwright, poet and human rights activist Goenawan Mohamad. Three of Java’s leading traditional dancers perform this capriccious play, mime and choreography.

The performance is more or less inspired by the absurd and timeless story of L’Histoire du Soldat. A Faustian tale narrating a poor soldier who marches home while playing his violin. Suddenly the devil approaches him and seduces him into swapping his beloved instrument for a book which infallibly predicts future developments on the stock market. After the exchange the Soldier accumulates a fortune by faultless speculation as promised. But only then he realizes by gaining material wealth, he lost all that was dear to him. He lost his soul. He desires to return to his carefree, uncomplicated life and genuine friendships of the past.But the strangling contract with the Devil witholds him from doing this. Turning and twisting adventures lie ahead, next to sheer fun and deeper reflections. A surrealist work, denouncing the corruptive power of money in contemporary dialogues, gestures and poetic images referring to Interbellum art movements and ideas.

In L’Histoire du Soldat, Igor Stravinsky and playwright Charles-Ferdinand Ramuz composed a ground breaking interdisciplinary theatre piece under economically poor circumstances. Stravinsky challenged future theatre makers to adapt new editions to their own time and culture. Many theatre groups from all continents took up the challenge. L’Histoire du Soldat became since its conception instantly a historical gem of modernist innovation and interdisciplinary interaction. A historical highlight and pioneering example for a new and socio-political inspired way of making theatre. Gerard Mosterd created this first Indonesian L’Histoire du Soldat which toured Indonesia three subsequent years to great critical acclaim. The performance blends traditions from Europe and Asia in an original and imaginative way. Crossing borders in poetry, stand-up comedy, mime, generations, ages, cultures, philosophy,dance and music.

Video Interview : Gerard Mosterd

Playlist

Thursday 16 March 2017, 20.15 – première
Den Haag – Koninklijke Schouwburg
www.ks.nl | 0900 – 345 6789

Friday 17 March 2017, 20.15
Zaltbommel – De Poorterij
www.de-poorterij.nl | 0418 – 726 810

Sunday 19 March 2017, 14.00
Assen – Podium Zuidhaege
www.podiumzuidhaege.nl | 0592 – 768 022

Thursday 23 March 2017, 20.15
Hoogeveen – De Tamboer
www.detamboer.nl | 0528 – 280 180

Saturday 25 March 2017, 20.30
Leeuwarden – De Harmonie
www.harmonie.nl | 058 – 233 0230

Wednesday 29 March 2017, 20.15
Theater De Lieve Vrouw Amersfoort
www.lievevrouw.nl | 033 422 65 55

Saturday 1 April 2017, 15:00
Ede – Cultura
www.cultura-ede.nl | 0318 – 672 800

Tuesday 4 April 2017, 20.30
Eindhoven – Parktheater
www.parktheater.nl | 040 – 211 1 122

Saturday 8 April 2017, 20.00
Apeldoorn – Orpheus
www.orpheus.nl | 055 – 527 0 300

Wednesday 12 April 2017, 20.15
Amsterdam – OBA
www.oba.nl

Saturday 15 April 2017, 20.15
Baarn – De Speeldoos
www.speeldoosbaarn.nl | 035 – 541 8 050

Sunday 16 April 2017, 11.00
Rotterdam – Ahoy
www.istimewa-events.nl | 06-36107721

Wednesday 19 April 2017, 20.30
Heerlen – Theater Heerlen
www.plt.nl | 045 – 571 6607

Thursday 20 April 2017, 20:15
Venlo – De Maaspoort
www.maaspoort.nl | 077 – 320 7222

Friday 21 April 2017, 20.30
Haarlem – Toneelsch
www.toneelsch.nl | 023 – 517 3910

Saturday 22 April 2017, 20.30
Zaanstad – Zaantheater
www.zaantheater.nl | 0900 – 334 4553

Tuesday 25 April 2017, 20.30
Amstelveen – De Griffioen
www.griffioen.vu.nl | 020 – 598 5100

Wednesday 26 April 2017, 20.15
Heerenveen – Posthuistheater
www.posthuistheater.nl | 0513 – 619 494

Friday 28 April 2017, 20.15
Zeist – Figi Theater
www.figi.nl | 030 – 692 7550

Wieteke van Dort makes her comeback in a Javanese l’Histoire du Soldat

New European Ensemble presents a Javanese version of Igor Stravinsky’s L’Histoire du Soldat. Director and choreographer Gerard Mosterd transforms this classic into a sparkling piece of theatre, in which humor, dance, mime, slapstick and music fuse abundantly. Actress Wieteke van Dort makes a theatre comeback. She performs as a narrator in this play. Three of Java’s prominent dancers take the other roles on their behalf. Renowned Indonesian writer and human rights activist Goenawan Mohamad wrote a new text for this production. A Javanese l’Histoire du Soldat will premiere on Thursday, March 16th at the Koninklijke Schouwburg in The Hague and will be touring, subsequently in 20 theatres across the country.

Its story is timeless. A poor soldier is on his way home. He plays his old violin. The devil tempts him to exchange his instrument for a book that predicts future stock market developments. The soldier agrees and makes a fortune. But he loses his soul and misses his carefree existence when sincere friendships were still present. Bizarre adventures unfold as a result of the impossibility to undo himself of the curse of the contract with the devil.

With l’Histoire du Soldat, Stravinsky and playwright Charles-Ferdinand Ramuz created a revolutionary musical theatre. It gave rise to new politically engaged theatre forms. Stravinsky understood that his piece would also be relevant for future generations. He encouraged theatre makers worldwide to adapt new productions to their own times and culture. Globally theatre makers took on this challenge. Gerard Mosterd created this first Javanese l’Histoire du Soldat, which drew fully booked venues in Indonesia for three years in a row. The performance fuses Asian and European traditions. Frans Leidelmeijer, known from Dutch television provides in most theatres an introductory lecture in which he focuses on historical and artistic perspectives surrounding this modernist work.

Video Interview : Wieteke van Dort | Radio Interview : Wieteke van Dort