line-up
director > Ivo van Hove
author > William Shakespeare
script > Bart Van den Eynde
script > Peter Van Kraaij
translation > Rob Klinkenberg
stage and lighting design > Jan Versweyveld
sound concept and composition > Eric Sleichim
cast (ensemble) > Alwin Pulinckx, Aus Greidanus jr., Chris Nietvelt, Eelco Smits, Fred Goessens, Frieda Pittoors, Hans Kesting, Hélène Devos, Hugo Koolschijn, Ramsey Nasr, Robert de Hoog, Roeland Fernhout, Harm Duco Schut
musicians
> Steve Dugardin, countertenor BL!NDMAN [vox]
> BL!NDMAN [brass]: Charlotte Van Passen, Daniel Quiles Cascant, Daniel ruibal Ortigueira, Konstantin Koev & Nicolas Villers
video > Tal Yarden
costumes > An D’Huys
Kings of War is a coproduction of Toneelgroep Amsterdam, Holland Festival, Muziektheater Transparant & BL!NDMAN commissioned by Wiener Festwochen, Barbican London & Théâtre National de Chaillot
BL!NDMAN is supported by the Arts Administration of the Ministry of the Flemish Community and the Flemish Community Commission of the Brussels-Capital Region. BL!NDMAN [sax] play Selmer Paris Saxophones.
KINGS OF WAR
|
Kings of War blends Shakespeare?s Henry V, Henry VI and Richard III in one explosive play about how power is seized and exercised. The kings appearing in the play are political leaders: they alone are masters of life and death, wage wars or perish if unable to fight. Shakespeare portrays the psychology of rulers but also confronts them with the machinations of their courtiers and counsellors. Kings of War exposes the mechanisms of decision-making in times of political crisis and subjects them to the conflicts arising from the trade-off between national interests and the preservation of personal power.
Henry V, a hesitant and inexperienced ruler, marries a French princess to ensure peace. And yet England tumbles into chaos. Neither is Henry VI able to conciliate the warring factions and as a consequence becomes witness to the downfall of his country. Richard III is viewed as the embodiment of evil; indeed, he deliberately sabotages the fragile peace that might have followed in the wake of the War of the Roses. As a leader striving for absolute rule, he lacks sensitivity and only craves ultimate power for himself.
KINGS OF WAR played among others on the following locations:
- 2023
- AMSTERDAM (NL) - Rabozaal
- 2021
- Amsterdam live stream
- 2020
- ANNUL-Corona ! AMSTERDAM (NL) - Rabozaal
- 2018
- ADELAIDE Festival (Australia)
- MONTREAL (Can) - Festival TransAmériques
- TAIPEI (RC)
- 2017
- AMSTERDAM (NL) - Stadsschouwburg
- WROCLAW (PL) - Festival Dialog
- AMSTERDAM (NL) - stadsschouwburg
- 2016
- PARIS (F) - Théâtre National de Chaillot
- AMSTERDAM (NL) - stadsschouwburg
- LONDON (UK) - Barbican Centre
- NEW YORK - Brooklyn (USA), BAM
- 2015
- WENEN / VIENNE - Festspiele - Halle E Museumsquartier
- AMSTERDAM (NL) - Holland Festival - Stadsschouwburg
- AMSTERDAM - Rabozaal