Barzakh
Thomas Bellinck and Osama Abdulrasol, in collaboration with people living in detention
Trapped in a waiting room
The Arabic word barzakh refers to a border space between two worlds in which deceased souls must wait in a state of sleep for a final judgment before they can travel further. It is a recognisable situation for people who are awaiting trial in pre-trial detention, as becomes apparent from conversations between them and theatre maker Thomas Bellinck. During workshops in some Belgian prisons, they write a new performance together and determine what is presented on stage. The opera repertoire serves as a starting point: in operas we often see criminal acts and incarceration in a romanticised way, but does this correspond to reality? Composer Osama Abdulrasol translates the material from the workshops into music for singers and chamber orchestra. Barzakh questions the world views that emerge from operas and takes a critical look at the prison system.
A co-production of Opera Ballet Vlaanderen in collaboration with De Rode Antraciet and École Nationale Supérieure des Arts de La Cambre.
ca. 2u00
The performance is multilingual and includes English and Dutch surtitles. For legal reasons, the names and biographies of the co-creators in the prisons cannot be mentioned.
Barzakh addresses the theme of suicide. Are you thinking about suicide or are you concerned about someone around you? You can reach out for a conversation at the Suicide Helpline on the number 1813 or via www.zelfmoord1813.be.
Production by Opera Ballet Vlaanderen in collaboration with De Rode Antraciet and École Nationale Supérieure des Arts de La Cambre. With the support of ROBIN vzw, KASK & Conservatorium Hogent.
With the support of the Tax Shelter measure of the Belgian Federal Government. The Young Ensemble is supported by the Friends of OBV.
The creators
Thomas Bellinck
Concept and text
Personen in detentie in de gevangenissen van Antwerpen, Beveren, Brugge, Gent, Hoogstraten, Lantin, Turnhout
Concept and text
Osama Abdulrasol
Composition
Zoe Zeniodi
Conductor
Thomas Bellinck
Direction
Zaza Dupont
Scenography and lighting design
Bart Van Merode
Scenography and lighting design
Students of La Cambre
Scenography in collaboration with
