detheatermaker

Join us in dystopia!
Over the past year, detheatermaker’s prospecting team, the resonants, saw 180 performances: from work-in-progress to graduation and first performances. After all that spying, it’s time to give something back to the new creators: welcome to our Dystopian Days!
De Resonanten are hosting 3 workshops where conversation and the study of each other’s practice are key. Together with some experts from the arts field we will also reflect on the dystopian vision around masculinity, ecology and (a)morality, and how we can evolve towards a utopian view.

The first workshop is on masculinity and will take place on 6/2/2025 at Corso.
Although masculinity (with buzzwords like male loneliness and toxic masculinity) are hot topics, both the conversation and its portrayal on stage seem challenging. Whether and how masculinity (still) has a place on the floor is a pending question. Now let’s really ask that one to each other.
Tristan Feyten will enter into conversation with Willem de Wolf, after which we will search together for a utopian vision through practice.

For whom? All theater makers – in the broad sense of the word, from scenographers and dramaturgs to technicians and costume designers – in the first five years of their journey within the performing arts.

De Resonanten
De resonanten is a group of creators and cultural workers with a passion for curating, organizing and dramaturgy, who assist detheatermaker artistically. In 2024 and 2025, these are Tristan Feyten, Rodrigo Batista and Sezen Atmaca. Their trajectory initially began with observing all the graduation works of theater makers from Flanders and the Netherlands, and subsequent reflection. The goal was to comprehensively survey the creative output of emerging theater makers, and identify recurring themes and patterns that reflect the current cultural and social climate in Flanders.
The result of that observation are some zeitgeists – zeitgeists that dominate the stages of emerging theater makers today: from the tension between public and private life to reflections on femininity, and from mental health post-Corona to science fiction, identity and healing. During Dystopian Days, we will elaborate on some of these zeitgeists.

Themes:

Each day we explore a different theme. Critical reflection, creative exploration and conversation are the focus each time.
Feb. 6: masculinity exploring traditional and evolving views of masculinity, often critiquing its toxic aspects;
TBA climate reflection on environmental problems, ecological crisis and the relationship between man and planet;
TBA (a)morality : how to address your own role within larger social (problematic) structures? How to translate the aggression of these systems?
Critical reflection, creative exploration and conversation are key in each case.
Why does this matter now? In an era of ecological crisis, political polarization and shifting relations to gender, the concepts of dystopia and utopia can help us move forward. Dystopian frameworks allow us to confront the brutal realities we live in, from environmental destruction to social inequality. However, criticism alone is insufficient – it is through the imagination and articulation of utopian possibilities that we find the energy to resist and transform.
Moreover, we believe in the potential of making together. We want to make space to deepen and explore together, regardless of the competitive atmosphere that sometimes exists between new makers with similar interests.

Practical

The first workshop on masculinity will take place on 6/2/2025 at Corso, Antwerp. Resonant Tristan Feyten will talk with Willem de Wolf about masculinity and how he has seen this theme change throughout his career. In the afternoon we will go on the floor together.
9:30 welcome with coffee
10:00 introduction by the theater maker
10:30 workshop part 1
12:30 lunch
13:30 workshop part 2
15:00 reflection
15:45 foreseen end
Registration and selection
Register via link to form no later than Jan. 30, 2025.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1s5e2cx8O3f0KlENWsskHKfJxglitR8W0Hd4YqfP8GdA/viewform?edit_requested=true
Each session is limited to ten participants. For the selection, we take into account everyone’s affinity with the chosen theme, as well as creating as diverse a group as possible. Therefore, the registration form asks about your artistic background.