Paradise Now (1968 – 2018)

When “Paradise Now (1968 – 2018)” celebrated its premiere, the 1968 revolt was exactly 50 years ago. Flemish choreographer Michiel Vandevelde, recently distinguished as a “hopeful” by trade magazine “tanz”, together with 13 young people between the ages of 14 to 23, asks for that which remains of the heritage of 68. What happened to the 1960s ideals and values? How do young people view history, and how do they view their futures? They take the legendary performance “Paradise Now” by New York theatre troupe The Living Theatre as their basis. This piece, which premiered in Avignon in 1968, more than any other performance, embodies the spirit of the times and the belief that art as a “Trojan horse” could conquer society. According to this emblematic work by anarcho-pacifist Living Theatre, the question for a possible future lies at the core, while also asking what art activism means today.
The adolescent performers put 50 years of history on the stage, in iconic images of change. Images that have engrained themselves into our collective consciousness during the past years will be conjured in a time-lapse approach. What emerges is a ritual for reckoning with decisions taken by past generations and the conjuring of artistic-activist potential in the future generation.
Renowned production centre fABULEUS in Leuven, Belgium, puts an emphasis on the support of dance and theatre pieces for a young audience. Michiel Vandevelde graduated from P.A.R.T.S., Brussel’s talent hotbed founded by Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, and has been an artist in residence at Brussel’s Kaaitheater since 2017.

Duration: 80 min. / in English

“Paradise Now”, in a very harrowing manner, documents the failure of all hopes for peace, democracy, a fairer world and world order. It is an accusation, brought forth by the young men and women who will inherit the future. Dorion Weickmann, Süddeutsche Zeitung, September 3, 2018, on the occasion of “Tanz im August/ Dance in August”

This offer is for audience members with diverse sensory modalities to make live performance more accessible: Through touching e.g. the scenery or the costumes before the performance they can be experienced multisensory.

Please note: Fri 22.11. 18:00 open rehearsal "Power Moves" by fabien prioville dance company