Revue Ravage

Death of a politician

Tom Lanoye has written a new play about the life and work of an older politician: The man wants to stop, and yet he doesn’t, but he has no choice, so how should he go about it? Not with a whimper but with a bang, if he has any say in the matter. He’ll look for a finale, a final public moment of glory in which he can abdicate – lauded and celebrated – in the knowledge that he will still be able to exercise power from behind the scenes. Or that’s how he imagines it…

A number of other characters circle around this central figure, like moths and mosquitoes around the searing lamplight of power: his wife, who wants to enjoy a quiet retirement with him; his brilliant son, the crown prince; his mistress, who is waiting for the moment he asks for a divorce so that he can embark upon a second youth with her; his internal opponent – the honest but terribly dull seasoned party man; and his faithful political mentor and friend – a sly tactician, and a tower of strength at both a political and a private level, the trouble shooter, the man in the twilight zone, who carries out tasks that are only handed out silently and with averted eyes…

Revue Ravage promises to be a terrific clash between renowned musicians and ditto actors: Josse de Pauw creates and acts together with Els Dottermans, An Miller, Nico Sturm, Willy Thomas and Frank Focketyn. Peter Vermeersch composes the music that will be performed live by Flat Earth Society.

CREDITS

author Tom Lanoye
director Josse De Pauw
actors Josse De Pauw, Els Dottermans, An Miller, Nico Sturm, Willy Thomas, Frank Focketyn, Eurudike De Beul
set design Jan Kempenaers (School of Arts Ghent)
costumes Anne-Catherine Kunz
musical composition Peter Vermeersch
light Dennis Diels
performed by Flat Earth Society Orchestra
production KVS & NTGent
coproduction Théâtre National
dramaturgy Steven Heene
dramaturgy assistant Dina Dooreman
direction assistant and subtitles Inge Floré

With the support of Milo-Profi photography