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BERLIN / Yves Degryse, Bart Baele & Cathy Blisson

Zvizdal
VIERNULVIER
  • Thu 26.09
    20:00 - 21:20
    Minardschouwburg, Gent
    Romain Deconinckplein 2
    uitverkocht
  • Fri 27.09
    20:00 - 21:15
    Minardschouwburg, Gent
    Romain Deconinckplein 2
    Tickets
  • Sat 28.09
    18:00 - 19:15
    Minardschouwburg, Gent
    Romain Deconinckplein 2
    Tickets
  • Sat 28.09
    20:30 - 21:50
    Minardschouwburg, Gent
    Romain Deconinckplein 2
    Tickets

Superstition, vodka, and the nuclear disaster: a universal portrait of loneliness, hope, and love

Chernobyl, April 26, 1986. The explosion of a reactor drastically changed the lives of the people in and around the city of Pripyat. Almost everyone was evacuated and never returned. Everyone except Pétro and Nadia. With "Zvizdal," the Antwerp theater group BERLIN paints a warm, deeply human portrait of a stubborn couple who refused to leave their home after the nuclear disaster.

Nearly forty years later, Pétro and Nadia still live in their old village, a ghost town. For five years, BERLIN regularly traveled to Chernobyl to interview them and gain insight into their lives and choices. How do they endure a life of isolation for years on end? We see Pétro and Nadia, now well into their 80s, enduring in a contaminated zone and chosen solitude. No running water, electricity, phone, or mail. Instead, they rely on superstition, vodka, swearing, singing, and the ailments of old age.

"Zvizdal" is the sixth installment in the "Holocene" series, in which BERLIN tries to capture our era. Film, poetry, and documentary blend with theater and fiction. The result is a universal story about loneliness, survival, poverty, hope, and love.

Human encounter

Part of

"A touching portrait of unconditional love and respect for each other and the environment in which you grow up and live." — Focus Knack

"Berlin created a masterful theatrical installation for Zvizdal." — **** De Standaard

"An overwhelming experience." — Theaterkrant

With: Nadia & Pétro Opanassovitch Lubenoc - Concept: Bart Baele, Yves Degryse, Cathy Blisson - Scenography: Manu Siebens, Ina Peeters, BERLIN - Interviews: Yves Degryse, Cathy Blisson - Camera & Editing: Bart Baele, Geert De Vleesschauwer - Sound Recording: Toon Meuris, Bas de Caluwé, Manu Siebens, Karel Verstreken - Interpreter: Olga Mitronina - Soundtrack & Mixing: Peter Van Laerhoven - Production: Laura Fierens - Communication: Sam Loncke - Business Management: Kurt Lannoye - Administration: Jane Seynaeve - Distribution: Eveline Martens -

Co-producers: Het Zuidelijk Toneel [Tilburg, NL] - PACT Zollverein [Essen, DE] - Dublin Theatre Festival [IE] - LE CENTQUATRE [Paris, FR] - Kunstenfestivaldesarts [Brussels, BE] - Brighton Festival [UK] - BIT Teatergarasjen – House on Fire [Bergen, NO] - Künstlerhaus Mousonturm Frankfurt am Main [DE] - Theaterfestival Boulevard [Den Bosch, NL] - Onassis Cultural Centre [Athens, GR] -

In collaboration with: deSingel [Antwerp, BE] - BERLIN is creative associate at deSingel [Antwerp, BE] and associate artist at CENTQUATRE [Paris, FR].

Supported by: the Flemish Community