CONVOI EXCEPTIONNEL
Convoi Exceptionnel is a theatre company which produces indoor as well as outdoor performances. All productions are montage performances in which script, (existing) music and image are assembled. Convoi Exceptionnel’s productions are characterized by great social commitment and talk about dealing with a reality that differs from what we all had hoped for. Many times the performances tap into the childlike fantasy of adults. All performances are based on improvisation and brainstorm sessions with both actors and designers. The outdoor performances can be discribed as ´live-movies´. Size of Performing Company: Indoor performances 2-5 actors. Outdoor perfomances can involve up to 15-20 actors.Artistic staff
Director Anke Boerstra graduated in 1994 from the theatreschool in Eindhoven. Beside her work for Convoi Exceptionnel, she worked as a directors-assistent/dramaturg for several companies (Dogtroep, Tuig, De Bloeiende Maagden, United Cowboys). She also wrote 2 single-plays for television (´Goede daden bij daglicht´ (VPRO, 2001) and ´One night stand´ (VARA, 2004)). During her work with outdoor-theatrecompany Dogtroep for the performance ´Hotazel´ (1998) she met stagedesigner Hetty van Bommel.
Hetty van Bommel, graduated in 1996 from the Design Academy Eindhoven. She designed several industrial products like the Nomadic Tapes (1997) and the Las Rest Rocket (1998). She also makes theatrical installations for artprojects ands festivals. As a designer she worked during several productions with theatrecompagny Dogtroep (´Hotazal´ (1998), ´2PK´ (1999), ´Atom Tattoo´ (2000).
INTERNATIONAL PERFORMANCES
Floppertje (from age 4 up)
FLOPPERTJE is inspired by for example the Tsjech animation 'Buurman & Buurman', by 'Mr. Bean' and the video art piece 'Der Lauf der Dinge'.
FLOPPERTJE is a small clumsy girl that tries really hard to cope with difficult mature daily issues such as making breakfast, getting dressed, or creating an origami figure. Unfortunately with every deed she more and more gets into a fight with the stuff she's dealing with resulting in a big messy caboodle. ("Floppertje" is the name of the girl, a word-play refering to the verb 'floppen': to fail, flop, go wrong). The girl is given expression to by three actors who play different small stories/ episodes. These storylines are connected and the Floppertjes interfere in each other's small adventures. All along the show music, sounds and short sentences will accompany the visual actions of the girls in a driven dance like musical composition. It's a punctual dance of the actors on the rhythm of the audio tape showing that things don't always go the way you want them to go and that there might be something like an ongoing circle of life of cause and result.
Length: 45 minutes
Press
De Volkskrant\ 2008-01-16\ Jowi Schmitz
(...) brilliant scenes and wise lessons of life.
Den Haag Centraal\ 2008-01-18\ Eric Korsten
Most important is that 'Floppertje' is a beautiful performance.
'Floppertje' is a true smasher.
Theatercentraal.nl\ 2008-01-15\ Cisly Burcksen
Children roar with laughter. It's a pantomime performance by which, though man concrete means are being used, the powers of abstraction are being aroused.
The Never-Ending Show
THE NEVER-ENDING SHOW is a visually rich family fantasy, inspired by children's books such as 'The never-ending story', ‘Alice in Wonderland’, ‘Peter Pan’ and various fairy tales.
We're on the dusty attic of Liz, a dreamy 12 year old girl. The attic was the place where Liz used to go off into her fantasy world, populated by a host of characters from children's books. Now that she is about to start middle school, Liz feels it's time to take leave of her childhood once and for all. The best way of doing so, she thinks, is to throw out all her childhood things. But as she sets about her cleanup, the fairy tale figures once again come to life. And they don't in the least behave how you'd expect them to. They refuse to let Liz go. Liz no longer knows what is real and what is fantasy, and becomes entangled in her own imagination….. THE NEVER-ENDING SHOW is about growing up without losing touch with your fantasy. How can you hang on to the (childlike) consolation found in a fantasy world without being overwhelmed by the (adult) fear of going mad?
The Never-ending Show is financially supported by contributions from Het Fonds voor Amateurkunst en Podiumkunsten (Fund for Amateur Art and Performing Arts), Stichting DOEN (DOEN Foundation) and Fonds 1818.
Press
De Volkskrant \ 2006-01-24 \ Bart Deuss
The performance combines atmosphere and magic with compelling questions of life. The measured, convincing acting (…) and a hopeful ending make The Never-ending Show a profound theatre adventure.
NRC Handelsblad \ 2006-01-18 \ Anneriek De Jong
Eerie music, mysterious lighting effects and clever appearing and disappearing tricks heighten the surrealistic atmosphere.
TheaterCentraal.nl \ 2006-01-18 \ Moon Saris
The Never-ending Show is an absolute must-see, not just for children aged 9 to 13 but for everyone that's still got the slightest bit of imagination.
TheaterGuide.nl \ 2006-01-15 \ Eric Korsten
It has turned out to be a beautiful production without being kitschy or overly sweet..
Infinity (text by Anke Boerstra)
Liz
Right, that's just about enough. I'm no longer making you up, so why don't just go ahead and disappear.
Caterpillar
How can you be so sure that you're imagining me? Perhaps I'm imagining you.
Liz
Hey, hello! You're part of fantasy, not me. I'm real. This is my attic, these are my things, you're in my head and that's it. So you're the fake around here, and I am real.
Caterpillar
In your dreams honey.
Liz
Now what is this! You're a character from Alice in Wonderland. How weird can you get!
Caterpillar
Where did you come from now.
Liz
Just, from downstairs.
Caterpillar
Well that's what I mean.
Liz
You are a character. A character is someone that only lives in books or movies. A character only exists because we people read about him or watch him. So you only exist because I'm looking at you.
Caterpillar
So then you only exist because they are watching you.
Liz
Who's they.
Caterpillar
Them over there.
(The caterpillar nods toward the audience. Liz turns to look.)
Liz
Well I don't see anything. And if you can't see something then it's not there, everyone knows that.
Caterpillar
There are at least 50 people sitting there watching you. And have been watching you all this time. They were here when you entered this attic. They were here when you found the book. Who do you think I've been talking to all this time. They've followed your every move. They've been sitting there gawking at you for ages… and that's the only reason you exist.
(Liz looks at the audience)
Liz
Well… OK, just suppose. Just suppose you're right and there are people sitting there watching us. Is that it? Is that where it ends? Or is someone watching them too?
Caterpillar
Of course someone's watching them too. They're characters in someone else's story. Like little dolls in a doll's house. But then they probably also think that it ends with them. That there is nothing beyond what they see. Well, their choice.
(Liz takes another doubtful look at the audience. Then shakes her head.)
Liz
No. You're not real to start with. So they aren't real for sure.
WUNDERTOLL - a Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups
(a coproduction with actor Dennis Költgen. Actors: Dennis Költgen, Willem Schouten. Director: Anke Boerstra. Stagedesigners: Hetty van Bommel, Dennis Költgen)
‘WUNDERTOLL - a Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups' is a rich engrossing performance desperately trying to hold its ground between a cartoonlike non-performance and a virtual rollercoaster ride. Starting point of the performance is the shortest and most boring fairy tale of all time: Goldilocks and the Three Bears. However, in ‘WUNDERTOLL’ we will find no goody-goody blond girl cautiously examining the picturesque bear hut, but an outragious contraption of a Goldilocks who violently crushes the fairy tale in which half of the bear family decided to abandon ship. The parents gave up on the fairy tale and left, and Goldilocks moves heaven and earth to comfort little bear who was left behind. In a life-or-death performance she treats the audience to a mindblowing experience, leaving your dog craving for pasta parmazan. Length of peformance: 45 minutes. 'WUNDERTOLL' is an indoor performance. It can be performed in english as well as in german. For more WUNDERTOLL pictures go to 'producties/ gallery'.
Review Extracts for the performance ´Wundertoll´
'Wundertoll' is a funny, moving dynamic performance, proving again how many sides there are to a fairy tale. (De Morgen, 23/7/02)
The lead for ‘Wundertoll’ is brilliantly confiscated by actor Dennis Költgen. His interpretation of Goldilocks it totally over the top. On stage you will find no naïve little girl, but a stressed-out riot-queen in top hat and mini skirt, holding a handbag. (Brabants Dagblad, 5/8/02).
‘Wundertoll’ is a loving tale, full of theatrical finds as a fridge which explodes, scattering ice flakes all over. (NRC, 5/8/02)
Permanent staff Convoi Exceptionnel
Artistic director
Anke Boerstra
Stagedesigner
Hetty van Bommel
Executive producer / managing director
Mieke van Oorschot
Address
Weesperzijde 30 IV
1091 EC Amsterdam
Phone: 00.31.20.4282900
Email: info@convoiexceptionnel.nl