A summer’s evening, around nine o’clock.
It has gone quiet outside when four artists meet.
One of them has recently informed the others of his plans to perform a deed of fearlessness.
And, as you would expect from good friends, all of them nobly follow his example.

Vakman (Expert) is based on a new text by Josse De Pauw, complemented with material taken from artists’ portraits and improvisations. Floor Huygen is the director, co-creating the performance with Bruno Vanden Broecke, Stefaan Degand, and Bert Luppes.

Inside the Artists’ World
Floor Huygen has asked theatre man Josse De Pauw to write a text. He created four characters while keeping our actors in mind. The scenes he has written are slices of life peppered with humour and tragedy. Vakman also takes its inspiration from several artists’ portraits. Artists such as Karel Appel, Francis Bacon, Sam Dillemans, Ramses Shaffy and others, who are noticed for a specific lifestyle and working method. In Vakman, childish grown-up business is presented in life-size format, in all its tragedy, and with every bit of fun.

What Would You Do for Your Friends?
Vakman takes a close look at an artist’s drive and the unconditional friendships between artists, setting out from the tremendous energy they release. So this is certainly not a performance about hangers-on! Vakman is the first of our performances focusing on the new subject of autonomy: Autonomia (<Gr.<Lat.), the freedom to live by your own rules, independence. Each person has his or her own way of doing things, while at the same time feeling the need to conform within a group situation. These two extremes are the focal point of Vakman and, later on this season, Ribstuk (Ribs). Vakman will highlight the intractability of the artist, where Ribstuk will deal with insecurity about the self and the desire to resemble others. Artemis does not shy away from tackling uncomfortable subjects and uses the liberating forces of humour and recognition to do so, which, coupled with an intense and vivacious acting style, is what defines Artemis. Vakman is drama for all ages. 

Professionalism+ Friendship = Fireworks!
It is no coincidence that the title Vakman resembles that of Pakman, the site-specific performance Artemis created in 2006 which saw a successful reprise last season. The extraordinary dynamics between Floor Huygen and Bruno Vanden Broecke on Pakman immediately prompted a continuation. Together they assembled a top-notch Flemish-Dutch cast with actors Stefaan Degand and Bert Luppes, who will be performing with Artemis a second time after Don Quichot en zijnen ijzeren wil. They also invited set designer Leo de Nijs and lighting designer Johan Vonk. The artists got know each other while working together on earlier projects (Kruis/Huis van Bourgondië and/or Theatergroep Hollandia), but also on more recent shows such as Missie (2007). The costumes were designed by Marike Kamphuis, who was also on board for Haast of De Kokadrielje, Pakman, and other Artemis projects. Peter Anthonissen was in charge of dramaturgy.

Mouchette

Wuthering heights, restless souls

Prime

Expert

Come one, come all