Out of the Blue

Slovak debut of the novel duo of Belgian performers! The third part of their ecological trilogy uncovers deep–sea mining, an unexplored and new area of the mining industry. We seem to know more about the surface of the Moon than we do about the bottom of the ocean. Worldwide, only 10 percent of the ocean floor has been mapped out and explored. In the Spring of 2021, three ships gather in a remote location in the Pacific Ocean. One of them belongs to the Belgian dredging company Deme-Gsr. On another ship, an international team of marine biologists and geologists is closely monitoring the operation. Greenpeace activists are protesting aboard the infamous Rainbow Warrior. The authors Silke Huysmans and Hannes Dereere communicate with the three ships via satellite from their small apartment in Brussels. Each of the ships represents one pillar of public debate: industry, science and activism. An intimate portrait of the new industry emerges through a series of interviews. With Silke and Hannes, we once again immerse in an interesting stage medley of sounds, interviews and video art. The production is an attempt to capture a potentially pivotal moment in our history that reveals the catastrophic ecological consequences that mining might have for our planet by disrupting the biodiversity of a hitherto unexplored deep–sea ecosystem.

Out of the Blue is the last part of the ecological trilogy. At Divadelná Nitra 2023 you have a unique opportunity to see its other two parts as well: Pleasant Island and Mining Stories.

by & with: Silke Huysmans, Hannes Dereere 
dramaturgy: Dries Douibi 
outside eye: Pol Heyvaert
sound mixing: Lieven Dousselaere
production: CAMPO
coproduction: Beursschouwburg (Brussels), Bunker-Mladi Levi (Ljubljana), De Brakke Grond (Amsterdam), Kunstenfestivaldesarts (Brussels), Noorderzon Festival (Groningen), PACT Zollverein (Essen), Théâtre de la Ville (Paris), Zürcher Theater Spektakel
residencies: 30CC, Bara142 (Toestand), De Grote Post, GC De Markten, GC Felix Sohie, Kunstenwerkplaats, Pilar
technique: Korneel Coessens, Piet Depoortere, Koen Goossens, Babette Poncelet
subtitles and Dutch translation: Marika Ingels
French translation: Isabelle Grynberg
thanks to: all conversations partners & the people who helped with the transcriptions
special thanks to: John Childs, Henko De Stigter, Patricia Esquete, Iason-Zois Gazis, Jolien Goossens, Matthias Haeckel, An Lambrechts, Ted Nordhaus, Maureen Penjueli, Surabhi Ranganathan, Duygu Sevilgen, Joey Tau, Saskia Van Aalst, Kris Van Nijen, Vincent Van Quickenborne, Annemiek Vink

Presentation at Divadelná Nitra with the support of the Government of Flanders. 

Silke Huysmans (1989) studied dramaturgy at the art school KASK in Ghent and Hannes Dereere (1990) Theatre Studies at Ghent University. With their projects, they explore the use of journalistic and documentary elements and methods in theatre. Their work arises from extensive field research. In 2016, they started working on a long-term research project on mining and extraction, that resulted in a trilogy of stage pieces. Huysmans and Dereere’s documentary and polyphonic work is based on specific social, political and ecological situations, events or places that reflect wider global issues. Their works featured and received awards at major festivals, such as Circuit X/Het Theatre Festival 2017 Zürcher Theatrespektakel 2018 or Kunstenfestivaldesarts.

The documentary and polyphonic work of Belgian theatre artists Silke Huysmans (drama, KASK) and Hannes Dereere (theatre sciences, Ghent University) is based on concrete social, political and ecological situations, events or places that reflect broader global themes. What characterises the duo is how they carry out their research – by means of scientific examination, interviews and fieldwork. With their performances they investigate the use of journalistic and documentary elements within theatre. Since 2016, they have been working on a trilogy on mining.

The documentary and polyphonic work of Belgian theatre artists Silke Huysmans (drama, KASK) and Hannes Dereere (theatre sciences, Ghent University) is based on concrete social, political and ecological situations, events or places that reflect broader global themes. What characterises the duo is how they carry out their research – by means of scientific examination, interviews and fieldwork. With their performances they investigate the use of journalistic and documentary elements within theatre. Since 2016, they have been working on a trilogy on mining.