The play Een Groter Verhaal (A Bigger Story) offers a great addition to the Dutch theatrical landscape. I’m looking forward to how Romana Vrede’s solo performance will amplify various decolonial perspectives on how we inhabit and relate to the Earth. And, what this means in terms of how we understand ‘the world’. The play is set in a visually lush stage design by Studio Dennis Vanderbroeck and directed by our beloved Erik Whien. Romana’s monologue, which she co-wrote with Anoek Nuyens and Rebekka de Wit of Bureau Vergezicht, discusses the current horrors of a centuries old colonial mindstate. Its focus is on the exploitation of natural resources, the mistreatment of animals, who we consider to be part of ‘the world’ and how certain forms of modernity come with a bloodthirst for excess. Brought in that signature Vrede fashion which we love. And study. And long for because it’s such a beautiful, consistent form of craftpersonship. With its samples of sweet family stories and some good 80s UK pop music, it’s definitely worth your 75 minutes.

As part of the theatre tour Bureau Vergezicht will co-host a series of on- and offline programs about the literature and ideas that inspired the script for Een Groter Verhaal. On Wednesday November 11, from 20.45h-21.45h I have the honour and pleasure to interview civil and environmental engineer Malcom Ferdinand. Read more about our online conversation here.

Een Groter Verhaal is co-produced by Bureau Vergezicht and Theater Rotterdam.