In 2019, I created the performance Stadszuur (Acid City), a sour look at the expectations of life in a big city, but with the sweet feeling of being where you are supposed to be. I used Kroetz’s 1988 fragmentary drama “Farmers Die”. This text outlines a universe in which two young farmers move to the city in search of a better, grander, freer life. But once they arrive, the promise of liberation proves difficult to fulfil. Thirty years later, my focus was on the urban life of our generation, where the question of whether we should remain farmers or move to the city is no longer relevant because the farmers have already died and we are living in the city, sometimes against our better judgment.

The performance was played at the Kesbeke factory in Bos & Lommer, among the pickles and Amsterdam onions, which was not only a beautiful location, but also offered the chance to play in a neighbourhood where theatre is not often performed. As a result, many audiences from the neighbourhood itself came to watch. I am happy that with Stadszuur I was able to contribute to spreading theatre to other parts of the city and that with my production I was able to make people think about the expectations and realities of life in the city.

“I expected to be able to achieve anything I wanted in the city. I thought the city would give me the chance to become myself. But instead I am only more lost than ever.” – Acid City

We hope the footage shown below gives an idea of the atmosphere and feeling we wanted to create in this performance.

Cast:
Simone Giel
Amaresnke Haitsma
Luuk Jansen
Joske Koning
Pepijn Korfage
Tarik Moree

Creatives:
Directing: Koen van Etten
Scenography: Ruben Wijnstok
Lighting design: Douwe Bulten
Sound design: Mert Gencer, Bram van Gameren
Dramaturgy: Belle de Wit
Production direction: Marleen Wortmann
Technical production: Stijn Kierkels
Production: Emma van Zandvoort

Photography by Bart Grietens